About Gabrel Verrone
Where did you graduate from high school?
I graduated from Marlboro High School in Marlboro, NJ! Go Mustangs!
How long have you been on staff at Southcliff?
I have been serving on staff at Southcliff Baptist Church since
March 2018. However, my family and I have been members since 2010 and I
have been working in the Children's Ministry, in one capacity or
another, since that time.
Tell us about your family.
I have been married to my wonderful wife, April, since December of
2003. April and I met at Southwestern Seminary and after we were
married were honored to serve as IMB missionaries for two years in
Mexico City. Our first son, Malachi, was born in Mexico City! Malachi is now a member of the Southcliff youth group and volunteers in Children’s Hall and plays percussion in the Youth praise band. Our second son, Zachary, is a part of the Uplink Preteen Ministry, loves dinosaurs and inherited his father’s propensity for joking around!
What was your first car?
My first car was my parents' old 1990 Ford Taurus station wagon! It
was hideous and got the worst gas mileage, but I was always piling
friends in for trips to the Jersey shore on the weekends!
What is something that you are known for?
Like the guy Billy Joel sings about in Piano Man, I'm
always, "Quick with a joke..." However, I am serious about worshipping
the Lord! I lead both the Uplink workship band at 9:20 AM and the Kid Connection worship band at 11:00 AM where I get to do my best Phil Collins impersonation as
I play the drums and sing lead vocals!
What is a book that you have read recently that you would recommend to others?
I think we could all stand to read our Bibles more, after all, "...whoever
looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues
in it--not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it--they will be
blessed in what they do (James 1:25)." You're also safe with anything
by John Piper; always convicting, always thought-provoking and always
inspiring!
What was your favorite band/singer when you were a teenager?
As mentioned above, I've always been a huge Billy Joel fan. Also, I
learned to play drums by playing along to countless Led Zeppelin songs.
However, after becoming a Christian, I've been an avid listener of
worship music and although it's sounds very dated today, I am not
ashamed to admit that I loved me some Petra!
What is your favorite way to spend a Saturday?
Not doing lawn work! Seriously though, Saturdays are usually for
family time! We usually clean the house together, do lawn work, or some
kind of chores and then go to the park, go to the movies or do some
family activity as time permits. Also, whenever possible, Saturday
night is date night with the love of my life!