Our Mission
Becoming fully engaged followers of Jesus Christ by:
Belonging together, Believing in Christ alone and Blessing our world.
This mission allows us to achieve our vision of moving the island’s international community from “friends of God” to fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
Our Mission
Becoming fully engaged followers of Jesus Christ by:
Belonging together, Believing in Christ alone and Blessing our world.
This mission allows us to achieve our vision of moving the island’s international community from “friends of God” to fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
Our Story
Our first worship service at Island Church was held on Sunday, January 7, 2024 at the Simpson Bay Resort. However, our story began long before that beautiful Sunday morning. For years, a local pastor prayed for a way to reach the island of St. Maarten’s large, international community.
Our story continued...
While pasturing a church in Florida, David and Chanelle Acton heard of the needs in St. Maarten. They had a lot of experience planting international churches in Europe for 24 years and, after much prayer, they planned a short trip to the island. Along the way they would be looking for three specific signs from God to confirm their next steps: the perfect location, affordable housing, and a willing worship leader. By the end of the week, God had shown them all three and they knew what He was asking them to do!
David and Chanelle returned to Florida where their church agreed to send them to St. Maarten for three months to get the new church started. However, before the 3 months were over, the island and the Island Church family had stolen their hearts. They spent the rest of 2024 working to hand off their church responsibilities in Florida and prepared to move to the island permanently.
During those initial months, Joel and Kristin Temple gave leadership to the growing church. The Acton’s, as well as many volunteer pastors, visited the island that year to help out. Finally, on Christmas Eve of 2024, the Acton’s made St. Maarten their permanent home.
From the first service in January 2024 and over the course of the next 18 months, the weekly attendance grew from 30 people that first Sunday to an average of 125. In June of 2025, with the growth of the church and the need for better parking, Island Church found it’s current home inside the Caribbean Cinemas. A second worship service was added in January of 2026 as attendance again doubled. It’s an exciting time to be part of the Island Church story. We wait expectantly to see what God will do next!
Experience Island Church For Yourself
Find out what you can expect when you attend in person at Caribbean Cinemas.
Experience Island Church For Yourself
Find out what you can expect when you attend in person at Caribbean Cinemas.
Our Leadership
Our leadership team works together alongside an extraordinary team of volunteers to bring about the vision and direction of Island Church.
Our Leadership
Our leadership team works together alongside an extraordinary team of volunteers to bring about the vision and direction of Island Church.
Dr. David Acton - Lead Pastor
Island Church was founded by David and Chanelle Acton. David was born and raised in Miami, Florida. Chanelle was born on the island of St. Croix and spent many years on St. Thomas. David and Chanelle met at the University of Florida and earned their Masters of Divinity degrees at Golden Gate Seminary in San Francisco. David later completed a Doctor of Ministry degree focused on Missional Ministry. Together with their four children, David and Chanelle have traveled the world serving as church planters in the Caribbean, Germany, and Spain. They spent 5 years pastoring a church in Cape Coral, Florida before relocating to St. Maarten. They both enjoy all things water-related, are lifelong boaters, and have a heart to see the Gospel message spread to the nations.
Peter Sagnia - Worship Leader
Peter Sagnia serves as the Worship Leader for Island Church. He is a talented musician, producer, composer, and songwriter, and has played for professional artists and groups both in the studio and touring on the road. Peter holds his faith dear to his heart, he is a committed born again Christian, and an ordained Minister. He has a strong passion for worship, and also loves to teach in the area of Praise and Worship.
He is the owner of ‘Peter Sagnia Films BV’ a company that produces songs, films, workshops and seminars for those interested in music and vocal training, and the ministry of praise and worship.
Originally from London, England, Peter has spent a considerable amount of time in the United States, but along with his wife and two children considers St. Maarten home.
Kayla Pitcher - Discipleship and Community Coordinator
Kayla Pitcher serves as the Discipleship and Community Coordinator for Island Church. She moved to St. Maarten in August 2025 after she felt the Lord call her to step away from her corporate career and to step out in faith in pursuit of His calling on her life. She is passionate about sharing her faith and story with others while using her gifts to serve alongside the team at Island Church. Kayla leads our Young Adults ministry, serves as a volunteer coordinator, and works alongside Pastor David to help connect people to the next step in their faith journey. Kayla loves spending time at all the beautiful beaches, playing pickleball, serving at church, leading Bible studies, and helping others to feel seen, known, and loved for who God created them to be.
Joel Temple - Pastoral Team
Currently on assignment in the US
Joel and Kristen have spent over 20 years living abroad as church planters in Cameroon, Botswana, and France. In 2023, they made St. Maarten their home along with their three children Jeremiah, Lilliana, and Isabella. Joel and Kristen have a heart to establish life-giving churches throughout the French and English-speaking islands of the Caribbean and served on the pastoral team during Island Church’s first two years. As a family, they love to travel, experience new cultures, and speak French whenever the opportunity arises! Joel and Kristen are currently serving at a local church in the US and look forward to the day they are back with their Island Church family in person.
Dr. David Acton - Lead Pastor
Island Church was founded by David and Chanelle Acton. David was born and raised in Miami, Florida. Chanelle was born on the island of St. Croix and spent many years on St. Thomas. David and Chanelle met at the University of Florida and earned their Masters of Divinity degrees at Golden Gate Seminary in San Francisco. David later completed a Doctor of Ministry degree focused on Missional Ministry. Together with their four children, David and Chanelle have traveled the world serving as church planters in the Caribbean, Germany, and Spain. They spent 5 years pastoring a church in Cape Coral, Florida before relocating to St. Maarten. They both enjoy all things water-related, are lifelong boaters, and have a heart to see the Gospel message spread to the nations.
Peter Sagnia - Worship Leader
Peter Sagnia serves as the Worship Leader for Island Church. He is a talented musician, producer, composer, and songwriter, and has played for professional artists and groups both in the studio and touring on the road. Peter holds his faith dear to his heart, he is a committed born again Christian, and an ordained Minister. He has a strong passion for worship, and also loves to teach in the area of Praise and Worship.
He is the owner of ‘Peter Sagnia Films BV’ a company that produces songs, films, workshops and seminars for those interested in music and vocal training, and the ministry of praise and worship.
Originally from London, England, Peter has spent a considerable amount of time in the United States, but along with his wife and two children considers St. Maarten home.
Kayla Pitcher - Discipleship and Community Coordinator
Kayla Pitcher serves as the Discipleship and Community Coordinator for Island Church. She moved to St. Maarten in August 2025 after she felt the Lord call her to step away from her corporate career and to step out in faith in pursuit of His calling on her life. She is passionate about sharing her faith and story with others while using her gifts to serve alongside the team at Island Church. Kayla leads our Young Adults ministry, serves as a volunteer coordinator, and works alongside Pastor David to help connect people to the next step in their faith journey. Kayla loves spending time at all the beautiful beaches, playing pickleball, serving at church, leading Bible studies, and helping others to feel seen, known, and loved for who God created them to be.
Joel Temple - Pastoral Team
Currently on assignment in the US
Joel and Kristen have spent over 20 years living abroad as church planters in Cameroon, Botswana, and France. In 2023, they made St. Maarten their home along with their three children Jeremiah, Lilliana, and Isabella. Joel and Kristen have a heart to establish life-giving churches throughout the French and English-speaking islands of the Caribbean and served on the pastoral team during Island Church’s first two years. As a family, they love to travel, experience new cultures, and speak French whenever the opportunity arises! Joel and Kristen are currently serving at a local church in the US and look forward to the day they are back with their Island Church family in person.
What We Believe
The Bible
The Bible is God’s Word to all people. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it was inspired by God, the Bible is truth without any mixture of error and is completely relevant to our daily lives.
The Father
God is great: He is all powerful, all knowing, ever present, unchanging, completely worthy of trust, and above all, Holy. It is in Him that we live, move and exist. God is good. He is our Father. He is loving, compassionate, and faithful to His people and His promises.
The Son
Jesus Christ is completely human but, at the same time, completely God. He is the only plan for bringing people who are far from God back into a right relationship with God. He lived a perfect life, so that He could be a substitution for us in satisfying God’s demands for perfection. He defeated death in His resurrection so that we can have life.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit’s presence assures us of our relationship with Christ. He guides believers into all truth and exalts Christ. He convicts people of their sin, God’s righteousness, and the coming judgment. He comforts us, gives us spiritual gifts, and empowers us to become more like Christ.
The Trinity
God has existed in relationship with Himself for all eternity. He exists as One in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Although each member of the Trinity serves different functions, they each possess equal power and authority.
Eternity
Humans were created to exist forever. We will exist either eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is Heaven. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence.
Humans
We are made in the image of God. We were created to have fellowship with God but became separated in that relationship through sinful disobedience. As a result, we cannot attain a right relationship with God through our own effort. Every human personality is uniquely created, possesses dignity, and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
Salvation
The blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the only way of salvation through the forgiveness of sin. Salvation occurs when people place their faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as sufficient payment for their sin. Salvation is a gift from God, and it cannot be earned through our own efforts.
The Church
The Church is a local community of believers unified through faith in Christ. It is committed to the teachings of Christ and obeying all of His commands, and it seeks to bring the Gospel to the world. The Church works together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ.