Rev. Tim Machtel was born in Marshall, Michigan and moved to southeast Florida when he was 12. Tim’s parents, sister, and brother-in-law still live in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida where he grew up. He is married to his wife of 26 years, Debbie. Debbie is a graduate of The University of Central Florida and the Owner/Operator of the Chick-fil-A franchise located inside The Paddock Mall here in Ocala. Debbie is from Oviedo, Florida where her parents, sister, and brother still live. Tim and Debbie have two daughters. Abigail lives in Riverview, Florida with her husband Rudy, and both Abigail and Rudy are graduates of The University of Central Florida. Bekah lives in Lakeland, Florida where she will graduate from Florida Southern College on May 6th with a degree in Elementary Education.

Tim received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible and Theology from Asbury College (now Asbury University) in Wilmore, Kentucky. He went on to receive his Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary as a part of the first graduating class of the Orlando campus. Through the years he has also completed The Institute of Preaching, the Reynolds Program for Church Leadership, and is certified in The 6 Types of Working Genius through The Table Group.

Tim was Commissioned as a Provisional Elder in The Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church in May of 2003 and Ordained as an Elder in Full Connection in June of 2006. Tim served Boyd United Methodist Church in Boyd, Kentucky as a Student Local Pastor. In the Florida Conference, Tim has served as Pastor of Trilby United Methodist Church in Trilby and Community United Methodist Church in San Antonio as a two-point charge; the Executive Pastor at Beach United Methodist Church in Jacksonville; Senior Pastor at First United Methodist Church of Dunedin; and Senior Pastor at St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church in Brandon.

Prior to his appointment to Ocala First in July 2023, Tim was on Personal Leave from The Florida Conference for three years while serving as the Executive Director of The Chick-fil-A Paddock Mall helping Debbie grow her business.