For Pastor Hugh Hamilton, serving on the Lakeview Center board for over 20 years has been a way to support work that reaches people at some of the most vulnerable moments in their lives.
As Chair of our Board of Directors, he has been an advocate for individuals and families in need, as well as the compassionate staff who support them.
Pastor Hugh’s leadership at Lakeview Center builds on 46 years of church ministry, making sure people in need are met with care, dignity and hope.
A lifelong calling
While working toward his God and Country Award as a Boy Scout, he felt called to ministry and service to others – a calling that ran deep in his family. His grandfather, great-grandfather and 12 family members were Presbyterian ministers.
After pastorates in Mississippi and Tennessee, Pastor Hugh was called to Trinity Presbyterian Church in Pensacola, where he served for 26 years before retiring in January 2025.
Ministry beyond the church walls
When a longtime Lakeview Center team member and Trinity Presbyterian parishioner encouraged him to join the board, Pastor Hugh made it a priority to visit facilities, meet with counselors and case managers, hear their stories and ask what staff needed from board leadership.
That perspective gave him a deep appreciation for the daily realities of Lakeview Center’s behavioral health work. He listened as staff described the needs of clients, the struggles faced by counselors and case managers, and the importance of programs that respond to people with compassion and practical support.
The people behind the mission
More than two decades later, Pastor Hugh speaks with deep admiration for Lakeview Center professionals who step into difficult situations that others might avoid, offering care to people facing mental health challenges, substance use concerns, crisis situations and complex family circumstances. “Their commitment,” he said, “is a delight to witness.”
“I love the program. I love the people. I admire these people tremendously,” he said. “Seeing how professionals work, their commitment to always bettering everything we do, advocating for people who sometimes have no advocate, I appreciate the intensity of what everybody’s accomplishing.”
For Pastor Hugh, Lakeview Center’s work is about helping people receive the tools, confidence and support systems they need to move forward, whether through counseling, crisis services, case management or long-term care.
“People are standing with their clients,” he said. “Sometimes individuals don’t have the guidance, resources or programs they need. Our people help connect them to those resources so they can help themselves.”
Standing in the gap
One scripture has become especially meaningful to Pastor Hugh during his years of service.
“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land.” -Ezekiel 22:30
“Lakeview Center stands in the gap for the vulnerable,” he said. “Team members advocate for those in need, bringing them health and wholeness.”
Pastor Hugh also values Lakeview Center’s willingness to adapt as the behavioral health landscape changes. He has watched staff develop new tools, build new programs and rethink how services are delivered when community needs shift.
He pointed to innovations like Lakeview Center’s Central Receiving Facility as an example. By creating a clear point of connection for people in crisis, the facility benefits law enforcement, hospitals, clinicians and clients alike. To Pastor Hugh, it reflects what Lakeview Center does well: find effective, efficient and compassionate ways to help people get to the right level of care as quickly as possible.
“Lakeview Center consciously strives to come up with creative and innovative ways to better serve our community,” he said. “That’s part of our mission and values. This team takes our mission to heart. They live it out, giving true service, not just lip service.”
“We’re all called to make a difference”
For Pastor Hugh, that commitment is why he continues serving after retirement.
Supporting Lakeview Center allows him to remain part of work that changes lives and brings hope to people in need. For him, Lakeview Center’s work is a lifeline.
He says serving with the organization has expanded his worldview, deepened his empathy and shown him the power of skilled professionals working together for the good of the community. He encourages you to find a service outlet that matches your gifts to others’ needs.
“Community service breaks you out of your comfort zone and brings you unexpected rewards,” he said. “You grow personally and professionally when you can make a difference in your community. We’re all called to make a positive difference.”
Inspired by Pastor Hugh’s example? Help strengthen behavioral health care across Northwest Florida by supporting our mission.