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Leadership Team
Michael Miller, Pastor
Pastor Michael and his family came to Fort Payne First in July 2018. Apart from Bible College in Hawaii, the Philippines, Hong Kong and India, he received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Social Work from the University of Alabama. He received his Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary where he currently is working on his doctoral studies. Pastor Michael has a passion for God’s missionary heart and has served around the globe from Africa to Central America through evangelism, missionary work and church planting, community development and teaching English.
Val
Valerie Moses, Director of Youth Programs
Valarie has a passion for being the Hands and Feet of Christ, while always having fun. She has been a part of numerous ministries throughout her life, including the Big Oak Ranch and other non-profit agencies. Valarie is married to Kelly, and has 8 children (2 humans, 3 rescue dogs, and 3 rescue cats). Her dream is to retire and live on a farm rehabilitating animals and ministering to abused children. Valarie is a graduate of The University of West Florida, majoring in Children and Society and a minoring in Child Welfare.
Matt
Matt Chisenhall, Young Adult Outreach
Matt has a passion for meeting people where they are. In August of 2016, Matt went on the World Race, which is an 11 month mission trip to 11 different countries. Matt is excited to be on staff at FUMC and looks forward to meeting and serving people locally and globally. Matt is a graduate of the University of Alabama.
Alison
Alison Traylor, Director Childrens’ Ministry
Alison is passionate about teaching our children to spread God’s love by showing compassion and love for one another. Alison is married to Ty and they have 4 children. She is currently pursuing her degree in Early Childhood Education.
Betsy
Betsy arrived at Fort Payne First with a heart for service and ministry. Her prior occupations included nursing/health professional, and most recently, Executive Director of United Givers Fund of DeKalb County (a local, non-profit organization), before answering God’s calling to serve the church and its membership. She is married to Rory Smith, and is blessed with two Sons, a daughter-in-law, and two “wonderful” grandkids. She can also be heard singing in the FPFUMC Chancel Choir during the traditional service on Sunday mornings.
Sky
Sky Tidmore, Financial Secretary
Angie
Angela Thwaits-Croft, Director Chancel Choir
Angie began her passion for music and the arts from a very young age through singing in Children’s Choir at church and participating in school band. She studied Musical Theatre at Northeast Alabama Community College and at Auburn University, performing in several plays and dance productions. Angie started working as a professional vocalist and rhythm guitarist in her early twenties and continued to follow her dream of becoming a songwriter for sixteen plus years. After becoming a mother, she followed a new calling to become the Chancel Choir and Traditional Music Director here at FUMC in 2015.
Curtis
Curtis Strange, Contemporary Music Leader
Born in Bloomington, Indiana but raised in Fort Payne, Curtis’s introduction to Fort Payne First
came when he joined the Praise Team as a bass player. The open and welcoming faith community at Fort Payne First reminded him of the small church that he had grown up in. Now, as Praise Team Leader, Curtis seeks to shine the light of Jesus Christ throughout this church and out into our community, so that others like him will know that they are loved, welcome, and never alone. Curtis is incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to grow as a Christian in fellowship with such an amazingly dedicated Praise Team. He is married to his wife Miranda and father to their daughter, Charlotte.
Ronnie
Ronnie Campbell, Church Organist
Sandra
Sandra Adrian, Church Pianist
Sandra has been pianist at FUMC since 2007. She formerly served thirty years at Centre First Baptist Church as pianist. Sandra is a graduate of Jacksonville State University with a BS in Secondary Education, MS in Guidance. She retired from Cherokee County Schools following thirty years of teaching and is married to Jerry Adrian. They have two daughters and five grandchildren.
Kristie
Kristie Riddle, Director Mothers Day Out
Kristie has always had a heart for children. She graduated from the University of Alabama in 1995 with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. She is a registered nurse and has spent most of her nursing career in the pediatric field. Kristie is married to Tommy and has 2 children, ages 14 and 11. She enjoys interacting with children, while also teaching them about God’s great love for them.
Not Pictured:MDO Assistant Director, Melissa Roe
Mackenzie
Mackenzie Camp, Nursery Director
Hi, my name is Mackenzie Camp and I am super excited about this opportunity as Nursery Director. I am currently a college student pursuing a degree in Nursing. I love being with my friends and family, shopping, and watching Alabama football.
My favorite verse is:
“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”
Psalm 31:24
I am super excited to be in this position and look forward to all the opportunities it holds for my future.
Lisa
Lisa Norquist, Director Servant Ministries
Lisa has been a member of Fort Payne First United Methodist Church for over 15 years. She currently serves as the Director of Servant Ministries, which includes our community outreach program Serving our Savior (SOS), where she has served as a volunteer for the last 14 years. She received her bachelor’s degree in Management of Human Resources at Faulkner University. She and her husband have two children and five grandchildren. Lisa’s goal is for our church to fulfill the scriptures about helping others and to encourage our congregation to go make a difference in someone’s life! You never know how a small act of kindness can draw someone closer to God.