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      Meet the staff of Wesley Church

 

 

 Ellen Ashe  -  Secretary

Ellen Ashe has been a part of the secretarial staff for 8 years. Her responsibilities include answering the phone, recording worship and Sunday School attendance, mailing out visitor letters and reminder cards weekly for the Evangelism ministry, scheduling rooms in the building, Wednesday night supper reservations, baptismal certificates, and helping the Program Staff with various projects.

Ellen and her husband Steve have been married for 23 years. They joined Wesley in January 1991. They have two children, Caro (19), and Evan (13).

 


 

 

 

Nathan BellNathaniel Bell   - Custodian

Ellen Ashe has been a part of the custodial staff at Wesley since the year 2000.  He also happens to be a wonderful cook.

 

 


 

 

  Elizabeth  Buckley -  Secretary

Elizabeth joined the staff at Wesley in September of 2007. Before coming to Wesley she was a Religious Programs Specialist in the U.S. Navy where she served for 9 years.

In her free time Elizabeth enjoys music, cooking, and the great outdoors.

 

 
 

 Ray Burnette  - Food Services

Ray joined the staff in 2002 as the official chef and Director of Food Services.

 

 


 

 Leroy Burns - Custodian

Leroy came onboard as a custodian in September of 2002.

 

 

 


 

 Joanne Cirincione  -Director of Education

Joanne has been a member at Wesley Church since 1998 and became Director of Education in January 2006.  She obtained her Masters in Education from Augusta State University, and holds a Bachelors degree in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech.  At Wesley, Joanne coordinates the Adult Sundays Schools, WOW programming, Bible Studies, and Women's Ministries.  Joanne and her husband Larry have three children, Daniel, Laura, and Michael.

"Wesley has been an important part of my family's life.  It is my hope that everyone who enters Wesley's doors can feel the same love and acceptance that I experienced.

 
 

Michelle Dodson  - Program Secretary

Michelle joined the Wesley staff in January of 2006.  Before coming to Wesley, she worked for three years at MCG.  She has her Bachelors in Marketing from Augusta State University and is currently working on her Masters in education at Georgia Southern University.

Michelle and her husband Stan attend Wesley and actually met at Wesley on a young adult rafting trip.  In their free time they enjoy going to the beach and watching sports, especially the Braves!

 
 

 Katie Dupree    - Children's Director

Katie DuPree joined the Wesley staff in June of 2004. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Clemson University. She practiced nursing for 18 years with her specialty in Operating Room Nursing. Katie's job as Children's Director is both rewarding and challenging! Her responsibilities include Children's Sunday School programs, Children's WOW, Vacation Bible School, and Children's Seasonal Events.

Katie is married to Gregg DuPree, an anesthesiologist at Doctor's Hospital. They have two daughters, Emily (20) and Taylor (10). Katie and her family have been members of Wesley since 1998.

 

 

 

 Mike Feaster  - Recreation Director

Mike Feaster joined the staff at Wesley in February of 2003. Mike And his wife Sharon Eubanks live in the Lynnhurst subdivision of North Augusta.

Mike is a lifelong resident of the C.S.R.A. having graduated from North Augusta High School and Augusta Tech. Mike has worked with the North Augusta Parks and Recreation Department for 17 years. He worked with and developed programming for youth, adults and senior citizens.Mike served 4 years on the South Carolina State Board of Directors of the S.C. Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Services. Mike and his wife Sharon are members of Aldersgate UMC in Augusta, having worked as youth counselors for 5 years.

Mike's hobbies include landscaping, golf, fishing, going to NASCAR races, and doing as many things together with his wife Sharon as possible.

Mike would love to hear anyone's ideas on programming for Wesley. This is a wonderful way to reach out to the community and let our friends and neighbors participate in Wesley Ministries and see our love for the Lord.

1st Corinthians 13 is his favorite passage.

 

 

 

Curtiss Gibbs Curtiss Gibbs  - Youth Director

Curtiss became a part of the Wesley staff in August 2007. Before coming to Wesley, he served as Youth Pastor at Winder First UMC in Winder, Georgia where he was in his fourth year there. Curtiss has also interned at his hometown church in Perry, Georgia and at the UGA Wesley Foundation where he worked with freshmen. Both Curtiss and his wife, Shannon, graduated from the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!) with a Bachelors of Science in Child and Family Development.

The Gibbs enjoy the outdoors, traveling, sports, and time with family and firends. They also have a passion for missions, as they have been a part of several mission trips within the States and to Mexico, Russia, and Kenya.

"We are very excited to be a part of the Wesley Church Family. We enjoy being in ministry together, and we love getting to know the youth. The next generation is so important, as the youth are beginning to make defcisions about the rest of their lives. We hope all of these decisions are for Christ."

 

 
 
 

Bob GillespieBob Gillespie  - Associate Pastor

Bob is a retired United Methodist pastor having served churches in the North Georgia Conference for forty three years.  He came to be with us at Wesley in August of 2001, serving as an Associate Pastor.  Bob currently teaching two adult Sunday

School Classes, leads the ALPHA courses, and teaches the Beginning Basic Bible Class.  He assists with the 11:00 AM

Traditional Worship Service, and fills in for either one of the pastors when needed.  He and his wife, Sondra have been married fifty two years, have three grown children, and two grand children.  Bob is a graduate of Georgia Tech and the Candler School of Theology.  He once made a list of "50 Things I Want To Do Before I Die."  Having accomplished all of these, he is now working on a second list.

   
 

 Mark Haddon -               Contemporary Music Director

Mark has been active in Wesley's music ministry since his family joined the church in 1995. As plans came together for introducing contemporary Christian music into the church's worship services, he participated in the praise band on guitar and vocals from the beginning. Mark moved into his current leadership position with the group in 2004 when he joined the Wesley staff on a part-time basis.

Mark enjoys music of all kinds and plays guitar, banjo and mandolin. It is the highlight of his week to play music to God's glory every Sunday morning.

Mark and his wife Adelle are proud parents of Mary Catherine and Taylor.

   
 

 Linda Jolley  - Office Manager

Linda began at Wesley January 16, 1996.  She and her husband, Don, live in Augusta.  They have two children, Brandon, his wife, Monica, and daughter, Adeline, live in Madison, Georgia.   Laurann (Foley), her husband, Bryan and daughter, Emma, live in Augusta.  Linda enjoys spending time with her family, as well as going on trips with the Wesley Missions teams, whether it be Honduras or here in the states, cooking and, of course, the Pumpkin Patch. Over the years, she has found out that no two days are alike at Wesley – which makes every day an adventure.  The staff is like extended family and it is an honor and a privilege to be a part of this great team!

 
 

 Freddie Jones - Custodian

Freddie has been on the custodial staff since July 2002.

 
 

 Riki Massey   - Financial Manager

Riki Massey joined the Wesley staff as Financial Manager in September 2002.  She previously worked for 3 years in actuarial consulting in Atlanta.  She obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration in Actuarial Science from Georgia State University, graduating summa cum laude.

Riki is married to Bryce Massey, a teacher and football/baseball coach at Evans High School.  Together, they enjoy sports, friends and the outdoors.  Riki also loves to read.  They have two children; a son, Gehrig and a daughter, Greer.

 
 

 Elaine Maxwell - Pianist

Elaine has been playing the piano for Wesley since 1994.

 
 

 Greg Porterfield   - Senior Pastor

Greg was appointed to Wesley in June of 2004.  He received a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology, Emory University.  His primary responsibilities include preaching, pastoral care, and leadership of the staff and congregation.  "Wesley Church has enjoyed an exciting ministry in its short history, marked by rapid growth and new buildings.  The identifying characteristic of a congregation however, should never be its buildings or growth.  Rather, the character of a congregation is always expressed in the beliefs and actions of it's members.  I am grateful to express my faith as pastor of Wesley Church."

 
 

 Patty Story  - Youth Director

Patty joined the Wesley staff in June of 2006. Before joining the Wesley staff she worked as a children's ministry intern in Macon at Martha Bowman UMC. She graduated from Valdosta State University summa cum laude with Bachelors in Sociology and Anthropology and a minor in History and is planning on getting her Masters in counseling.

In her free time Patty enjoys spending time with her husband Jeremy and their boxer Rory, playing sports, being with her friends, being outdoors, reading, cooking, and going to concerts. Patty has a passion for working with youth, learning about other cultures, writing ethnographies, and counseling.

 
 

Mary Carolyn Thigpen and FamilyMary Carolyn Thigpen                                   - Evangelism Volunteer

Mary Carolyn Thigpen and her family joined Wesley in 1992 following a move back to Augusta after living away for seven years.  September 1997, she joined the staff as secretary.  As Wesley grew, church leadership felt the need for a contact person for visitors and new members.  Mary Carolyn developed that position early 2000. She holds a Bachelors and a Masters in Education specializing in Reading Diagnosis and Correction from Augusta State University.  For 13 years she taught in area schools.  Winter of 2008, Mary Carolyn received the Certificate in Spiritual Formation through Columbia Presbyterian Seminary in Atlanta.

"The picture you see is our family Christmas tradition.  Holding the camera away and taking our own pictures, we laugh a lot at the results which often don't include the top, side or bottom of somebody's head!  Wesley Church has blessed our lives.  Carrie went through Wesley's youth program and received a foundation that served her well.  Ron has participated in various mission trips and has sung in the seasonal choir.  We both depend on the learning and support we experience in small groups at Wesley.” 

Mary Carolyn leads a Tuesday Morning Spiritual Formation Group and participates in HOPE Circle.

 
 

 Lori Van Lenten    - Music Director

Lori Van Lenten's love for music has been growing since childhood.  She began worshipping at Wesley when she moved to Augusta in 2001.  Two years later Lori joined the staff as part time music director until 2005 when she became the full time Director of Music Ministries.  Along with her church work, Lori taught music in a public school for four years, has been Assistant Director of the Augusta Children's Chorale for two years, and enjoys teaching private voice lessons.

Lori has lived all over the United States, but considers home to be Acton, Massachusetts where she attended middle and high school.

She earned a Bachelors Degree in Choral Music Education from Florida State University (Go Noles!) in 2000.  Lori came to Augusta because she wanted to move to a city she had never lived in before, and only knew one person.  Her Uncle and Aunt Bruce and Margaret Ellen, active members of Wesley, were the connection she had to Augusta.  In July of 2004 she married David, and was proud to have the Wesley Celebration Choir sing in her wedding.  David currently works for Merrill Lynch.

Besides singing and teaching music, Lori loves college football.  She loves watching the Seminoles play, but enjoys her weekly trips to Clemson (Dave's alma matter) to watch the Tigers play.  Lori and Dave's son Tyler was born in January of 2006. Her daughter Sutton will be born in August of 2008.

 
 

 Pat Williams - Pastor of Missions & Care

Pat joined the staff of Wesley in June of 2000.  Prior to beginning her position at Wesley, she worked for 20 years with a medical oncology practice.  Pat is married to David and they have one son, Ryan. 

Pat is a Licensed Local Pastor of the North Georgia Conference and was appointed to Wesley in June of 2005 as Pastor of Missions and Congregational Care. 


Wesley United Methodist Church
 825 N. Belair Road
Evans, GA 30809
706-869-0888  ::  706-869-0488 (fax)
Office@wesleyumc.net