Staff

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Pastoral staff

Senior Pastor
Pastor Gene Wisdom came to First Church in 2001 from Louisiana by way of the Texas Panhandle.  As Senior Pastor his ministry falls mostly into two areas: one, preaching and teaching that invite and attract those not yet connected to Christ or the church, and two, executing First Church’s long-term plans for growing with the city, including the addition of needed classrooms, gathering areas, and a future family life center.

Gene enjoys playing golf and being the local handyman around his house. He is married to Debbie and they have three children, Michelle attending Washington State University in Pullman, WA, Jenny, a recent graduate of Texas Christian University, lives and works in Dallas,  and Haley is a senior at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

Pastoral Care
Pastor Clay Womack’s area of ministry include pastoral care, outreach, missions, communications, and working with the men of our church on a variety of ministries. Clay’s ministry spans more than sixteen years over two appointments to First Church. His knowledge of Garland and the people is as extensive as his gentle and caring spirit. Clay’s call to ministry  grew out of being raised in the church as his father is also a United Methodist pastor.

Clay is married to Gail who is a teacher in the Garland ISD and they have a son, Justin, who is 17 and enjoys participating in everything high school and church offer.

Pastoral Care, Children & Family Ministries and Confirmation

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Pastoral Intern:  Armando Alvarado
Armando is a Perkins Seminary student at SMU and will be part of our pastoral staff for the next year. He is from Edinburg, Texas and is a graduate of the University of Texas-Pan American with an undergraduate degree in Chemistry and a Masters of Education. Armando has worked as a teacher and administrator in the public school system in Texas before responding to a call to fulltime pastoral ministry.

Armando is married to Mariella—who is a schoolteacher but exploring the possibility of entering Law School—and their children are Gabriella (13), Aaron (10), and Noel (6). Please take time to welcome our new staff and family. Armando will begin June 3 after attending his Annual Conference session and be full time with us through May of next year.
 

Music Ministry

Kitty Williams - Director of Music Ministry

After Kitty graduated from South Garland High School, she met and married the love of her life, Wally Williams, and they have three children, Kenna who is an advertising executive in Austin, Ryan, a senior at the University of Texas in Austin, and Lindsey, who graduates from Greenville High School and will attend McMurry University in Abilene this Fall.

Kitty received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Music from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. While Wally attended Asbury Theological Seminary, Kitty entered private studies in Lexington and sang with a variety of groups. She attended four years of Perkins School of Theology Church Music Summer School and was certified as a church music director. Kitty has been director of music at First United Methodist in Rowlett, Texas, music director at FUMC, Sherman,  Texas,  and graduate assistant position at Texas A&M Commerce ((which she nicknamed "Texas Arts and Music University.") After receiving her Master of Music degree in 1998, she accepted the position of director of music at Wesley United Methodist Church in Greenville, Texas where she served for eight years. During that time she was the adjunct vocal music instructor at TAMU-C. In the fall of 2004, Kitty began working at Greenville High School as the Choir Director and continued part time at Wesley Church until demands in her schedule dictated leaving Wesley last year. She has performed as director, soloist, and chorus member in a variety of musical venues and has taken choirs on tour across the United States. We are as excited to welcome Kitty to our staff as she is to serve in her home church.
 

Children's Music
Betsy Henderson has directed our children music program for 8 years along with an excellent staff of volunteer professionals in choral music. Betsy recently retired from the Garland Public schools where she directed the arts program for the entire district. We are delighted to have this rare talent on our staff. Betsy is married to Jim who in retirement is also a choral director.

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Children's Ministry

Reverend Caroline Noll grew up in First Church, left for Texas A&M and returned as a seminary student.  Caroline Noll was officially transferred from the Texas Conference to this her home Conference as a Commissioned Deacon and she will begin serving her first appointed year at First Church. Caroline will be in the process of ordination for three years and when she has passed her reviews will be ordained as a Deacon. She will provide pastoral oversight as Pastor of Children and Families.  Caroline is married to Patrick and they hope to make North Texas their home.
 

Mothers Day Out
Lana Halbert supervises First Church's excellent nursery staff as well as the weekday operation of our MDO. If you have small children, Lana will be one of the first staff you meet on Sunday morning. Lana is originally from Honolulu, she is married to Clayton and they have three children: Justin, Jason, and Jared. Please call her at 972-494-3096.

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Youth Ministry

Youth Director

Nicole Benson is currently serving as our interim Youth Director during our search process. Nicole served as an Intern Pastor from the summer of 2006 until the spring of 2007 and has remained active in First Church working with our young adult class. She is currently a candidate for ordained ministry in the North Texas Conference, has worked as a youth director for churches in Houston and San Antonio and will is a great asset for our youth programming.


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Office Staff

Administrative Assistant Glenda Rhodes manages the office, supervises the volunteer staff, and designs just about every area of communications including the worship bulletins, media announcements, newsletter, and brochures. Glenda also coordinates the church calendar and use of the building for weddings, receptions, and meetings. Glenda lives in Rowlett, Texas and is married to Harry Rhodes. They have three sons: Ricky Kirk and wife Diana; Barry Kirk and wife Kim; Mitchell Rhodes; and four grandchildren, Charlie, Chris. Madyson & Jordan.
 

Programs Secretary Dianne Mood  is the voice you are most likely to hear when
calling the church office. Dianne manages the endless number of records,
lists, mailings and production of documents that are necessary for the church to stay informed. She is in the office on Monday morning and in the afternoon Tuesday through Friday. Dianne lives in Garland, she is married to Robert Mood and they have a son, Robbie, who is in graduate school. 

We are blessed to have a staff of five volunteers who answer the phone on various days of the week: Peggy Huffman, Shirley Andreasen, Luanne Payne, and Fay Danahy, with Sarah McAuley coming in on Mondays and Wednesdays to proof the paper and bulletin.


Business Manager Harriette Chavez oversees banking procedures, paying bills, managing the contributions and giving statements, and producing reports for the Finance Committee. Harriette is married to Rev. Frank Chavez who is pastor at the Foursquare Church in Garland and they have four grown children: Diana, Brady, Kirk & Melissa.  She will be in the office on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

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