Staff

First United Methodist Church Brunswick GA

Staff

Rev. Richard Soper Senior Minister A Message from Our Pastor Greetings from Rev. Soper! Patsy and I are very excited to be a part of First UMC Brunswick. We have felt so welcomed by your loving spirit. Both of us grew up in Valdosta, but did not meet until February, 1998, at Winter Camp Meeting. I entered the ministry in 1978 and have served all but four of those years in the South Georgia Conference. I spent those four years in the Kentucky Conference while attending Asbury Theological Seminary. I have served the Hiltonia Charge, Hopewell/Mt. Carmel Charge (Kentucky), First United Methodist Moultrie (as the Associate), Ocilla, Lake Park, and First UMC in Cairo. Patsy and I have five grown children (four daughters and one son). We have three grandchildren. Patsy enjoys reading, decorating, and working crossword puzzles. I enjoy music, sports, and riding motorcycles. We look forward to serving Christ together with you. We appreciate every one of you. Visit the Pastor's Page monthly.
Rev. Daniel C. Medina Associate Minister, Hispanic Affairs Rev. Medina joined our staff in June, 2006. Having spent the previous 11 years in Bainbridge, Georgia, starting and leading a new church for Spanish speaking people, he has unique talents for reaching and ministering to a people struggling to become a part of a new culture. He was born in Mexico City. His great, great grandparents were a part of the first Methodist Church in Mexico in 1873. His father was a Methodist minister who became a District Superintendent in the North Central Conference in Mexico. Before entering ministerial studies, he attended a Methodist College in Chihuahua, Mexico, and earned his degree in architecture in 1984. He continued with his activities in the church as lay leader and doing extensive mission work. His efforts took him into the mountains to work with and minister to the Indian natives there. He and his wife, Julieta, were married in 1986. Visit the Hispanic Ministry page.
Beau Swafford Youth Director A Message from our Youth Director I grew up in Villa Rica, GA, until I was 8 when we moved to Ocilla, GA. This is where I met Bro. Richard. He was my family’s pastor the first year and half that we lived in Ocilla. We then moved to Ellijay, GA, when I was eleven. We lived in Ellijay until I was 14 and then we moved back to Villa Rica. My father was a high school football coach and that was the reason for all the moving. I attended Villa Rica High School where I played football and baseball. After high school, I attended the University of West Georgia to play football. My football career was cut short when I broke my fibula and blew out all the ligaments in my ankle during practice. This is when God truly started working in my life. From here I began to follow God in a different way. He was my light in dark paths!! This is when God led me to youth ministry. It started out as a volunteering at my home church in VR then as junior high youth minister at VR FUMC. Then God called into full time youth minister. The next step was God opening a door for me at Hartwell FUMC. I served in Hartwell as the youth pastor for four years. In my time at Hartwell, God allowed me to serve Him in ways I never knew possible. Now I am looking forward to serving God in new and exciting ways right here at Brunswick FUMC. Just basic info I am very big fan of sports. I am a huge UGA football fan. I also enjoy playing guitar and leading worship. Read updates from Beau on the Christian Education page.
Monica Gibson Rich Pastoral Care Associate, part time Monica's ministry involves visits to our home bound members, nursing homes, the hospital, and hospice. She also directs ministry to our visitors and guests. She assists in coordinating programs to disciple our members in emotional and spiritual wellness. Monica comes to us from Texas where she was the UMCOR coordinator for disaster relief efforts after a tornado hit Eagle Pass, Texas. Previous to Texas, Monica and her family lived in Thailand for 7 years where she and her husband, Jim, coordinated community development projects in a rural Muslim village. Monica is a native of Andersen, SC. She has BA in Sociology from Clemson and a Masters Degree in Church Social Work. She has been a hospice grief counselor, a home health social worker, a hospital patient representative, and a children's home case manager. She and Jim have two children, Annie 17 and Joshua 12. They moved to Brunswick in 2008. Monica loves nature, camping, photography, music, and shrimp and grits. She enjoys kayaking with her family in the waters of the Golden Isles. Some of her favorite authors are Philip Yancey, Will Campbell, Anne Lamott, and Frederick Buechner. Her favorite Bible verse is "Love your neighbor as yourself." She says it's the answer to many of the world's ills.
Donna Nilsson Director of Music	George Ingram Church Organist
Visit the Music Ministry page.
Melinda Gunnels Church Secretary	Maggie Sutton Church Treasurer
Nicole Branch Financial secretary

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