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.
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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.
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Beau Swafford
Youth Director
A Message from our New 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.
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Donna Nilsson
Director of Music
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George Ingram
Church Organist
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The Music Ministry page is under construction.
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Melinda Gunnels
Church Secretary
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Maggie Sutton
Church Treasurer
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Nicole Branch
Financial secretary
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