I was born in Bartow, Florida and christened at the First Methodist Church in 1956. My confirmation occurred while I was in the sixth grade, the same year that I joined United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF). Under the direction of Betty Bergdoll our youth spent many summers teaching Bible school at the Gordonville mission as well as assisting with our own Bible school. We had a very active youth department participating in many missions and attending camps and serving as camp counselors. I held several offices in UMYF including President. My senior year I was selected by this church to receive the Rotary Christian's Service Award.
Pam Wyant
My first experience with music began at First Methodist. I was three when I joined the Children's choir. I think my mom figured if I spent time singing in choirs it might keep me from talking so much. She was wrong. Our youth choir joined with First Baptist youth and performed and traveled in Florida with the Musical "TELL IT LIKE IT IS." I continued with music by singing in weddings, musicals, shows, and even majored in voice in college. Many members of the church encouraged me to audition for the Stephen Foster "Jeannie" contest, where I was Bartow's representative for two years.
My entire life seems to have centered around children. Baby-sitting, teaching Bible school, Sunday school, choir, chaperoning, and camp are ways in which I volunteered. I work at Bartow Elementary, am married to Jack, have three daughters, and always seem to have extra children at my home. With Bonnie Allen's encouragement and the church's blessing, I was hired as the Children's Ministry and Choir Director in the fall of 2000. I feel truly blessed to be back at home at First United Methodist and to be part of such a wonderful staff and most of all working with some really wonderful children.