Staff

Guests

Staff

	Dr. Davis Chappell Senior Minister Dr. Davis Chappell is currently in his 8th year as senior pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceville, Georgia. Lawrenceville is a suburb on the northeast side of Atlanta. Its congregation now numbers over 3100. Davis graduated from Martin College in Pulaski, Tennessee, and also from Lambuth College in Jackson, Tennessee, with degrees in Psychology. He went on to Candler School of Theology on the campus of Emory University, where he received his M.Div. degree. He recently completed his D.Min degree at Perkins School of Theology on the campus of Southern Methodist University. His doctoral work was in the area of evangelism and church renewal. His thesis was about how the mother church is impacted by birthing a new congregation. Under his leadership, FUMC birthed and planted a new congregation in a growing section of Gwinnett County on September 11, 2005. FUMC has also been instrumental in birthing the first homeless ministry in Gwinnett County, Family Promise. Davis has served in pastoral appointments in the North Georgia Conference for the past 25 years. He is married to the former Sherre Hufman. They have 2 children: Andrew-age 18, and Hailey-age 14.
	Reverend Allen Hoskyn Minister of Evangelism Allen has lived in the Atlanta area off and on for the past 22 years and worked as a teacher and coach before entering full-time ministry. He has degrees in social work and middle school education from Mars Hill College and Georgia State University. Allen is completing his first year at FUMCLV after graduating from Asbury Theological Seminary in May of 2008. He and his wife, Aneta, have three children.
	Reverend Sheri Smith Minister of Congregational Care Sheri grew up in Douglasville, Georgia and attended West GA College. She is a Licensed Local Pastor currently studying at Georgia Gwinnett College in pursuit of a degree in Psychology/Counseling. She is married to Hugh and they have a daughter named Sarah. Sheri has served on the staff of Duluth First UMC as Minister of Visitation and also at East Cobb UMC as Associate Pastor. Sheri's passions are Congregational Care, her music, and sharing Jesus.
	Bill Steele Director of Music A. William (Bill) Steele is a graduate of Texas State University, holding a degree in French Horn performance. He has worked in the field of church music for 28 years, serving 18 of those years in Texas churches. His choirs and bell groups have produced 7 recordings, toured Europe twice and received invitations to sing at Carnegie Hall. Bill is married to Robin and they have two children.
	Donna Arendall Church Business Administrator Donna Arendall joined the staff as the Church Business Administrator in 1996. Donna attended Mercer University and has a BA in Business Administration. She has worked in accounting and business administration during her entire career. Prior to coming to First Methodist, Donna was the Church Business Manager at Peachtree Corners Baptist Church in Norcross, Georgia, a position she held for five years. Donna has three sons, has been a member of Central Baptist Church in Lawrenceville since 1979 and has served there in many capacities.
	Lisa Johnson Director of Spiritual Formation and Missions Lisa is a native of Dunlap, Tennessee. She received a B.S. in education from Texas Woman’s University in 1980. In 2006 she completed a Master’s of Divinity from Candler School of Theology. She taught for over 17 years in Gwinnett County Pubic Schools. She and her husband Philip have lived in Lawrenceville since 1987.Their family includes Ashley and Matt Overley, Laura and Allen Jones, and granddaughters Claire and Meredith Jones.
	Allen Whittaker Director of Youth Allen Whittaker was born and raised in Enterprise, Alabama. He received his degree in Mass Communications from Auburn University in 1998. While attending Auburn, he worked for Auburn UMC as assistant youth minister. After college, he worked as the Minister to Youth and Young Adults at McEachern UMC in Powder Springs, GA, Minister to Junior High Students at Mount Pisgah UMC in Alpharetta, GA, and as the Junior High Youth Minister at Christ UMC in Mobile, AL. Allen also has been taking seminary classes towards a Masters of Theological Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary and Candler School of Theology.
	Cindy Walters Director of Children's Ministry Cindy grew up in Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in Early Childhood Education. She taught Public School for 13 years and after moving to Georgia in 1988 operated a Licensed Family Daycare. As an Area Rep for American Intercultural Exchange, Cindy worked with foreign exchange students and their host parents in the Atlanta area. She and her husband, Randy, have been married since 1975 and have two grown daughters, Kiley and Darika.
	Joan Irwin Assistant Director of Music, Organist Joan Irwin has been the Church Organist since 1989. She attended the University of Tennessee where she majored in Music. She has been a professional organist since age 14. Currently, Joan is a member of the Georgia Music Teachers' Association. She is married, has three sons and a grandson.
	Michele Knapp Nursery Coordinator Michele Knapp, Nursery Coordinator, was raised in Milford, Connecticut and graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a B.A. in Psychology in 1991. After college, she worked as a case manager for Bridge Over Troubled Waters, a shelter for teenage mothers. She also worked as the Director of Child Care Services for the YWCA for three years, prior to moving to the Atlanta area in 1999. Michele has been married for nine years and has two children.
	Robin Dill Director, Grace Arbor Congregational Respite Program Robin, a graduate from Clemson University, has worked in a variety of settings which have helped prepare her for the ministry work at Grace Arbor. Born in Massachusetts, Robin is a Stephen Minister with a background in hospital pastoral care as well as a recent caregiver. Having a passion for the elderly, Bible study and prayer, she is excited about the ministry of Grace Arbor and the opportunities to work with incredible volunteers and staff. Robin has been married to her husband Tom for 30years and they have 2 adult children, 1 dog, and 3 cats. In 2009 Robin published the book, Walking with Grace, a manual to aid churches starting Congregational Respite Ministries.