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We are an "every member in ministry" congregation.
Our staff is here to help you live out your ministry... (Ephesians 4:11-13)
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Reverend David Fleming
Senior Pastor
Phone: (479) 855-1158
E-mail: scop@hotmail.com
Rev. David Fleming came to be our Senior Pastor in the summer of 2005. He is a native Arkansan and a graduate of Hendrix College and Southern Methodist University. His vision is to carry on with excellence in ministry with senior adults while adding new ministries for the growing number of young adults and families with children and youth living in the area. His wife, Karla, and son Andrew (a fifth-grader at Old High Middle School in Bentonville) join him in ministry at our church.
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Doris Schlessman
Associate Pastor
Phone: 479-855-1158
E-mail: fumcbv@cox-internet.com
Rev. Doris Schlessman has accepted the position of part-time Associate Pastor in the area of pastoral care ministries for our congregation. She retired from the Pineville, Missouri United Methodist Church in June, 2004 after serving that congregation for 17 years. Pastoral Care Ministry was a particular love of hers during her years of service and she looks forward to serving in that capacity here. She will continue to be involved in Sunday school, Bible studies, and UMW as she has been in the past year.
Pastor Doris (or “just Doris”) and her husband Don, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in December with a large family gathering and renewal of their vows. Doris enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and “playing at golf” in her spare time.
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Jan Lowe
Director of Lay Ministries
Phone: (479) 855-1158
E-mail: jlowefumcbv@cox-internet.com
Jan Lowe began her service with us as our church Secretary in September of 2005. In June, 2006, she took on the new duties of Director of Lay Ministries. In that capacity, she helps new members and guests find a place to become active in our congregation, as well as helping every member to be in ministry.
Jan utilizes her background in Human Resources and Training and Development to help enhance current ministries or build new ones that help our members to find their niche in our church.
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Dr. Larry Zehring
Director of Music Ministries
Dr. Larry Zehring is pleased to serve as our Director of Music Ministries. A native of Oklahoma, Larry holds degrees in Choral and Vocal Music Performance and Conducting from the University of the Ozarks, Tulsa University and the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC.) He has done additional post-graduate work at the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY, at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, and the Julliard School in New York City.
Larry has been involved in church music since junior high school; 2006 marks his eleventh year of service to First United Methodist Church in Bella Vista.
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Dawn Thompson
Handbell Director
Dawn Thompson was born and raised in Iowa and has been involved in music in some way since the age of four, when she began taking piano lessons from her mother. Dawn majored in Music Education at Cornell College of Iowa and taught music to elementary students in public schools. She has been involved with handbells for over twenty-five years: playing in handbell choirs, directing, performing solo handbells, participating in small handbell ensembles and arranging music. She has been the Handbell Director at First United Methodist Church since 2001.
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Roiselle Grim
Pianist / Organist
Phone: (479) 855-1158
E-mail: fumcbv@cox-internet.com
Roiselle Grim joined our music staff in July of 2008. Proficient on both piano and organ, she provides music for our sanctuary services as well as accompanying our choirs and ensembles. Roiselle grew up in Ozark, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of The Ozarks in Clarksville. She started taking piano lessons when she was five, and by the age of seven was performing at church. She became acquainted with the organ during her senior year in college when ther was no organist for the chapel. She responded to the call, took lessons and has been playing organ ever since.
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Sandy Lamberty
Director of Children & Families Ministry
Phone: 479-855-1158
E-mail: fumcbv@cox-internet.com
Sandy has been a member of FUMCBV since February of 2006. She has been active with our children’s ministries since she joined the church. “I believe very strongly that providing Christian education and background for our children will build strong, Christian adults.”
Sandy has been busy in planning for remodeling of our Sunday school classrooms to meet with the Safe Sanctuary policy that was adopted at the Charge Conference. She will also be working on building a Sunday school curriculum for babies through teens, vacation bible school, outreach and mission projects for our youth. Sandy will also act as the “organizer” for fun family activities.
Miss Sandy sees the wealth of talent and experience available in our congregation to bring the message of Jesus Christ to a new generation. She hopes to be the bridge between young and more mature Christians
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Christina Shirley
Church Secretary
Phone: (479) 855-1158
E-mail: fumcbv@cox-internet.com
We welcome Christina Shirley to our church staff. If the face is familiar it may be because Christina joined our church earlier this year after having visited here for some time. Or it may be because you have seen her as the volunteer Praise & Worship Leader for the contemporary worship at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Now, you will see her in yet another role—that of Church Secretary. Although her 2007 undergrad degree from Henderson State University is in music, she has gained solid office and computer skills along the way. She is multi-talented, high energy, and eager to serve her Lord. She sees this job as a way to do that.
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Barbara Jenner
Church Secretary
Phone: 479-855-1158
E-mail: fumcbv@cox-internet.com
Our own Barbara Jenner serves as Church Secretary on Mondays and Fridays. She is primarily responsible for recordkeeping and reports that are generated in the office. Barbara has previously volunteered as a receptionist. She took a lead role in organizing the “Every Member in Ministry” meetings in members’ homes last fall, and she records attendance each week. Barb is one of those people who sees a need and just jumps in and helps.
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Al Yanik
Treasurer
Al Yanik has served as Treasurer since November of 2000. His extensive experience in comptrollership, the antique business and that most noble of all careers, selling cars, has allowed him to gain the skills needed to be the church’s “bean counter.”
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Marge Smith
Financial Secretary
Marge Smith came to First United Methodist to “fill in until they find a permanent person”. That was in 1990 and Marge is still serving the church as Financial Secretary. She keeps the membership rolls current, records financial giving, and tracks congregational visits.
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