Rev. Brian Johnson, Associate Pastor

Rev. Brian Johnson is serving in his first appointment as our Associate Pastor. He is from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and is a graduate of Old Dominion University where he majored in history. His wife Melanie was born in West Palm Beach, but grew up in Dublin Georgia. The two met in Orlando while working in Disney College Program. The two were married in 2006 and moved to Kentucky where Brian entered Asbury Theological Seminary. After a year and a half in seminary, the two made the decision to transfer to the Orlando campus. Brian and Melanie have lived in Orlando through Brian’s seminary training at Asbury, and are enjoying the community they began to plant roots in 2001.

Rev. Rodney C. Wallace, Minister of Congregational Care

Rodney attended Perkins School of Theology and Southern Methodist University, where he received his Master of Divinity degree. He is a retired Elder in the North Texas Conference (Dallas area) of the United Methodist Church. In his 21 years as a U.S. Navy Chaplain, he served at shore-based facilities, sea duty and with the United States Marines. Rodney served on the staff of two area churches, joining the First Church staff in 2002 following several years as an eighth grade American History teacher in Orange County. He is married to the former Judy Sample. His spiritual gifts include Administration and Teaching.

Candie Whitney, Senior Adult Ministries and Congregational Care Associate

Since Candie joined the First Church staff in 1986, she has served as Assistant to the Education Department, Director of Communication Ministries and, for the last four years, as Congregational Care Associate. One of her current duties is to coordinate the Senior Friendship Club … “a fun-filled group that has taught me many life lessons.” With her spiritual gift of Hospitality, Candie appreciates the many people she meets and visits in her work. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, especially her grandchildren (who have encouraged her growing participation on Facebook).

Chris Greening, Contemporary Worship Leader

Chris grew up in Racine, Wisconsin, and is a true “cheesehead.” He started his career at First Church in 1994 as the youth choir accompanist and progressed to his current position of Contemporary Worship Director. Chris has a passion for music and feels that music is a great vehicle to share God’s Word with believers and non-believers alike. One of his spiritual gifts is Creative Communication. He is married to Pam and they have three kids: Miles, Gwen and Keely.

Mary Jane Nunley, Children’s Choir Director

Mary Jane directs our children’s choirs for kindergarten through fifth grade students, sings with preschoolers during their Sunday School hour and teaches music classes at the Wesley Child Development Center. A member of First Church since 1987, she is involved in other aspects of the music program, including Chancel Choir. Her background in music education and a lifetime of experience as a United Methodist have helped her find a way to share her spiritual gift of Teaching and love of music with the church.

Lori Hamlyn, Children’s Ministries Assistant

Lori has lived and worked in the downtown Orlando community for more than 40 years. Her love for children and her creative spirit enhance the Children’s Ministries Department. She enjoys traveling, scrapbooking and Broadway musicals and plays.

Vandie Loper, Nursery Director and Special Needs Coordinator

Miranda Lee, Middle School Summer Intern

Miranda Lee is thrilled that she will be an intern working with First Church’s middle schoolers this summer! The daughter of Kim and Melanie Lee and granddaughter of Katie Bush, Miranda grew up in First Church. She was active in Youth Group throughout her middle school and high school years. She participated in many mission trips as a youth and was part of the Leadership Team her junior year on on a mission to Nicaragua. Miranda also is a talented soprano who sang in the youth choir and the chancel choir, and she has offered solos during worship at First Church and in the youth choir and the chancel choir. She is a junior at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, studying studio art and English. She brings experience as a camp counselor at Warren W. Willis Methodist Youth Camp and has worked with Vacation Bible School. Miranda is fun-loving and creative and has a passion for helping others to deepen their relationship with God.

John Shughart, High School Summer Intern

Hi my name is John Shughart, I’m a fun-loving guy and I love trying to be able to relate to as many people as possible. I am a sophomore at Florida State University Majoring in “Figuring out life” and Minoring in “Experiences”. I have been a member at First Church since the 6th grade and I grew up having the Youth Group as my second family. I love doing mission work and I have a passion for working with Youth and hope to work as a Youth Minister after graduation. I’m so excited for this summer and I hope to impact the Church, the Youth, and the Communities we will be living and working in by showing Christ’s love for all of us.

Linda Diamond, Finance Supervisor

Linda Diamond serves our church as the Finance Manager. Linda and her family have been members of First Church since 1999. She and her husband, Phil, have two children, Katherine and Michael. She has an MBA from Rollins College and a number of years of experience in business and finance. Prior to working at the church, she held positions at Walt Disney World, Piper Productions and Siemens Corp. Her duties as Finance Manager include Accounts Payable and supporting our church administrator to maintain our fiscal responsibility.

Abby Holmes, Finance Associate and Human Resources

Originally from the Mississippi Delta, Abby joined the First Church staff in 2005. In the Finance office, she enjoys working with members, staff and Wesley Child Development Center families. With the spiritual gift of Mercy, Abby appreciates helping others in her work. She and her husband Todd have been blessed with two children, John Clark and Elle. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading frugal living blogs and participating in a First Church Mothers of Preschoolers group.

Barry Clay, Facilities Supervisor

Originally from Pennsylvania, Barry joined the church staff in 1993 and became a member in 2000. As Facilities Supervisor, he enjoys the excitement of moving from one event to another and that every day holds something new. With the spiritual gift of Hospitality, Barry wants all members to feel glad they are here. His passion for the church allows him to embrace the unexpected. In his free time, Barry enjoys riding his bike and he is a compulsive reader.

Lani Swegheimer Fuehrer

Lani Swegheimer Fuehrer, our Administrative Assistant, has a varied role on our staff with responsibilities which include receptionist, financial reporting and working in web-based and software programs. A member of First United Methodist Church of Orlando since 2009, Lani’s family has a much longer history with our church. Her husband, Rob Fuehrer, grew up in our congregation and currently serves on the Wesley Child Development Center board. Lani’s three children, ages 13 to 3 years, all have attended our Wesley Child Development Center, Vacation Bible Schools and youth group during the past ten years. Coley and Jay are active in our Youth Ministry JT is currently enrolled at WCDC.

Ava Newsome, New Member Coordinator

A native Orlandoan, Ava joined First Church in 1997 and became a member of the staff in 2008. She enjoys welcoming newcomers into the church and ushering them through the new member process. With the spiritual gift of Hospitality, Ava wants all who visit our church to feel not only welcome, but comfortable. Her passion for helping people become an active part of our congregation permeates all that she does.

Elizabeth Pullum, Wedding Coordinator

Born and raised right here in Central Florida, Elizabeth joined the First Church staff part-time in 2008. She enjoys working with the First Church family and her fellow wedding coordinator Nicole Rainear. With her spiritual gift of Organization, Elizabeth helps to make sure the wedding process runs smoothly. She and her husband Mike have been blessed with two children, Caitlin and Ben. She enjoys the time she spends with her family and friends, baking delicious desserts and planning events!

Nicole Rainear, Wedding Coordinator

Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Nicole moved to Orlando in 2001 after graduating the University of Virginia. The move was to fulfill her lifelong dream of working at Walt Disney World, where she currently enjoys her job in Special Events. Nicole became a First Church wedding coordinator in 2005 and uses her spiritual gift of Encouragement to help happy couples celebrate their “big day.”

Steve Schneeberger, Discipleship Coordinator

Steve began his career in youth ministry more than twenty years ago in Lawrence, KS. Before moving to Orlando to join the First Church staff in 1994, he lived and worked for six years in Clearwater. He is also the Executive Director of the Youth Ministry Institute. Steve received his BS degree in 1985 with a Business major, and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas in 1988. He and his wife Carol have three children. He spends his limited free time playing basketball, reading John Grisham novels and throwing frisbees. His spiritual gifts are Faith, Mercy and Administration.

Maria Waldrep, Church Communications Coordinator

As Communications Coordinator, Maria’s responsibilities include creating the written communications for the church family and outreach through marketing to the community at large. A graduate of Florida Southern College, she joined the staff in June of 2005 as the Visitor and New Member Coordinator and Assistant to the Communications Coordinator. Maria and her husband Kyle are the parents of two precious little girls, Lorelei Lily and Aubree Alice.

Chaz Waldrip, Technical Director

Before joining the staff at First Church in 2004 as part-time sanctuary audio engineer, Chaz spent 22 years developing his live entertainment technical skills at a major local theme park. He first became involved at First Church in 2000, when he used his spiritual gift of Creative Communication by joining the Brass Ensemble as their tuba section. Chaz wears many hats here. In August of 2005, he became the church’s full-time Technical Director, and is the on-campus IT guy. He is also the fleet manager for our buses used in ministry missions around the country by our church and other local churches.