First United Methodist Church St Cloud

 

Rev. Cathy Thacker is an Ordained Elder in the Florida Annual Conference. She has served churches in Lockhart, Taft, Winter Park and Lake Alfred. Cathy is married to her childhood sweetheart, Rusty, and they have two adult children. Ben is a chef at Disney and has a daughter, Opal, 12 years old. Sara is married to Mark Reiter and they have a daughter, Sadie, 9 years old and a son, Caleb, 6 years old. They live on the eastern shore of Virginia. Cathy was a Certified Public Accountant when God called her to full time ministry. She received her Master of Divinity from Asbury Seminary Florida Campus in 2003. She has served on the leadership team of the Florida Five Day Academy for Spiritual Formation as well as the Two Year Academy for Spiritual Formation, as Chairperson of the Conference Board of Pensions and Health Benefits and she currently serves as a member of the East Central District Committee on Ministries. She loves seeing people accept Christ and grow in their relationship with Him. She has been on mission trips to Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras and Zimbabwe. She loves cooking, baking, reading, the beach and spending time with her family.

Hello!  I'm Joyce Perkins, the Church Office Administrator. 
This includes being the Treasurer.  I have a great assistant in James Wise 
and together we try to keep communication open for everyone. 

I was born and raised in the beautiful Allegheny Mountains of Virginia.  I  met 
my wonderful husband Chuck at college and married in 1979. We moved to Texas 
in November of 1981 and he managed Sonic Drive-Ins. I was his 
Assistant Manager. In October of 1983 we moved to Florida.  We each tried 
different jobs until Chuck became a courier and I was in retail management. 
I then worked in a lab which specializes in phalaenopsis orchids. I learned so
 much from each job and can clearly see where God was preparing me for my 
current position. He saw me through brain surgery

for epilepsy and then chemotherapy for colon cancer. As I like to say,  "God is
 keeping me here for a reason!"

James Wise Assistants Administrator
I was called to help with the church's Bag of Love Ministry some 
5 years ago.  It so happened the church was looking for a help in the office assisting in chu administration. Where I have found 
a home here, working with Joyce Perkins ever since. It has been a 
real challenge and pure joy to work in the service of the Lord, 
along with brother and sisters who put God first.

Donna Regn
Mercy Ministries Coordinator
I have a heart for the homeless and the suffering they go through.
I work hard to give them basic needs and work to raise them up to 
becoming self sufficient.  Having a benefited from 
Celebrate Recovery and can help many through their habits, hurts, 
and hang-ups.   

Rijean Smith has a great love for God and His children.  She has been a part of Children’s Ministry for over 20 years and has worked with children as a preschool teacher and as a childcare director.  She is married to her husband Andy and they have three children and five, soon to be six grandchildren.  Rijean loves to spend her spare time watching her grandson play baseball and going camping. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                     Rev. Jim Kledis  Associate Pastor

 

 

 

My calling to teach and share God’s love with children launched 20+ years ago when I began teaching at First United Methodist Church Preschool.  In December 2014, I was asked to be the Director of the school.  I am blessed to be able to lead and work with an amazing staff and children.  In the past, I have served in the capacity of Children’s Ministry Director and VBS Director at FUMC.  I have been married to my husband, Jim, for 29 years.  We have 2 children, a son-in-law and a grand pup.  All are a special gift from God.

 

I’m Lou Murray, music director here at First UMC. Over my decades of experience, I’ve played and composed virtually all styles of music, but my real joy is in leading music for worship. My goal is always to make the music inspiring and meaningful. We welcome guest performers and often have vocal and instrumental soloists. If you’d like to hear some of my original instrumental music, it’s available for listening on all the music streaming services, or you can visit my own website:  http://loumurray.bandcamp.com Come praise God in song with us on Sunday mornings!

 

 

Scott is married to Aimee and lives in Kissimmee. Scott is the Choral Director at Denn John Middle School and has served as the Music Director at First United Methodist Church in Kissimmee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Amber Smith Youth Director 
Kissimmee Charter school, teaches 5th Grade Science
Born May 10th Graduated from USF Environmental Sciences & Policies in the Spring 2021Has a dog Stormie.  A cat named Sonnie.  Bearded Dragon named Rocky Hobbies Golf sewing crafting, Sings in our Praise Team Brother Drew, Sister Amanda, 6 nieces and nephews Helping with set design + costumes in the Charlie Brown Christmas program at St. Cloud Middle School