Staff at FUMC, Gainesville, FL

	Harold Henderson, D.Min - Senior Minister 372-8523 Ext 11 hhenderson@fumcgnv.org Click Here for high resolution picture Dr Harold Henderson has been appointed our Senior Minister. Dr Henderson came to us from the FUMC of Reddick, FL where he has been minister for 13 years. He is an Australian citizen, married to a US citizen, Dr. Ruth Henderson and resides permanently in the United States. He holds a degree in Theology from the Melbourne College of Divinity, University of Melbourne, Australia. He also holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Barry University in Miami, Florida. He has lived and worked in Geneva, Switzerland, Cyprus and Barcelona, Spain as well as in Australia and the United States. Previous work with World Vision International and The Methodist Church have taken him to more than 70 countries in Asia, Africa, Central and South America, the Middle East, The Pacific and Europe. Dr. Henderson currently teaches short-term intensive courses for clergy students through the Emory University Extension program at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. His wife, Dr. Ruth Henderson, recently retired as Director of the Archer Campus of Santa Fe Community College and works with interns in the College of Teaching and Learning at the University of Florida.
	Carl E. Romey - Assistant Pastor 372-8523 Ext. 14 romeyce@fumcgnv.org Carl became a part of the ministry team at FUMC in September 1998. Completing a B.A. in religion, Carl attended seminary in Kansas City, Missouri and was ordained in 1975. He has served as a senior pastor in Indiana and Florida as well as being a missionary to Brazil, South America for twelve years. While in Brazil he and his wife worked in new church planting where he also served as the district superintendent for a pioneer area. Carl is a consultant for Brazilian ministries on the Florida Conference. He and his wife Shirley have been married for 33 years. Shirley is a Histotechnologist at Shands AGH. They have two children and four grandsons.
	Frank Ferreri - Director of Children/Youth & Education 372-8523 Ext 18 frank@fumcgnv.org Frank and his wife, Heather, have been a part of the FUMC family since January, 2005, when Frank began attending law school at UF. A native of Clearwater, Fla., Frank spent his formative years in the Presbyterian Church, but allowed his faith to become “lukewarm” during high school and college. Thankfully, shortly after Heather and Frank were married in December, 2004, the FUMC family reached out with loving arms to bring them back into the body of Christ. After graduating law school in December, 2007, Frank spent many long hours attempting to discern God’s call on his life. Through much help, guidance, and prayer from others, in the spring of 2008 the Lord led Frank to see that his vocation is to serve the church. Prior to law school, Frank earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of South Florida in Religious Studies, where he also completed a minor in Mass Communications. He has taught several courses as an adjunct instructor at USF but has been most blessed to teach youth Sunday school at FUMC since the autumn of 2005. Heather, a Clinical Research Manager with UF’s Institute on Aging, has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychobiology from Simmons College and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Frank hopes you will join him in praying that, through the power of the Holy Spirit, he will be a channel for God’s grace to all and a faithful disciple of Christ..
	Robert W. Jackson (BJ) - Director of Music Ministries 372-8523 Ext. 20 music1@fumcgnv.org Robert Jackson, or as he is better known, BJ, was born and raised in Homestead, Florida. He is the third of four siblings and is a true Florida cracker. He originally planned to be a Veterinarian, but didn't make the cut, so he transferred to the Pharmacy Dept (his father was a Pharmacist). While in Pharmacy School, he joined the Men's Glee Club and soon became very involved in the musical events on campus, including six years with the Chamber Singers and the Madrigal Dinners, three successful seasons of A Broadway Review and too many Christmases on Campus to remember. It was here that a professor/mentor suggested that he might find a music career to be more fulfilling and so he has. Many of you may remember that after he graduated from UF in 1978, and before he actually started his church music career, he spent five months here at First Church as very inexperienced Youth Director. His fondest memory, other than the great group of youth, is learning how to drive that old yellow school bus on the one way streets of Ybor City during a youth mission trip that summer. He left First Church for a full time Director of Music and Youth at Cason United Methodist Church in Delray Beach, Florida, but would soon find his way back to Gainesville to become first the Assistant to the Pastor, then the Director of Music, at University United Methodist Church. And here he remained for 27 years building a very successful college and church music program. He is the proud owner of seven (7) rescued cats - Hobbes, Anna, Abby, Ally, Scooter, Sasha, and Zoe. His favorite time of year is Fall - Christmas (a gene he inherited from his mother) and is a fanatic for huge Christmas light displays. His house has been included in the Gainesville Sun listing for the last four years. The rest of the story is yet to be written as he enters a long line of excellent music directors here at First Church. He believes that everyone has a musical voice with with to offer praises back to God, so if he hasn't already invited you to join the choir, he will. Stop by his office and say hello.
	Cristle Alfred - Financial Secretary 372-8523 Ext. 27 calfred@fumcgnv.org Waiting for biography Cristle Alfred receives award for 20 years of service Click here for details and a picture
	Wendy Callahan - Church Hostess 372-8523 Ext. 24 wendy@fumcgnv.org Wendy grew up in Miami and came to Gainesville in 1989 with Eastern Airlines. When Eastern went under in 1991, she and her Mom opened a restaurant in Hawthorne called PJ's. There they met Julia and Ray Massey, members of FUMC, and were asked to cook for the Methodist ladies. After the birth of her daughter Leah and son Chase, they closed the restaurant and devoted their cooking skills to FUMC together for 8 years before her Mom's untimely death. Wendy continues to cook, aided by John Bloodsworth.
	Benjamin Ehrlich - Organist ben@fumcgnv.org Benjamin Ehrlich is originally from Bainbridge Georgia, but has lived in Gainesville, FL for the last fourteen years. He has played organ and piano for First Baptist, Bainbridge, Georgia; Robinwood Baptist, Birmingham, AL; Morningside Baptist, Celebration Baptist, and Thomasville Road Baptist, Tallahassee, FL; First Presbyterian, and, for the last seven years, First United Methodist, Gainesville, FL. Benjamin has previously studied voice with Russell Hedger and Laura Hillman, and organ with H.E. Tibbs, Michael Corzine, David Boe,Willis Bodine, and Mark Coffey. He is currently in the studio of Dr. Laura Ellis while pursuing the Bachelor of Music degree in Organ Performance from the University of Florida. Benjamin will perform his Senior Recital September 21, 2008. Benjamin has accompanied the Rutter Requiem (2004); Gainesville Festival of Choirs (2004), and Dubois’ Seven Last Words of Christ (2005), Dvorak Requiem (2006), Alachua County Youth Orchestra (2006). He has presented his Junior Recital in the fall of 2007 at the University of Florida, and has participated in numerous student recitals in Gainesville, Palatka and recently on the Kirk Organ, Dunedin (2007). Benjamin has participated as a vocalist in the Requiems of Mozart, Duruflé, Rutter, Hindemith, Brahms, Verdi and Fauré, as well as J.S. Bach’s St Matthew’s Passion, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Vivaldi’s Gloria, and Gounod’s St. Cecilia’s Mass..
	Charlene Haufler - Administrative Assistant 372-8523 Ext. 25 charlene@fumcgnv.org Charlene is originally from Waycross, Georgia but has called Gainesville her home for 49 years. Charlene owned her own organizational consulting business for five years prior to coming to work at FUMC. Before starting her business, she worked seven years as the Administrative Assistant to the District Superintendent of the North Florida District Church of the Nazarene. Charlene spends her "spare time" volunteering at Helping Hands Clinic and other charities. She is married to Dale Haufler, a farmer and Gainesville native. Dale and Charlene have two married daughters, one in Nashville, Tennessee and one in Tampa, Florida.
	Amy Watson - Preschool Director 372-8523 Ext. 12 fumpers@fumcgnv.org Amy grew up in Auburn, AL and is a life-long Methodist. Prior to coming to FL, she earned a BS in Marine Biology from Auburn University and worked for 9 years as a Biologist. When Amy and her husband David moved to Gainesville in 1996, she changed career directions. She earned a Child Development Associate Credential and taught preschool for a few years. Amy and David were blessed with their child Addie in 1999 and she then became a stay-at-home Mom. In 2003, Amy was offered the position of the FUMC Preschool Director so she earned a Director Credential and has been involved with the FUMPer students ever since. Amy enjoys spending time out-of-doors with her family.