Our staff is here to serve you as well as others in the community. Visit our Contact page for various ways for you to contact us.
Pastor Bainbridge, the first woman senior pastor at First United Methodist Church, is a native of Bentonville returning home after working the last four years as Superintendent of the Northwest District within the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church. As an Elder in Full Connection in the Arkansas Conference, Pastor Bainbridge brings with her the passion for the people shown in her pastoral experience during her theological career and her dramatic flair from her previous career as a Master of Theater Arts teacher.
 Lee Myane
Lee Myane was appointed as Associate Pastor June 2010. His primary responsibilities include Young Families and Small Group Ministries. In 1999 he and a partner started Sand Creek Engineering and Landscape Architecture in Bentonville. He was a landscape architect for over 15 years before going part time to attend seminary. Currently he works part time for Sand Creek and attends seminary at Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City. He will graduate with a Master of Divinity in May of 2011.
He is a licensed local pastor. Previously he was the pastor at Centerton UMC and the associate pastor at Living Waters UMC from July 2008 till January 2010. Currently Lee works for the Northwest District as a congregational development guide, working with multiple churches to formulate mission and evangelism plans.
Both Lee and his wife, Andrea, are from Arkansas and both attended Arkansas University. Andrea works as a Physical Therapist. They have three children: Silas, Sarah, and Sawyer.
Jan Lowe
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.
Barbara Mauthe
Barbara Mauthe began her ministerial experiences as Faith Formation Coordinator in the Catholic Church where she expanded her faith and knowledge in many areas of church work. She has seventeen years experience serving in a similar capacity at the Catholic Church in Menasha, Wisconsin, before moving to Bella Vista in December 09.
Barb has been married to Larry for 37 years. They have three grown children, and have raised many foster children throughout the years. Barb and Larry have two grandchildren with one on the way. They make their home here in Bella Vista.
Dr. Larry Zehring
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.
Roiselle Grim
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.
Dawn Thompson
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.
Carrie Drish
Carrie’s fond memories for her own Sunday school experiences and her desire to “grow up to be just like her mother” and help form young Christians have made her the ideal person to lead our Children’s Ministry. It is her goal to continue to build our Children’s Ministry programs upon the strong foundations that have been laid by those who have worked so hard in the past. She wants to have the “best Children’s Ministry program in Bella Vista!”
Carrie moved to Bella Vista from Michigan four years ago with her husband, Ken, and their children, son Owen now 5 years old and daughter, Morgan 14. They have been active at FUMCBV for just over a year.
In her free time, Carrie is learning to machine quilt, does loom knitting and spends time with “the most amazing friends in the world.”
Danette Baker
Danette has been married to Eric for 15 years and have 3 girls…Kamryn, 14, Kaci, 11, and Kyler, 3. Danette and her husband, Eric, both grew up in NWA and graduated from Rogers High School. They lived in San Diego, CA and Virginia Beach, VA while Eric was serving in the Navy. In 2002, they returned to NWA to finish raising our girls. Danette is happy to be a part of this exciting time of growth in our church.
Amy Gilmore
We are pleased to welcome Amy Gilmore, who moved to Bentonville from Helena, Montana in the Fall of 08 with her family.
Amy’s husband James, (who works for Wal-Mart), and two children Alec (7) and Jenna (5) joined the church in June of 09 and quickly became active members. Wanda Williams, Amy’s mother, who also moved with them from Montana, teaches Sunday School here at FUMC.
Amy earned her Bachelors in Business Administration from Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado. Amy has preformed a wide range of positions throughout her career.
Amy is an active parent and enjoys hobbies of stamping/scrapbooking, and reading.
She took off the last eight years to raise her children who are now in school. The treasurer job here is part-time and will allow Amy the flexibility of working around her kids’ schedule.
Marge Smith
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.
Troy Jorgensen
Troy Jorgensen was named Director of Media Ministries, which includes overseeing the operation of audio, visual, and lighting equipment used to enhance worship services and other programs.
Troy and wife, Brenda, relocated to Bella Vista from Stockton, California late 2006 with children Alexis Talia and Chloe Lilia.
Shannon Shirley Wicker
Shannon has been involved with FUMC Bella Vista since the fall of 2007 when she became a member of the church. Shortly following, she became heavily involved in the contemporary service by recruiting for the Praise Team and selecting music for the the 9:30 service on a weekly basis. In the spring of 2009, she took on the role of Praise & Worship Leader for the contemporary service and has done that ever since. Shannon believes there is no greater outlet for sharing her love of the Lord than through song!
In 2006, Shannon graduated from Henderson State University with a Bachelor's in Music Education with double principles in piano and voice. Her teaching career brought her to the Bentonville School District where she has taught fifth grade music and choir for the past four years. In addition to teaching and leading praise and worship music, Shannon also serves the Bella Vista and Bentonville music communities through private piano and voice instruction, directing a local church choir, accompanying on piano for area recitals and plays, and occasionally performing opera.
In her "spare" time, Shannon loves spending time with her family; especially her baby daughter Kayla Grace. Bella Vista is the perfect place for Shannon because of her love for nature and the outdoors. There is nowhere she would rather be!
Garrett Greer
Garrett is our Worship Leader for the Contemporary Service. His wide ranging musical talents and deep love of God have already had an impact on the joy of worship we all feel during the Contemporary service.
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