Leadership & staff

 Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Tony earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Auburn University and worked for 13 years as a professional civil engineer. After serving as a lay speaker in the United Methodist Church, he felt a calling into full-time pastoral ministry and completed seminary at Candler School of Theology (Emory University) in 2013. Churches he has served in the Alabama-West Florida Conference include Booth UMC (2009-2010), River City Church in Montgomery (2010-2015), FUMC of Brewton (2015-2018) and FUMC of Prattville (2018-present). In 2020, he completed his Doctor of Ministry degree in church leadership from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. Tony coaches Little League baseball and basketball, and loves spending time with his family. In his spare time, he likes to play golf, run, exercise and attend sporting events. Tony is married to the former Carmen Stegall of Montgomery, and they have three children – Arden, Adeline, and Holt.   

Jennifer is a Montgomery native and has a bachelor's degree in early childhood elementary education from Auburn Montgomery. She has been involved in the United Methodist Church her entire life, and has served in various capacities on a church staff and on numerous boards and committees. She is a highly regarded speaker for women's, children's and youth ministry gatherings where she loves encouraging others to deepen their faith by knowing the Bible. As a mother of two grown children, Jennifer released her book Parent Puddles in 2022, a parenting book about splashing our children with the everlasting truth of God's Word. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family and friends and being anywhere there is water and sand.

Stacey is a graduate of Auburn University and received a master’s degree in secondary education from AUM.  Stacey and her husband David Lewis joined FUMC in 1998, and they have three daughters: Madeline, Margaret, and Marion.  In her free time, Stacey enjoys Auburn football, watching her children in their activities, and working in her garden.  

Jeremy Pyles, a native of Opelika, AL and graduate of Auburn University, has served as the Director of Music Ministries since 2015 where he has led a thriving music ministry with choirs for all ages that seek to share God’s love through song. Choirs under Jeremy’s direction  have toured nationally and internationally and have sung at many prestigious venues, such as Carnegie Hall, Coventry Cathedral (Coventry, England), the Biltmore Estate, and the Alabama Governor’s Mansion.  

As an active member of the Prattville community, Jeremy conducts the Prattville Community Chorus, serves as Chairman of the Distinguished Young Woman of  Autauga County Scholarship Program,  and remains active as a concert performer and voice teacher.

Owen was raised right here in Prattville, Alabama and has returned to the area after graduating from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work in May of 2022. He has been heavily involved in worship and youth ministries since he was thirteen years old. Owen’s biggest loves and passions are worship, music, and watching and playing sports, particularly basketball and football. Some of his hobbies include writing and playing music; playing football or basketball; playing with his dog, Maverick; and remaining unbeatable in NBA 2K.

Daniel was born in Newport, Washington and grew up living in Spokane, Salt Lake City, Denver, and Los Angeles. He served honorably in the U.S. Air Force as a member of the Security Police Squadron while living in San Antonio, Texas; Anchorage, Alaska; and Merced, Calif. At a young age it seemed as though God was preparing him for life as a missionary. Daniel received his undergraduate education from numerous collegiate institutions, studying Business and Real Estate Management. For nearly sixteen years he worked as a professional California Broker in Executive Management for both regional and national firms. He served on numerous boards, institutions and lobbied in Washington, D.C. on behalf of the real estate industry. In 2012 at the height of his career, while launching his own investment firm, Daniel heard God’s voice to abandon corporate America and the lifestyle to enter the call of full-time ministry. He hasn’t looked back since. He graduated from seminary with a Master of Divinity and has a broad range of ministry experiences but has a heart for discipleship, preaching/teaching, evangelism and missions. He has been married to Myki Patrick for nearly twenty-five years and together they have five children and several grandchildren. Both Daniel and Myki attended the UMC church in their youth, served in the Wesleyan church and call their Methodist roots and traditions home. Daniel enjoys music (plays drums and is re-learning piano), riding motorcycles, swimming and spending time with family and friends in fellowship.

 Michelle was born in Ft. Walton Beach and has lived in Prattville for most of her life. She has a strong background in the restaurant and hotel industry. She opened and operated a very successful restaurant, Marchelle’s Bistro, in Prattville for many years. Later, Michelle began working in the hotel industry as Executive Chef and Food and Beverage Manager for Hilton Hotels. After a few years in that capacity, she was given the opportunity to train in hotel operations, and she earned her certifications as General Manager for both Hilton and Marriott Hotels. She has for years been the General Manager of Hotel Properties in both Alabama and Mississippi. Earlier this year, Michelle retired from this industry to spend more time with her 7 grandchildren. Michelle loves cooking, gardening, and traveling to beach locations. 
 
Michelle and her husband, Mark, were married in our church on June 11, 1994, and have three children. Their daughter Emily and her husband Will Gray have 5 children (Emma Grace, Sawyer, twins Timothy and Ashley, and Marcie) and reside in Prattville. Their daughter Dr. Darcy and husband Paul Blankenship have one son (Atlas) and live in Wetumpka. Their son Nicholas and his son (Westin) live in Panama City Beach.

 

.

Linda is married to Jim Murray, and they have three children: Ryan, Matthew, and Amber Murray Kines. Linda has been a member of PFUMC for many years and has been the director at the Early Learning Academy since 2003. Linda has an Associates Degree in Art from Wallace College Dothan, AL, a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from Central State University of Oklahoma, and a Masters Degree in General Education (emphasis in Diagnostic and Remedial Reading) from the College of St. Joseph Vermont. In her free time, she likes spending time with family, crafting, and going to the beach.

Debra is a graduate of Troy University.  She is a certified retired Early Childhood Educator with 31 years experience in the Montgomery public school system.  Debra has been with ELA since 2018. She and her husband have 3 children and 6 grandchildren.  They attend Millbrook FUMC where she directs the children’s choir. In her free time she enjoys sewing, and spending time with family.

Freda grew up attending First Methodist. She is married to Chris Clark, and they have a daughter and granddaughter. One aspect Freda loves about her job is being able to interact with the PFUMC church family on a daily basis. In her spare time, Freda loves to read, spend time with family, and watch her granddaughter carry on the family tradition of a love for dance!

Myki, a California native, received an AA degree from Reedley College, and obtained her undergraduate education in Business Management/Accounting from Fresno State University and the University of South Dakota. She is married to Daniel Patrick and together they celebrate five adult children and grandchildren. Myki attended the UMC church in her youth, served in church campus planting with the Wesleyan Church in South Dakota and immersion church planting & ministry in California. She has  a heart in serving the poor and homeless populations and has been called to be an advocate on their behalf. She loves accounting and has worked in both for profit and nonprofit organizations. She feels honored and called by God to serve at First UMC/Prattville.

 

Type your new text here.