Our TEAM
First United Methodist Church of Poplar Bluff
David Stewart
Lead Pastor
david@fumcpb.org
BIO:
FULL NAME: David Allison Stewart
FAVORITE RESTAURANT: Crab Cooker (Coronado Island, CA)
FAMILY/KIDS: Married to Nancy Stewart, two kids; Christy and Ben.
HOBBIES: Traveling
HOMETOWN: Born in Anchorage Alaska, childhood years Farmington, MO
FAVORITE MINISTRY MOMENT: Love walking with people as they discover God’s love and healing in their lives.
FUN FACT: I have college letters in baseball and soccer and do not have a high school letter for either sport because they were not high schools sports in Farmington at the time.
Our Staff
Amanda Gowen
Youth Pastor
amanda@fumcpb.org
Bio
FULL NAME: Amanda Kristene Gowen
FAVORITE RESTAURANT: Bronze Owl or Wine Rack.
FAMILY/KIDS: Travis Gowen- husband of 15 years, Ireland Gowen, 14 y/o 8th grade @ PBJHS, Rowan Gowen, 12 y/o 6th grade @ Lake Road.
HOBBIES: Serving in any capacity, soccer, reading, enjoying nature, ADVENTURING! Anything that makes me laugh.
HOMETOWN: Houston, TX
FAVORITE MINISTRY MOMENT: Late night chats w/ kids on mission trips, throwing glitter in the guy’s beards during Christmas parties, youth musicals, watching young Christian leaders develop.
FUN FACT: I HATE CHEESE!!! On anything! Even my pizza is bread, sauce and pepperoni. LOL
Timothy Starnes
Contemporary Worship Leader/ Media Ministry
tim@fumcpb.org
BIO
FULL NAME: Timothy Ryan Starnes
FAVORITE RESTAURANT: FIve Guys and Chick-Fil-A.
FAMILY/KIDS: Single for now!
HOBBIES: Music in basically every capacity. I love playing guitar and piano, writing and producing songs and expressing myself and my heart through music. Also video games!
HOMETOWN: Poplar Bluff, MO
FAVORITE MINISTRY MOMENT: Too many to count, but seeing youth come to know Jesus is always a standout. Seeing the youth at FUGE in 2018 be completely transformed by Jesus and some coming to know Him for the first time was incredibly awesome.
FUN FACT: I learned/play guitar and piano entirely by ear.
BIO
FULL NAME: Pam Howard Becker
FAVORITE RESTAURANT: Any place that serves good steak!
FAMILY: Widowed. Three Kids, Kaylin, Andrea, and Coulton.
HOBBIES: Hanging out with family and friends.
HOMETOWN: Franklin, OH
FAVORITE MINISTRY MOMENT: Watching shy kids find their voice and performing in church musicals.
FUN FACT: My summer job while in grad school was singing in the opera chorus with the St. Louis Opera Theater.
Renee Bobo
Office Manager
renee@fumcpb.org
BIO
FULL NAME:Renee Jean Bobo
FAVORITE RESTAURANT: Anything Mexican!
FAMILY/KIDS: Married to Devin Bobo, four kids; Maddyx, Royce, Maylee, Makynzee.
HOBBIES: Spending time with family/friends, playing with my kiddos, and all things sports!
HOMETOWN: Flora, IL
FAVORITE MINISTRY MOMENT: Watching my son accept Jesus Christ in his heart and then be baptized.
FUN FACT: I played 6 years of competitive level volleyball, and 2 years of college volleyball.
Cynthia Gonzalez
Director of Finance
cynthia@fumcpb.org
BIO
FULL NAME: Cynthia Lorena Gonzalez
FAVORITE RESTAURANT: Fuji.
FAMILY/KIDS: Married to Chris Gonzalez, have 4 children.
HOBBIES: Singing has always been a huge part of my life, designing art, and desiging cakes.
HOMETOWN: Born in Amsterdam, raised in Castricum, Netherlands
FAVORITE MINISTRY MOMENT: There are so many, but I think my favorite is when leading worship and hearing the people singing praises to our Almighty God in adoration.
FUN FACT: I love to travel and have been to 10 different countries so far! Our kids’ first mode of public transportation was an airplane.
Cassie Carl
FUMY, Youth Leader
Bio
FULL NAME: Cassie Louise Carl
FAVORITE RESTAURANT: Las Margaritas or Beijing.
FAMILY/KIDS: No kids, but I do claim our youth kiddos as my own
HOBBIES: I enjoy photography, and napping if that’s considered an actual hobby.
HOMETOWN: Poplar Bluff, MO
FAVORITE MINISTRY MOMENT: This is such a hard question to answer, but ultimately watching youths’ lives be completely transformed as they come to know Christ fully and start to further their relationship with him. It’s always so amazing to watch them find true joy in having a relationship with our Heavenly Father.
FUN FACT: I used to coach gymnastics as well as cheer in college.
Jim Carrier
Lay Leader/Worship Leader
Bio
FULL NAME: Jim Carrier
FAVORITE RESTAURANT: Fuji’s
FAMILY/KIDS: Lawson (6)
HOBBIES: Spending time with my family, coaching, and working out.
HOMETOWN: Poplar Bluff, MO
FAVORITE MINISTRY MOMENT: Seeing the revival that’s breaking out in our youth group.
FUN FACT: I’m an only child
Kaysea Kirchner
1st Kids, Children’s Leader
BIO
FULL NAME: Kaysea Jo Kirchner
FAVORITE RESTAURANT: Fuji or Maya’s
FAMILY/KIDS: Husband TJ Kirchner, Son Konner Kirchner other son Klay Kirchner.
HOBBIES: Arts and crafts with the kiddos and baking.
HOMETOWN: Piedmont
FAVORITE MINISTRY MOMENT: Seeing children tell a story of God to their friends that you have taught them with so much excitement in their eyes. It fills your heart with love.
FUN FACT: I hate the feel of cotton balls!
Ryan Davis
Hospitality/Worship Leader
Bio
FULL NAME: Ryan Lee Davis
FAVORITE RESTAURANT: Texas Roadhouse
FAMILY/KIDS: Alicia (wife), and 2 children. Serena (16, daughter), and Camden (14, son).
HOBBIES: Watching sports.
HOMETOWN: Poplar Bluff, MO
FAVORITE MINISTRY MOMENT: The first baptism I ever performed.
FUN FACT: Growing up I wanted to be a stand-up comedian!