Spruce St United Methodist Church

Rev. Dr. John E Allen - Pastor

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John is from Clay and Braxton Counties in Central West Virginia, a graduate of Sutton High School. He is a second career person having entered into full time ministry in 1981. He attended under graduate school at Glenville State College, earned his Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary; Dayton, Ohio and earned his Doctor of Divinity from United Theological Seminary; Dayton, Ohio mentored by  Rev. Dr. Mike Slaughter and Rev. Tom Tumblin of the Ginghamsburg Church. John is happily married to Donna his wife of  40 years. They have two children John Wesley and Aaron, and 4 grandchildren. John came to the Spruce Street Church June 2007. He enjoys the outdoors, writing, sports, and the precious time he gets to spend with family and friends.        

Kara Rowe - Associate Pastor

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Kara is a graduate of Wayne High School in Wayne, West Virginia. She graduated from Marshall University with a degree in Elementary Education. Kara taught fourth grade in Polk County, Florida for two years and Deaf and hard of hearing children in Wayne and Cabell counties of West Virginia for four years. She is a graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. She has served as the Program Director at Centre Street United Methodist Church in Cumberland, Maryland and as the Pastor of three churches of the Trinity Charge in Keyser, WV: Duling, Fairview Chapel, and Headsville United Methodist Churches. Kara is married to Michael Rowe of Huntington, West Virginia. Together they have two children: Caleb and Abigail. She enjoys watercolor painting, line dancing, and spending time with family.

Joining us from Calhoun County, Casey Hill is our newest staff member, and we'll have more information about her and a photo very soon.

Casey will:

help produce the weekly bulletin and some of the pastors' visual aids in worship,

help keep copying and mailings up-to-date,

and (we hope) generally keep Pastor John in line.  

Welcome Casey when you see her in the office, or when you hear her cheerful voice answering the telephone!

Brent Nicholas - Director of Music Ministries

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Brent is from Clay, WV. He received his undergraduate degree in Music Education from West Virginia Institute of Technology where he studied piano with Olive Meyers and conducting and voice with Guy Owen Baker. He received his Masters in Music degree from West Virginia University where he studied choral conducting with Dr. Kathleen Shannon. Brent has taught choral music at Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley, WV, WVU and Alderson-Broaddus College, and is currently Director of Choirs at Morgantown High School in Morgantown, WV where he teaches guitar and conducts five choirs. Brent is married to Kim who is also a teacher in Morgantown, and they have two beautiful children, Courtney and JJ.

Christina is from Hundred, WV  and a graduate of Hundred High School and West Virginia Junior College.  She is also employed as an Administrative Assistant at Suncrest United Methodist Church where she has worked since 1995.  She recently opened her own portrait studio, Grins and Giggles Studio, in Hundred with her sister.  She and her husband, Jami, have one child, Zackary.  Her favorite things are photography, reading, scrapbooking, and spending time with her family.

Bobbie is married to Charlie Leach, with whom she has four children -Christina, Nicole, Katie and Buddy.  She is happy to hold the BEST position at Spruce Street UMC.  Come by the nursery and greet her.  She doesn't get out much for watching the kiddies!