I feel honored to be joining this congregation and community. In a way, returning to the mountains feels like coming home, as my very first appointment was as Associate Pastor at Groce UMC in East Asheville. Since then, I have served as pastor of Rhyne Heights UMC in Lincolnton and most recently as Associate Pastor at First UMC in Gastonia.

I am excited to be invited into what the Holy Spirit has been doing in and through Francis Asbury for more than one hundred years. My ministry passions include creating meaningful worship experiences, and journeying alongside God’s children of all ages as they discover and utilize their God-given gifts. In my free time, you can find me hiking, kayaking, reading, and cheering on my favorite sports teams. My door is always open. I invite you to stop by the office sometime this summer to introduce yourself, and maybe have a cup of coffee.

I am praying for you, and thanking God for you.
Philippians 4:8-9

Throughout scripture, God calls people of faith to healing. At Francis Asbury UMC we believe that caring for self and others is an expression of God’s love and should be shared through outreach ministry in our congregation and greater community. We are blessed and honored to have Dora Brown, BS, RN as our Faith Community Nurse.

Danya is our Administrator.  She handles the day-to-day operations of the church, maintains church records, helps coordinate volunteers & building use, and whatever else is needed. Danya lives in Candler, NC with her husband, Allen. They have 2 grown children, Tyler & Kaylee. Tyler is a US Coast Guardsman stationed in New York. Kaylee is a film graduate from WCU.

Jess became our Choir Director in January 2011. Jess is a very talented and energetic musician and has added a lot of diversity and enjoyment to our choral pieces. Jess arranges a lot of the pieces the choir presents. Jess is also a very skilled pianist. We are very thankful to have Jess on staff here at Francis Asbury. Jess lives in Asheville, NC with his wife, Linzy. They have 3 children, Jet, Elise & Eden.

Megan became our Children & Family Ministry Director in 2017. She is very enthusiastic and has many wonderful gifts to share with our family of faith. Megan and her husband, Chris, have two small children, Lillian & Wilson.

Glenda Faye became our Custodian in October 2004. Glenda keeps our church clean and looking good. Glenda is our Worship Committee Chair along with various other duties that she enjoys doing for her church and for God.  She lives in Candler, NC with her husband, Dan.

Amy Dayton is our Nursery Worker. She has a big smile, a nurturing heart and enjoys providing a caring and loving environment for your Infant and/or Toddler to experience God’s love unconditionally. Amy lives in Candler and is CPR Certified.