Gateway Conference Secretary Nominee
Barbara Sands
Hillsboro Free Methodist Church
Local ministries include teaching a Sunday School class for young adults, assisting in the nursery, and helping families with budget needs.
I am a certified public accountant and can provide assistance with budget and tax issues.
Gateway Conference Treasurer Nominee
David Hooks
Cowden Free Methodist Church.
Farming has been my career for the last 45 years. At present I am on the local church BOA and a member of the pastor’s prayer team.
I have been the church treasurer for the past 12 years and I have worked for Farm Business Farm Management for 34 years preparing farm records for analysis and tax preparation.
Gateway Conference Board Of Administration Nominees-Clergy
Carl Brannon
Associate Pastor of Discipleship and Outreach at the Greenville Free Methodist Church.
He has served on the BOA and as a District Leader in the conference
He coaches the Greenville High School boys tennis team and is active with community benevolence ministries.
His strengths on the Strength Finder survey are Strategic, Belief, Includer, Relator, and Activator.
Steve Neville
Cowden Free Methodist Church
Gateway Northeast District Leader
Pastor of Cowden Free Methodist Church
I enjoy being part of a Team.
His Strengths are; Srategy and seeing the big picture.
Gateway Conference Board Of Administration Nominees-Lay
Marty Frost Beans
~Greenville FMC/The Bridge
~Instructor of Mathematics, Greenville College
~Married and mom of four children
~Adult SS leader at GFMC.
Served as member of BOA, member of Board of Finance, and delegate at GFMC. Served on Gateway Conference BOA and served as delegate to General Conference.
~Finance and budgeting are interests both on consumer level and organizational level. Desire to see Gateway Conference be blessed and thrive as it continues to impact families and communities for the Lord.
Linda (Groesbeck) Myette
I attend the Greenville Free Methodist Church and am privileged to serve as the Vice President for Development at Greenville College. I graduated from Greenville College in 1973 and hold a Master’s degree in Education. I am also a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE). I taught high school English for 10 years; college English for 8 years and have worked in the field of administration and fundraising for over 20 years. I am a fourth generation Free Methodist. My grandparents on both sides of my family served in FM educational institutions and in the ministry. My parents were missionaries to China and began the Free Methodist work in the Philippines, where I spent the first 13 years of my life. While my current job requires a great deal of my time, I do volunteer on the Hospitality Committee at church and serve on the board of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce. I am a member of the Free Methodist Historical Commission, and I also do pro bono fundraising consulting for nonprofits. I am very organized and strategic and have had success in analyzing organizations and creating systems and programs that help to improve the overall effectiveness. I have had experience in board development and have served in progressively more responsible leadership roles in various businesses and volunteer activities. I believe that I could bring my skills in relationship development, connecting, communicating and fundraising to assist the conference in moving forward with missional work.
Gateway Conference - Ministerial, Education, and Guidance and Appointment Nominees-Clergy
Oliver Beans
Lead Pastor of The Bridge Church in the Glen Carbon/Edwardsville area.
I currently sit on the Gateway Conference Nominating Committee and the Durley Youth Camp Programming Committee. I am passionate about seeing people have a chance to come to know Jesus and do my best to communicate this as our church seeks to connect people to him. I strive to see our church’s vision carried out and work to develop leaders to help do so. I have past experience in multiple roles, including music, family, and discipleship ministries.
Tyler Boyer
Senior pastor at Knox Knolls Free Methodist Church in Springfield IL.
Along with preaching at Knox Knolls, I am also giving oversight to Laurel House and Gregory House which are mission houses on the East side of Springfield. Along with my ministry work at in Springfield,
I have had the privilege of filling in on the Gateway MEG board for several months
Ginger Coakley
Church: attending Greenville Free Methodist Church
Appointed: Global Associate to Set Free Movement and Eden’s Glory
Profession: Executive Director of Eden’s Glory
What ministries are you involved in locally?
I am a team leader for Set Free Movement in my area. I serve several networks in our community such as Early Childhood Project Parenting Advisory Committee for our school district and the Bond County Interagency meetings. I serve on the Hospitality Team at GFMC.
What gifts and skills do you bring to a team? I am organized and detail oriented. I bring an organizational capacity to implementing new strategies and ideas or programs. My skills are diverse from overseeing a business to operating technology to serving difficult population compassionately and effective relationally and mentoring staff and volunteers in a Christ-centered ministry.
C.J. Dyas
I serve as an Associate Pastor at the Hillsboro Free Methodist Church.
I am in charge of the Worship Ministry and also assist with Children's ministry, missions and outreach.
As a part of a team I often bring strategy, organization and leadership skills
Gateway Conference - Ministerial, Education, and Guidance and Appointment Nominee-Clergy
Margie Newton
Margie Newton has been the pastor or prayer and counseling at the Greenville Free Methodist church for the past 11 years and is an ordained FM elder since May of 2013.
She now joins her husband, Doug, as co-director of the National Prayer Ministry for our denomination.
As an active member of the Bond County Ministerial Alliance, she has been the coordinator of the National Day of Prayer celebration for the past 6 years. Under her leadership a diverse team has been formed to plan and implement the county involvement.
She is a good listener, thoughtful thinker, prayerful participant and enjoys engaging with others’ thoughts and ideas to learn and contribute to unity. She is an organized, prepared "team player".
Mark Scandrett
Church: Emmanuel Free Methodist Church, Alton, Illinois
Profession: Senior Pastor
What ministries are you involved in locally? I am a member of the Alton area Riverbend Ministerial Alliance.
What gifts and skills do you bring to a team? I am a thinker, a strategizer, an encourager. I love to help others succeed. Over the years, I've learned some things about ministry that I hope could be useful in helping us go forward as a conference.
Gateway Conference Nominating Committee Nominees-Clergy
Oliver Beans
I serve as the Lead Pastor of The Bridge Church in the Glen Carbon/Edwardsville area. I currently sit on the Gateway Conference Nominating Committee and the Durley Youth Camp Programming Committee.
I am passionate about seeing people have a chance to come to know Jesus and do my best to communicate this as our church seeks to connect people to him. I strive to see our church’s vision carried out and work to develop leaders to help do so. I have past experience in multiple roles, including music, family, and discipleship ministries.
Greg Fish
Rushville FMC
Lead Pastor
District Leader, host and producer of Rushville Alive! community online program, Ombudsman for Trinity Academy Christian School, member of SMILES Day committee (community festival), leading RFM through Free Methodist Church’s new Recalibrate initiative.
I’m an avid student of leadership practices, my radio and media background help me with the Rushville Alive work, along with the management skills obtained there (hiring, staffing issues), plus marketing skills. I am strong at conflict resolution in a team, leading with vision, and applying media and marketing ideas to help spread the very best message of all… Jesus! I also enjoy teaching, mentoring and have made a life practice of encouraging and blessing others.
John Glennon
Church: Parkview Free Methodist Vandalia IL
Profession: Servant of the Lord, Pastor
What ministries are you involved in locally?
Besides the day to day ministry of Lead Pastor I also am the President of the Vandalia Association of Churches Inc. a 501c3 corporation that manages local ministry in mission projects in the City of Vandalia. We currently manage the 6:35 Pantry, the local chapter of the Salvation Army and collect men’s clothing for the local state prison in Vandalia. I am currently Vice-President of the Vandalia Christian Academy school board, and have a seat on the Fayette County Board of Health.
What gifts and skills do you bring to a team?
Leadership, Vision Casting, Problem Solving, Court Jester
Gateway Conference Nominating Committee Nominees-Lay
Charles (Chuck) Coates
Church: Decatur Moundford
Profession: Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Local Ministry Involvement: Interim LBOA chair, Finance committee chair, Sunday School teacher
Gifts and Skills: Teaching, Consensus building
Charles Finley
Church - Solid Rock Free Methodist Community Church, Pontoon Beach
Profession -Retired high school counselor
Local ministry involvement- Member of the local board of administration, co-lead Missions Alive program on Tuesday evenings.
Gifts & Skills - have a vision for the entire conference. Know persons from a number of churches in the conference.
Mandy Rathgeb
Emmanuel Free Methodist Church
Mom/Grandmother (Formerly on staff at EFMC)
Lead Homebuilders Ministry, Sunday School teacher, planned special services, hospitality coordinator.
Organizer, Intuitive and I make a mean apple pie.