A list of the church staff.
Rev. Tim Thompson
Tim is a native of Montgomery, Alabama. He is a graduate of Belhaven College. His Master of Divinity is from Candler School of Theology, Emory University. The Doctor of Ministry degree he holds is from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.
Tim is married to Virginia Norris Thompson and they are the parents of three daughters: Dorothy, who has recently received her Doctorate of Pharmacy from Auburn University; Louisa, a recent graduate of Auburn University; and Laura, who will begin Nursing School at Auburn University this fall. His hobbies include golf and fishing.
Dr. Thompson has recently been the Senior Pastor at Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church in Gulf Breeze, Florida. He has served three years as the Montgomery-Opelika District Superintendent. Other churches served have been First United Methodist Church, Opelika; First United Methodist Church, Brewton; St. Mark United Methodist Church, Pensacola; Dauphin Way United Methodist Church and Grace United Methodist Church, both in Mobile.
In the Annual Conference, Dr. Thompson is currently serving on the Council of Finance and Administration, and as a Delegate of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church. Previously, he served on the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry, the Board of Directors of The United Methodist Children’s Home, and the Board of Trustees at Huntingdon College.
Rev. Scott Kaak – Associate Pastor
Scott was born in San Antonio Tx. and graduated from the University of Texas in 1981. Scott also has two Masters Degrees from Auburn University - one in Organizational Communication (1992) and one in Human Resource Management (1997). He is a Probationary Deacon in the United Methodist Church and is attending Asbury Theological Seminary through the Extended learning program pursuing a Master of Divinity. He has served the Lord in church administration since 1999 and feels called to be a disciple of Christ through teaching, preaching, and leadership.
Other accomplishments:
Senior Professional in Human Resources – (1996) The highest distinction of standard in education, experience and knowledge by the Society of Human Resource Management. Past Lay Director and President of the Central Alabama Emmaus Community (1996–1999) Lay Director Walk #38 Central Alabama Emmaus Community (Oct. 2000) Board of Directors Auburn Wesley Foundation (1999–2004) Board of Directors – Treasurer Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Association of Church Business Administrators (2001–2003)
Scott has 2 boys and a girl, Malone age 14, Simms age 11, and Townsend who is 6 years old.
Rev. Rick Lane - Associate Pastor/ Youth Ministry
Born and reaised in Tarpon Springs Florida, Rick asked God to forgive him of his sins and asked Jesus to live in his heart when he was 16 years of age. His life would never be the same. AT the age of 18, he was leading a campus minstry at Troy, Alabama and has been doing youth ministry ever since that time.
While at Troy, he met and married Chona Fowler Lane. They have two daughters, Kerri Lane Bowie and Hannah, and a grandson.
Rick was hired by First United Methodist church in the fall of 1982 and has been telling teenagers about the Love of Jesus ever since. This fall, he celebrates 25 years in youth service at First United Methodist.
Dr. Michael Marcades – Director of Music Minsitries
Dr. Michael Marcades, newly appointed Director of Music Ministries, comes to FUMC-Opelika with extensive choral conductor experience, including ten years of conducting/teaching at the university level and twenty-five years of parish music ministry work. He has served on the music school faculties of Texas Tech University (Lubbock Texas) and Columbus State University (Columbus, Georgia) and has ministered at churches in South Carolina, Georgia, Texas and Alabama. He received his Bachelor of Music degree (trumpet performance) from Baylor University and his Master of Church Music (sacred music and conducting) from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In May 1999, he completed his Ph.D. in Fine Arts (Choral Conducting) at Texas Tech University. His dissertation, Benjamin Britten’s Ad majorem Dei gloriam (AMDG): A Musico-poetic Analysis and Performance Guide for the Choral Conductor, was nominated for the 1999 Julius Herford Prize and is housed on request in the Britten-Pears Library in Aldeburgh, England.
Marcades is an active guest conductor/choral clinician and Britten lecturer. He has conducted church and university level choirs abroad and in America, including his conducting debut in New York’s Carnegie Hall in 2004. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha, Kappa Kappa Psi, Pi Kappa Lambda and Phi Kappa Phi.
Michael is married to Kelly Marcades, native of Phenix City, Alabama. Together, he and his wife have seven children ranging in ages from twenty-seven to ten years. His hobbies include golf and landscaping.
Britney Finley – Director of Children’s Ministries
Attended Montreat College in North Carolina where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Child Growth and Development/Childcare Administration. Afterwards, she received a Master's Degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education. She taught in the public school sytem 3 years and has worked in church ministry over 8 years, the last 4 1/2 years at FUMC. She has taught several workshops in this field, but makes serving her family and serving her church her most important priorities. She lives in Opelika with her husband, Shawn, and 3 children.
Don Lawrence – Facilities Supervisor
Don has been a member of the church for 33 years and is now 4 1/2 years on staff. He is married to Betty and has three children nine grandchildren. Favorite activities are, Watching the grandchildren play, athletics and Turkey hunting.
Sara Raley – Director of Sonshine Preschool
Sara attended Troy State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education from Auburn University. She taught kindergarten in the Opelika City Schools system for twenty years. She taught four year olds for three years at Sonshine Preschool before becoming the director of that program. She and her husband, Phil, have a son, daughter and son-in-law and have lived in Opelika for 37 years.
