Pastors and Staff
Emily Spearman Cannon
Lead Pastor
emily.cannon@mcphersonfumc.com
Fun Fact: I have an incredibly intense aversion to cheese…and I mean *all* cheese. I can’t eat it in any form!
Favorite Hobby/Activity: Reading, watching nerdy TV shows, walking, singing, cross-stitching, spending time with my family
Favorite Bible Verse: Micah 6:8 – “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?“
Jeanne Koontz
Deacon / Pastor of Community & Connections
jeanne.koontz@mcphersonfumc.com
Fun Fact: I lived in 6 different towns and 8 houses before the age of 18, all in Kansas.
Favorite Hobby/Activity: Playing piano and singing, puzzles, bike rides with family.
Favorite Bible Verses: Micah 6:8 – “He has told you, human one, what is good and what the Lord requires from you: to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God.”
Jeremiah 29:11 – “I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope.”
Sarah Hendricks
Director of Youth, Young Adult, and Family Ministries
sarah.hendricks@mcphersonfumc.com
Fun Fact: When I was in high school, I went to Hawaii for a few weeks to babysit my cousins. My uncle let me drive his beautiful Acura to the grocery story…and I got in a wreck on the way home!
Favorite Hobby/Activity: I really love spending time with my family! They bring me so much joy! My dogs are also a source of great joy in my life! I also have an addiction to watching TikTok videos!
Favorite Bible Verse: Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Amanda Weber
Administrative Assistant
office@mcphersonfumc.com
Fun Fact: I have 143 elephant figurines throughout my house, we’ve counted.
Favorite Hobby/Activity: Quilting with my mom, fishing with the husband and kids, and spending time at the family property by Lake Wilson.
Favorite Bible Verse: Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
Karen Jonas
Coordinator of Children’s Ministry and Nursery
karen.jonas@mcphersonfumc.com
Fun Fact: I have an extra vertabrae!
Favorite Hobby/Activity: Having game nights with my Husband and Kids, going on walks with my girlfriends, and family get togethers.
Favorite Bible Verse: Proverbs 16:24 – “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
Nick Griggs
Director of Music
Fun Fact: I have 8 brothers and sisters and we’re all musicians…and one of my brothers and I both played college football as well!
Favorite Hobby/Activity: Watching movies with my wife!
Favorite Bible Verse: Romans 8:28-29 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”
Miriam Griggs
VBS Coordinator
vbs@mcphersonfumc.com
Fun Fact: I can clap with one hand
Favorite Hobby/Activity: Getting coffee with friends, lunch dates with friends, watching my oldest son experience new things, and dates with my husband.
Favorite Bible Verse: Depends where I am on the journey, whatever speaks to me and propels me forward.
Sherrie Rickerson
Coordinator of Outreach
sherrie@stepmc.org
Fun Fact: I have moved approximately 50 times in my life and have been in 38 of the 48 contiguous states at some time.
Favorite Hobby/Activity: Spending time with my children, gardening, listening to music, visiting with friends.
Favorite Bible Verse: Matthew 22:37-40 – Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your hear and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Mark Hunter
Technology
tech@mcphersonfumc.com
Amy Warner
Head Organist
Fun Fact: I drive tractor and semi on my farm.
Favorite Hobby/Activity: reading, hiking, camping, dancing, pets
Favorite Bible Verse: Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Danny O'Dell
Building Manager
danny.odell@mcphersonfumc.com
Fun Fact: My nickname is Digger!!
Favorite Hobby/Activity: I love to work with mechanical items with my hands (example: repairing toys) or doing what yard work needs to be done.
Favorite Bible Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:13 – “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
ADJUNCT STAFF
STEPMC
Steps to End Poverty McPherson County
STEPMC has its office space in the McPherson First United Methodist Church building. To learn more about their team of staff, visit https://www.stepmc.org/meet-our-staff
