Ministers at Fayetteville First United Methodist Church are currently (L-R) the Rev. Michael Phillips, the Rev. Allyson Lawrence, and the Rev. John Barnes. Photo/Special.

Fayetteville First UMC welcomes the Rev. John Barnes as the new senior minister and the Rev. Michael Phillips as minister of Missions and Congregational Care. Along with the Rev. Allyson Lawrence, minister of Discipleship and Evangelism, they are ready to serve here in Fayetteville.

Barnes and his wife, Catherine, come to Fayetteville from Thomson First United Methodist Church where he served as senior pastor the past eight years.

“I am interested in all types of worship services and missions knowing that God desperately wants us to reach out to others,” said Barnes.

After graduating from the University of Georgia with a B.A. in history, Barnes attended Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston.  After graduation in 1987, he was ordained in 1988 as a Methodist deacon and in 1990 as an elder. Still interested in the dynamics of preaching, Barnes completed doctoral coursework in homiletics at Gordon-Conwell-Charlotte.

The Rev. Michael Phillips comes to Fayetteville First from LaGrange where he served as senior minister at Burks Chapel UMC. After retiring from the U.S. Navy,  Phillips attended Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk, Va. and graduated in 2000 with a B.A. in history.  Later he graduated from Proctor DeWitt School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Richmond with a master’s degree in divinity.

Phillips says, “It is my greatest desire to serve the Lord through serving others.”

The Revs.Barnes, Lawrence and Phillips  invite members of the community to FFUMC for worship each Sunday at 8:30, 9:45 or 11 a.m. and for service in the community throughout the week.

Visit fayettevillefirst.com or call 770-461-4313 for more information.

Fayetteville First United Methodist Church is located at 175 East Lanier Ave., next to the historic courthouse in downtown Fayetteville.