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| Pastors |
Contact Heather 
Contact Jon 
Jon's Blog |
Heather and Jon Sims
Co-Pastors
Revs. Jon and Heather Sims are co-pastors of Spring Woods UMC in Houston, Texas. Sharing in the church’s leadership, they both enjoy fun-filled, spirit-driven, Jesus-inspired ministry that reaches across a wide spectrum of peoples, cultures, persuasions and interests.
Their collective ministry experience includes leadership of local churches, university chaplaincy, Wesley Foundation college ministry, family discipleship, engaging newcomers. Their hearts long to see all people thrive in God’s heart-changing, life-changing, world-changing grace.
Heather and Jon have three sons – Noah, Daniel and Michael – who give the most delightful critique of life’s arrogance. By virtue of their ‘brother-ness,’ these three provide quality, free entertainment for multiple audiences, including total strangers at the grocery store. Noah and Daniel are active in Scouting, and Michael thinks he is a Jedi Knight.
When not doing ministry related activities or chasing after his boys, Jon is most likely watching a soccer game. He is a huge fan of Major League
Soccer (MLS), USA Men’s National Team, and English Premier League.
Heather enjoys most things outdoors – hiking, biking, camping – and loves to travel anywhere, anytime, for any reason.
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Administrative Staff |
| Our administrative staff at Spring Woods is constantly working to better serve our congregation and ministries. If you do not find the information you are interested in on these pages, please contact Marge, Terry or Dianna at the church during our office hours (8:30-4:00 Monday-Friday).
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Marge Harrison
Financial Director
Marge is responsible for:
*accounts payable/receivable
*payroll
*contributions/pledges
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Dianna Deutsch
Communications Director
Dianna is responsible for:
*publishing Worship Guides/Bulletins/Inserts
*publishing Weekly E-Window newsletter
*publishing Monthly Window newsletter
*church web site content
*church-wide announcements/group emails
*designing and publishing all special publications such as directories and *Advent/Lenten Devotionals
*advertising all ministries of the church to the community through local publications |
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Alesia Sivley
Administrative Assistant to Weekday Ministries
Alesia is responsible for:
*Registration
*Tuition accounts payable/receivable
*donations/expenditures
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. Program Staff |
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Cathy Gokey
Director of Weekday Ministries
Cathy began her ministry at Spring Woods over 25 years ago as the Director of the Mother's Day Out program. She has served in many positions during this time including, Weekday Associate Director, Director of Program Ministries, Director of Children's Ministries, and her current responsibility as the Director of Ministries which encompasses adult education and ministries, children's education and ministries, and mission and outreach.
Cathy received her Child Development Associate from NAEYC in 1991, and Associate of Christian Education in the United Methodist Church from Perkins School of Theology in 1998 and is a Certified Lay Speaker. Cathy has led many leadership training events for the district, Greater Houston Leadership Education School, local churches and has served on Design Teams for GHLES, Convocation 1999, and CEF Study Retreat. Cathy currently serves on the Board of Ordained Ministry and on the conference Extension Ministries Team. Cathy is a member of national and Texas CEF, Christian Educators Fellowship. She has received the 1994 Outstanding Teacher of Houston North District and the 2002 recipient of the Dick Murray Award.
Cathy joyfully serves as part of the Belize Mission team, serving the children and several communities in Belize for more than 7 years. Her joys of ministry includes; leading Weekday chapel times, working with the elementary children at Lighthouse Kids, developing new curriculum for Sunday morning experiences and serving children in Belize and here in her own community. In her spare time, she enjoys scrap booking, painting and just being creative.
Cathy has been married for 32 years to Jeffrey and is blessed with two children, two children-in-love (a.k.a. in-laws) and one wonderful grandchild. Brian is now 27 and married to LeighAnn, who are proud parents of Avery Lynn; Jennifer is now 26 and is married to Victor. Cathy celebrates her love for the Lord, family, friends and the countless blessings that God has given to her and embraces sharing His love with others.
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Kelly Carlisle
Youth & Young Adults Director
The main, most important things you should know about me are:
I am a wife and a mother of 3 boys, I love my life, I love my job, I am incredibly blessed to live and work in an environment that allows me to openly love and worship the Lord!
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Jonathan Davis
Youth Worship Leader
Jonathan Davis was born and raised in the Houston area, around Spring and Kingwood. He grew up in a Christian home with his father serving as a Music Minister. Because of his early exposure to Christianity, Jonathan professed Jesus as his Lord and Savior and was baptized as a child. By the time he was 17, Jonathan felt a call on his life to the ministry. In 2000, Jonathan was licensed to ministry by his home church, First Baptist College Station.
While at Howard Payne University, Jonathan obtained a BS in Communication Studies and minored in Theology. During his college years, he was heavily involved in various campus ministries and led worship regularly for youth groups and churches around town. Also while at Howard Payne, Jonathan recorded his first album, Pilgrim’s Progress, an acoustic worship CD. The best part about being at Howard Payne, for Jonathan, is that he met his lovely wife, Audrey. After dating for almost 4 years, Jonathan proposed to Audrey on the 50-yard line at halftime in the mascot outfit. Luckily, she said yes!
After college, Jonathan and Audrey married and moved to Virginia to work with Xtreme International Ministries, while both pursuing Master of Divinity Degrees from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. In the last decade, Jonathan has served as the youth and worship minister at three different churches in Texas and Virginia. He currently has a band called Eden’s Thorn, which came out with its first CD in August of 2011. Jonathan also regularly speaks at youth events and conferences around the country when time and opportunity allows.
Jonathan is a self-proclaimed Mexican food connoisseur and Audrey is a 3-time national tap-dancing champion and a youth minister at Cypress Trails UMC in Spring, TX. They are expecting their first child in March, and are excited to welcome Eli Howard Davis into God’s beautiful world.
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Ashlie Driver
Worship Arts Director
Ashlie Driver has served as the Director of Worship Arts at Spring Woods United Methodist Church since May of 2005. She wears many hats at Spring Woods - directing the adult, youth and children’s music and drama programs, and coordinating the worship services. Prior to accepting her position at Spring Woods, Ashlie was Director of Choral Activities at Westfield High School for one year and Assistant Director for five years. While teaching, Ashlie’s choirs consistently received high ratings at UIL competitions and Festivals. Ashlie also served as Director of Children and Youth Music at Northwoods Presbyterian Church for three years and Choir Director at Christ the King Episcopal Church for one year.
Ashlie received her Bachelors degree in Music Studies from The University of Texas at Austin in 1999, and then was awarded her Masters in Music Education with an emphasis on Choral Conducting at the University of Houston in 2004. She has studied conducting with Dr. Charles Hausmann, Dr. Betsy Weber, and Dr. Suzanne Pence. She also serves on the Houston Chapter of the Chorister’s Guild Board as the Publicity Chair, and is the President of the board for 2010-2011.
Ashlie is the proud wife of Steve Driver, and mother of three children, Madeline (8) Travis (5) and Elise (2). They are the joy of each day! Ashlie sings with Cantare Houston, a professional choral consort, and is a requested soloist for many special services and events around north Houston. She has sung overseas in Germany, England, and most recently in Rome, Italy with the International Church Music Festival, conducting the Spring Woods Rome Choir in one of the Papal Basilicas in Rome.
Ashlie is very grateful for the opportunity to serve the Lord, joining with others to create wonderful worship experiences to glorify Him!
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Jane Lamb
Organist
Jane Lamb is currently a music specialist at Schultz Elementary in Klein ISD where she teaches K-5 music, directs a percussion ensemble, the Schultz Shining Star Orffestra, and accompanies the school choir. Jane has been recognized by the Klein School Board as an outstanding educator. She is a graduate of the University of Houston and has completed all three levels of her Orff certification at Southern Methodist University and the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Jane has been a presenter for the Texas Music Educators Association on many occasions and has also been a presenter for the American Orff Schulwerk Association National Convention, the Gulf Coast Orff Association, the Missouri Music Educators Association Convention, the Waco Independent School District, the Texas Association for the Education of the Young Child, and the Early Childhood Winter Conference. The Spring Branch Education Foundation and the Houston Chronicle have honored Jane with the Crystal Award. This award recognizes teachers who make a difference for students. Jane has also served as Vice President and President of the Gulf Coast Orff Association. Jane is a past Vice President and President of the Gulf Coast Orff Association, the local chapter of AOSA. Jane has been a church organist since 1972.
Jane has written four Orff music books that are published with Shawnee Press Inc. The books are The Rhythm of the Seasons and Holidays, The Notebook, Island Fun With Orff and Drum and Orffin’ Around at the Magical Zoo
Jane’s has also arranged many classical pieces for Orff instruments. Some of these arrangements have been published with Beatin’ Path Publications. |
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