Pastors and Staff

Rev. Dr. Marsha Engle Middleton, Senior Pastor

Reverend Dr. Marsha Middleton has served congregrations throughout the North Texas Conference since 1986, most recently at First United Methodist Church of Mesquite. She brings to The Colony a broad range of experience and talent in preaching and church administration. Pastor Marsha has a strong interest in evangelism and church renewal. During her tenure at her previous church in Mesquite, she provided leadership in debt reduction and in establishing Upward Sports ministries in the community. She has experience in church construction, and has provided leadership for the conception, construction and funding of three successful building campaigns.

Dr. Middleton holds a Doctorate in Evangelism from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.

She and her husband, Blake, have been married for 10 years, and have a daughter, Hannah and son, Benjamin.

Rev. Rebecca Grogan, Associate Pastor
Education Minister & UMYF Director

rebecca.grogan@fumctc.org

Rebecca graduated from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in 2006. She received the Jane Marshall Award for Outstanding Scholarship and Leadership in Christian Worship for Demonstrated Excellence in the Study and Practice of Christian Liturgy and Worship. She was on the editorial staff for the Student Journal for four years and instituted the use of theological students’ visual artwork in the Journal. Rebecca became a member of the Order of St. Luke, a monastic organization, while in school. It is an organization interested in promoting dynamic liturgical works and study. As a member of CIVA, Christians in the Visual Arts, she works and promotes visual arts within the community of the church and worship.

Rebecca has 15 years of experience as a member of a church staff, the majority of those years spent in youth ministry. Rebecca was commissioned as an elder at the 2007 Annual Conference and continues her ministry with the wonderful members of this church as their Associate Pastor.

Rebecca and her husband Gary have two sons, Kevin and Grant and four boisterous dogs. They both love snowboarding and wish there were snowy mountains in Texas!

Rev. Jack Cloyd, Local Pastor

jack.cloyd@fumctc.org

Responding to God’s call to ministry is the culmination of a life dedicated to family and church. Jack spent 30 years working in the business world as a food service executive and small business owner. Jack lists his greatest accomplishments as having raised his daughter, Elizabeth and his son, J.R., to be dedicated parents of their own that provided he and his wife Linda with three wonderful grandsons.

Jack’s mission to FUMC, The Colony is congregational care. The opportunity to respond to God’s call at this point in Jack’s life is the greatest joy to someone who looks forward to responding to the needs of the church. “Having spent 30 years in the secular business world it is incredible to wake up to the joy of going about God’s business”. The call to ministry was a process that has lead him to FUMC, The Colony, and as his first pastoral appointment it is a particularly rewarding experience to give back to a church that supported him on this journey.

Jack and his wife Linda look forward to meeting new members, and with the goal of “every member involved” (E M I) helping point new and old members to the joys and opportunities of service our church has to offer. Jack feels that his goal for his ministry here is to serve where members need care and to help others see how to serve using their God–given talents for the benefit of the body of Christ.

Sonja Poorman Roebuck, Minister of Music

sonja.roebuck@fumctc.org

A graduate of Ball State University and the University of Miami, Sonja has been the Minister of Music at FUMC, The Colony since 1998. Before that she served in Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian churches in South Florida and Texas. With a background as a music clinician, community chorus director, private music instructor and music director at elementary through college levels, she brings the experience of working with all age groups to her church work.

Sonja has also been employed in the editing and production areas of the music publishing industry. As an active ASCAP composer (using her maiden name of Sonja Poorman), she has over 100 sacred and educational choral works published by Alfred Publishing Company, BriLee Music Publishing Company, Carl Fischer, Shawnee Press, Warner Bros. Publications and Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation.

Sonja and her husband Randy have one son Brandon. They enjoy traveling, biking, hiking, attending concerts and cheering Brandon on at his many sports activities.

Martha Holcomb, Administrative Assistant

martha.holcomb@fumctc.org

Martha joined the staff of First Church in 2003. Martha and her husband, Michael, moved to The Colony in 1989 and joined First Church in 1991. They are actively involved in the activities of their two sons, Clark and Austin.

Cathy Schneider,
Office Assistant & Nursery Coordinator

cathy.schneider@fumctc.org

Cathy always has a happy voice and smile for those who enter the offices at First Church. Cathy and her husband Mike have a large extended family. They live in The Colony with their two sons, Matt and Scott.

Christi Shields, Financial Administrator

finance@fumctc.org

Christi worked in the accounting industry most of her life with 4 years in public accounting at CF & Co, LLC. She is also currently a self employed tax preparer. She graduated from The Colony High School before attending the University of Texas at Dallas where she graduated with a Bachelors degree in Accounting and Information Management.

She grew up in The Colony, has two children, and one grandchild. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, quilting and playing in the country.

Sung-Yun Kim, Pianist

A graduate of Keimyung University, Sung-Yun Kim has won many piano competitions in South Korea and Europe including a competition held by the President of South Korea. He was also a piano soloist for the National Police Orchestra in South Korea. He has performed with the Keimyung University Orchestra, the New Philharmonia Orchestra, the Bulgaria Varna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Yeawon Opera, the Daegu Male Choir, the Keimyung University Choir and the University of North Texas A Cappella Choir and Recital Choir.

Before coming to FUMC, The Colony, Sung-Yun had served as accompanist in many churches in South Korea, following in the ministry pathway of his grandfather who was a Presbyterian minister in South Korea. Currently he is a graduate student at the University of North Texas where he has been awarded scholarships by the College of Music. He is also an Adjunct Faculty member of Southeastern Oklahoma State University Department of Fine Arts.