Staff Members
OUR NEW PASTOR, Rev. Erik A. Mays
Rev. Erik A. Mays was appointed to Senoia UMC in June 2013. He comes to Senoia from Marietta First UMC where he served as Associate Minister from 2011-2013. Prior to Marietta First, he served Belin Memorial UMC in Murrells Inlet, SC from 2009-2011, and Covington First UMC from 2006-2009. Rev. Mays was ordained an Elder in Full Connection in June 2013.
Rev. Mays is a life long United Methodist having grown up in the Due West UMC in Marietta. Following high school he received two undergraduate degrees; one from Reinhardt College (now Reinhardt University) in Liberal Arts, and a second one from LaGrange College in Religion and Philosophy. In 2009 Rev. Mays earned his Master of Divinity degree from Emory University's Candler School of Theology. His passion in ministry is "connecting people to their own ministries within the life of the church and community." In addition to having a decade of experience in youth ministry, Rev. Mays has been on over 20 mission trips; some in the U.S. and some in places such as Mexico (where he met his wife), Poland, Venezuela, Peru, and Guatemala.
Rev. Mays has been married to Lindsey (Kehoe) since 2007. Lindsey is a graduate of the University of Georgia and holds a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the Medical University of South Carolina. They have a dog, Ellie (a cockapoo), and are the proud parents of one daughter, Addie Grace.
You may reach Rev. Mays at:
or by calling:
770-599-3245
ORGANIST / CHOIR MASTER
Jim Preece, organist/choirmaster at Senoia United Methodist Church, played his first worship service at Senoia on July 3, 1997. Following worship, Jim was told that the regular organist had resigned the position, and he was asked to become the church organist at the time. Mr. Preece said that he "would be happy to play until they found a replacement," and over fourteen years later, continues to lead our congregation in worship. In addition to playing the organ and directing the Chancel Choir, Mr. Preece also plans the music for worship in such a way that the basic theme of the sermon is reflected through the hymns, service music, and anthem each Sunday. Through his music ministry, our congregation has enjoyed singing a wide variety of hymns. It is our belief, particularly for a church our size, we sing more hymns from our worship hymnal than any other congregation.
A native of Keystone, West Virginia, Jim grew up in Cocoa, Florida, and following graduation from the University of Central Florida, lived in Savannah, Georgia for twenty-one years. He was the organist/choirmaster of Epworth United Methodist Church in Savannah for twenty years, completed graduate studies at Armstrong/Atlantic State University and Georgia Southern University, and taught mathematics strategies staff-development classes in the Savannah-Chatham Schools for over fifteen years. A middle-school mathematics teacher for 35 years, Jim taught in Fayette County, Georgia, for twelve years. In addition to his position at SUMC, Jim is also the owner of Table Talk, a gift and home decor store on Main Street in Senoia.
770-599-3245
