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Matt Bailey has been serving as a pastor in the central Texas conference since 2015 when he graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary and gratefully returned to the great state of Texas. Matt began a life in ministry when he joined his local church’s praise band at the age of 11 in Sugar Land, Texas. He met his wife, Jennifer, at Texas A&M. They married in 2000 and began serving as lay people at FUMC Midlothian, where Matt served as worship leader and youth pastor before feeling a call to ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church. Matt served as the pastor of Lorena UMC since entering ordained ministry in 2015. Jennifer has been a middle school math teacher since 1999, blessing many school districts along the way. Matt and Jennifer have been blessed with two wonderful children. Emma is 14 and loves to sing and perform musical theater and currently helps lead worship at Lorena UMC. James is about to be 10 and likes to ride his scooter and fish with his dad. Matt’s passion for ministry is to see people encounter the living Christ for themselves through worship, prayer, scripture study, service, and small group support. Outside of ministry, Matt likes to play various musical instruments and go kayak fishing.
Hey ya’ll! I’m Christen and I am working on my 5th year as the Minister to Students here at FUMC in Ennis. I made a grand entrance into this great, big world in Chicago, Illinois some years ago, but no worries my parents loved me enough to get me to Texas while I was still a baby. So, I am more Texan than not! I was raised in Palmer, just right up the road from Ennis, and graduated from Palmer High School. After graduating high school, I attended Concordia Lutheran College in Austin, but decided I wasn’t a city girl and came back to Palmer. (It’s true what they say…Austin is weird!) I have 2 grown children, Clayton and Landree, who are in college. I am super proud of the young adults that they have become (even though they make me crazy some days), but they are loved BIG by their momma. I am very involved in the community, both Palmer and Ennis, and have a heart for working with young people and outreach. When I’m not working with the youth, children or involved in an outreach event, I enjoy spending time with the people who make my heart happy or going for a jog. I am known as the prankster around the office and tend to find humor in most things. I love to laugh! I feel a smile and laughter are contagious and do my best to spread joy daily by allowing Christ’s light to shine through me!
MY PURPOSE:
Helping people reflect and respond to the glory of God.
MY FAVORITE THINGS:
I like to try new restaurants (although my wife almost always cooks better), I enjoy making model planes and boats, and I enjoy doing small wood projects
I'M MOST PROUD OF:
I am proud of my parents and my siblings. They serve the Lord and our some of the hardest working individuals I know
SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO DO:
There is so much I’d like to do, but at the very top: Go to Israel, Greece, and Italy. Meet Denzel Washington, graduate with my sanity from Dallas Theological Seminary, and lead others to Christ.
WHO MAKES ME LAUGH THE HARDEST:
My brother Donathan, he has a way of taking everyday life and showing the humor in it.
WHAT ERA OF MUSIC GETS YOUR TOES TAPPING AND FEET MOVING?
I like 70’s dance music, but I was born two decades later.
- B.A. Psychology 2011 – Lee University
- M.A. Human Resource Management 2017- Florida Institute of Technology
- Th.M. (when it happens)- Dallas Theological Seminary
