The GFUMC Staff
Ed and Brenda Fritz - Senior Pastors
EFritz44@aol.com & brendafritz@goshenfirstumc.org
Pastor Brenda Fritz grew up in the small town of LaFontaine, Indiana and is a graduate of Ball State University, where she majored in social work and criminal justice. Pastor Ed Fritz is from the small town of Muncy, Pennsylvania. He earned a teaching degree in health and physical education from Lock Haven State University in Pennsylvania. Ed and Brenda both received their Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. It was at Asbury that Ed and Brenda met and were married during their final year of school. In the past 30 years that Brenda and Ed have been in ministry, they have served 21 different churches. Their ministry started with four churches in Mississippi, and then two different appointments in Pennsylvania. In 1992, the Fritz's moved to Indiana where they have served churches in Royal Center, South Bend, Marion, and Fairmount. Now the Fritz's are visioning how God is going to use them as servants of Christ to serve His Church here in Goshen.
Steve Campagna - Minister of Music
stevecampagna@goshenfirstumc.org
Steve joined the staff of Goshen First United Methodist Church in January 2010. He is a graduate of Anderson University, Southern School of Music, and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois.
Over the past 27 years, Steve has served churches in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Arizona. Besides making music, he enjoys hiking and camping with his family, road biking, and chasing a little white ball around the golf course. Steve and his wife, Jenny, have lived in Goshen since January 2000. They have three children: Eric and his wife and their son live in Mt. Carmel, Illinois,
Elise attends the University of Indianapolis, and Anthony attends Goshen High School.
Jeff Karnes - Youth/Young Adult Pastor
jeffkarnes@goshenfirstumc.org
Jeff Karnes joined the staff of Goshen First UMC in August of 2007. He came here from Malta UMC in Ohio where he served as a youth pastor for five years. Jeff grew up in Columbia, Kentucky, where he served as a volunteer youth pastor at Columbia First Church of the Nazarene for three years prior to going into full-time ministry. Jeff is married to his wife, Kim, who serves as Co-Director of Children's Ministries at FUMC. Jeff and Kim have two children, Kaitlyn (Katie), and Jamison (better known as J-Man). In his spare time, Jeff enjoys playing golf, hanging out with the family, and of course keeping up with the University of Kentucky, especially their basketball program.
Pamela Kling - Older Adult & Caring Ministries
pamkling@goshenfirstumc.org
Pamela Kling is Older Adult and Caring Ministries Coordinator. This includes coordinating nursing home visitation, the shepherding, flower, and casserole ministry, healing shawl, transportation, CDs of worship services, 90+ birthday card, prayer, and funeral dinner ministries. She began serving in this ministry area at First Church in 1997. Her studies have included Jimtown High School, IUSB, clinical pastoral education at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, and spiritual formation at AMBS (Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary). Pam is married to Gary, who is a wonderful partner in the Caring Ministries. They have been married 48 years and have two married sons and six grandchildren. Pam is a lifelong learner and has many interests which include music, art, travel, genealogy, U.S. history, nature, baseball, and spending time with family and friends.
Kim Karnes - Co-Director of Children's Ministries
kimkarnes@goshenfirstumc.org
Kim Karnes is the wife of the pastor of youth and young adults, Jeff Karnes. She started working in the Children's Department of Goshen First UMC in November of 2009 as the Assistant Children's Director. She is now serving as Co-Director of Children's Ministries. Besides helping with the Children's Department, she also helps Jeff in the youth department. Kim has been living in Goshen since August of 2007 with her husband and two children, Katie and Jamison. In her spare time, Kim likes to read, and spend time with family and friends.
Aimee Brinson - Co-Director of Children's Ministries
aimeebrinson@goshenfirstumc.org
Aimee Brinson is married to Tony Brinson and together, they have five awesome children: Tyler, Payton, AJ, Olivia, and Karlee. Aimee has worked as a volunteer in the Children's Ministry for nine years. She adores children and is very excited about having the opportunity to work with all of the children in the ministry of this church. Aimee also serves as a member of the praise team at the Life Center Campus. Singing is one of the gifts that God has given her to minister to others and she loves it! Some of the things that she enjoys doing outside of church include singing, reading, snowboarding, anything involving fitness (she is a personal trainer and fitness instructor), laser tag, hide and go seek, and pretty much anything else that keeps her family active and happy. Aimee loves the opportunity she has of working with the children and all of you who are blessed enough to be their parents, teachers, and spiritual leaders, to provide the foundation they need to continue their lives as Christ's followers.
Linda Ponce - Treasurer
lcponce@fsbmiddlebury.com
Linda Ponce has been serving as Treasurer at FUMC for a number of years. She works here part-time along with her full-time job as Operations Officer at First State Bank in Middlebury. She graduated from National College of Education with a math/elementary education major. Working at the bank and being Treasurer at FUMC does not allow Linda much free time, but she does enjoy working in her yard. She is married to Armando Ponce and has two children: Meaghan, and son-in-law
Andrew Byslma, and a son, Andrew, who is a senior in college.
Harriet Martin - Office Administrator
harrietmartin@goshenfirstumc.org
Harriet Martin began working here as Office Administrator in December 2005. She attended one year of college at Hesston, Kansas, and three years at Goshen College, graduating with a B.S. degree in Organizational Management. In the past Harriet has worked at different jobs, but her favorites have been working for churches. In her spare time she enjoys playing the organ, reading, walking for exercise, and traveling. She is married to Dennis Martin, and they have two sons: David, who is married to Amy, and Jason, who is married to Ruth. David and Amy have three sons, and Jason and Ruth have a daughter.
Diane Bailey - Preschool Director
dianebailey@goshenfirstumc.org
Diane Bailey is the Director and lead teacher for our FUMC preschool. She has been teaching at the preschool for the past ten years. She received her early childhood teaching certification from Ivy Tech Community College. She and her husband, Dennis, have two children: Hayden and Sydney. Diane loves spending time with her family, reading, American history, landscaping, and playing tennis.
Ben Whirledge - Volunteer Ministries Coordinator
bwhirledge@embarqmail.com
Ben Whirledge is our clergy volunteer member of the staff, serving as Volunteer Ministries Coordinator. Ben is a graduate of Purdue University and Southern Methodist University's Perkins School of Theology. He served as Associate Pastor here from 1983-88 and as Senior Pastor at Milford United Methodist Church from 1988-93. He and his wife, Marie, have been married for 30 years and have two sons: Brian, who is an elementary art teacher, and John, who is a youth pastor in
Greenville, Ohio. Ben and Marie live on the family farm near Millersburg.
Garry Anglemyer - Maintenance Facilitator
garryanglemyer@goshenfirstumc.org
Garry Anglemyer began working for FUMC in September 2010 as Maintenance Facilitator. He is married to Kathy, and they have three adult children. Their son, Barry, is married to Davina, and they have a daughter, Payton, and a son, Talon. Their son, Kelly, lives in Goshen with his wife, Val, and they have a son named Aspen. Their daughter, Bobbi, is married to Matt Smith and they live in Goshen. Garry's interests are motorcycles! He loves riding and racing motorcycles. His favorite hobby is enjoying his grandkids and grand dogs!
Betty McKnight - Life Center Custodian
Betty McKnight works part-time as Life Center custodian. She graduated from Manchester College with a B.S. in English, with the hope of teaching. She met her husband, Doug, while in college and they became houseparents at Bashor Children's Home for two years. Her husband died in 1994, and the chance to be the custodian for the Life Center was an answer to prayer. Her duties include keeping the place clean and setting up for events like worship, receptions, and meetings. She has no children of her own but has been Mom to 16 wonderful exchange students from all over the world.
Bobbi Smith - Downtown Custodian
bobbismith@goshenfirstumc.org
I am married to my wonderful husband, Matt, who supports me in everything I do. With a great passion for music and youth, I am coordinator for youth music as well as a small group leader for the senior high girls. I also enjoy singing on the praise team on Sunday mornings at the Life Center. Having a knack for the creative, I take part in the worship design committee to help come up with various ideas and themes for each week's service. I have also spent a year serving as a missionary in Honduras, teaching kindergarten and first grade. My hobbies include traveling, using my Spanish, reading, scrapbooking, and watching movies with my amazing husband.
