Dr. D. B. Shelnutt, Jr.

Senior Pastor
Email: dshelnutt@johnscreekumc.org

D. B. (Dee) Shelnutt, Jr., has been in the ministry for over 30 years. He and his wife Kandy (Jackson) have three children: Meredith (married to Jordan Thrasher), Emory, and Wesley. Dee also recently became a Grandfather! Dee is a graduate of LaGrange College (B.A. in mathematics) and Emory University where he received his Masters of Divinity in 1978 and his Doctor of Ministry degree in 1997. He has served in the following appointments in the North Georgia Annual Conference: Fayetteville First UMC (as associate), RockSprings/McKendree UMC, North Fayette UMC (forming pastor), St. Timothy UMC, Augusta District Superintendent, and presently here at Johns Creek UMC.

Dee has served on several committees of the North Georgia Annual Conference. He is a member of Rotary International (Johns Creek Rotary).

Dee is excited about the mission of Johns Creek UMC "Making Disciples" and creating a place where all who come here feel "at home." He says, "Johns Creek UMC is THE happening place…full of love, activities, spiritual growth, and fun!"

Dr. Mabel S. Foster

Associate Emeritus
Email: msjbfoster@bellsouth.net

Originally from north Alabama, Mabel is married to J.B. Foster and they have two children, Connie and Christa, and one "gold-plated" grandson, Darren.

As for her education, she studied piano at the Houston Conservatory of Music and taught private lessons for twenty-three years. She received an AAS from Adirondack College in Glens Falls, N.Y.; a BS with majors in religion and social studies from Mercer University, Atlanta. GA; her Masters of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees were earned at Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Atlanta, GA.

Mabel has been involved in ministry for over forty years. Her first experience with the UMC was as the choir director of Oglethorpe UMC for thirteen years. After becoming a United Methodist she received her Deacons Orders in 1984, and her Elders Orders, in full connection, in 1986, and has previously served with Kingswood UMC, Tucker UMC, Roswell UMC, and Warrenton UMC, various committees, and on the Board of Ordained Ministry of the North Georgia Conference.

Rev. Mary Gene Lee

Associate Emeritus
Email: mglee@johnscreekumc.org

Mary Gene Morris Lee is a member of a small, exclusive group called native Atlantans. She has served in the North Georgia Conference for over 25 years in local churches and on the Conference staff.

Mary Gene received her undergraduate degree from Georgia State University and her Master of Education from Georgia State. She attended Candler School of Theology, completing requirements for ordination as a full-connection Deacon in the UMC. Mary Gene has served on many boards and committees of the North Georgia Conference and presently serves as secretary of the Board of Ordained Ministry. Mary Gene has "lots" of experience leading training events for local churches, districts, the Conference, and national Christian Educators' Fellowship. She writes a monthly article for the Wesleyan Christian Advocate and has been a curriculum writer for the United Methodist Publishing House.

Mary Gene and her husband, Jim, reside in Decatur. Jim is retired Regional Environmental Office, U.S. Department of the Interior. They love to travel, especially visiting National Parks across the country.They had an awesome experience traveling to Cambodia and Viet Nam on a mission trip a couple of summers ago. They are the parents of three - Jennifer, married to Don Venn, now have two kids, Don IV and Micah Thi. Kevin, married to Kelly Formento, and parents of Jacob and Rachel. Jeremy, married to Melissa Friedman, and parents of Shae. Mary Gene and Jim think it is great fun being grandparents!

Rev. Beth Brown Shugart

Pastor, WORSHIP
Email: bshugart@johnscreekumc.org

Beth Brown Shugart began her career as a high school choral director in the Atlanta area. She served several churches in a part time capacity while teaching full time. In 1991 she began working full time as a minister of music. Beth is graduate of Belmont University in Nashville, TN (Bachelor of Music Education) and the University of Tennessee (Master of Music in Choral Conducting). She attended Candler School of Theology at Emory University, completing theology requirements for ordination as a Deacon in the United Methodist Church. Beth began working at Johns Creek in September 2004.

Beth’s husband Al is a remodeling contractor. They have two children, Carly and D.J.

Sacred music is one of the best ways for meeting God, understanding God and communicating with God. It is Beth’s hope that our music ministry will nurture the Christian spiritual growth of those who participate in the music ministry and proclaim Jesus Christ to all through music.

Stacey Rushing

Pastor, INVITE
Email: srushing@johnscreekumc.org

Stacey spent most of her formative years in the Atlanta suburb of Tucker, GA. After graduating from Tucker High School, Stacey entered Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, AL. As a student at BSC, Stacey pursued her call to ministry through religion courses, involvement in the campus Wesley Foundation, and college chapel services. Though Birmingham-Southern College gave Stacey many great opportunities (a B.A. in religion and even a future husband), she was eager to get back to her hometown of Atlanta. Stacey married her college sweetheart, Dalton, in January 2007; in May 2008, they both completed their Master of Divinity degrees at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. In the summer of 2010, Stacey and Dalton were commissioned as Provisional Elders in the North Georgia Annual Conference. Stacey and Dalton currently live in Duluth with their two crazy and loving dogs, Lily and Rose.

Rev. Christopher Carlton

Pastor, NURTURE
Email: ccarlton@johnscreekumc.org

Christopher spent most of his formative years in the small coal mining town of Clintwood, VA. Raised as a Freewill Baptist, the Church and the Bible have always been important parts of his life.

Christopher received a BA in religion and biology from Emory and Henry College in 1996. Given Emory and Henry's long and proud affiliation with the Methodist Church it was little wonder that Christopher became a Methodist in 1993. While studying at Emory and Henry, he was given the opportunity to study abroad in Israel. It was in the Holy Land that the faith that Christopher had always held met with the reality of the places and things he had always read about and imagined. It was at this time that Christopher felt his call to ordained ministry. Christopher came to Atlanta in 1997 to study at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He received his M. Div. degree in the winter of 1999.

Christopher served as minister of youth at Bold Springs UMC in Monroe, pastor in charge of the Rose Hill circuit in VA and Pomona UMC in Griffin GA, and has been a chaplain at the Wesley Woods Center of Emory University Healthcare. His special interests are counseling and mental health ministries. To further this end, Christopher will be working part-time toward an MS in Professional Counseling at Georgia State University. Along the way Christopher has also been a Virginia licensed EMT and private investigator. He will gladly talk about these things, at length, to anyone who will listen.

Christopher's wife, Deborah is, besides being the most wonderful wife in the world, the Associate Pastor at Tucker First UMC. Christopher and Deborah reside happily together with their daughters Sophia and Phoebee along with their cats Abelard and Rebel. Christopher's fervent hope and prayer is to help equip Johns Creek UMC to become the most effective instrument for spreading the love of Jesus Christ that it can be.

Rev. Jenna Mobley

Pastor, GROW I
Email: jmobley@johnscreekumc.org

Jenna grew up in the Decatur/Tucker area. After graduating from Shamrock High School, she attended Wofford College where she received her B.A. in Art History. After college she worked for a year with a political lobbyist and was a week away from beginning a program to receive her Masters in Art History when she accepted her call to ministry. While attending the Candler School of Theology, she served as Youth Minister at Tucker UMC.

She graduated from Seminary in 2002 and began her work as Associate Minister at Kingswood UMC in Dunwoody. Jenna was ordained a Deacon in Full Connection in June of 2008. She served Kingswood for eight years until her appointment to Johns Creek as Pastor of Grow I. Jenna currently resides in Tucker with her dog Izzie.

Andy Webb

Director, GROW II
Email: awebb@johnscreekumc.org

Andy Webb was born and raised in the Stone Mountain area. Andy has worked with youth and children for fifteen years. Andy received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Georgia State University. He has worked as a Youth Minister at Avondale First Baptist, St. Timothy United Methodist Church in Stone Mountain, Jonesboro First United Methodist Church, and is currently working here at Johns Creek United Methodist Church

Rev. Melinda Campbell Jones

Pastor, GROW III
Email: mjones@johnscreekumc.org


Melinda Campbell Jones cherishes the heritage of growing up in the church which she brings to her ministry. Her father was a United Methodist pastor (retired now), and her mother (also retired) worked for many years in United Methodist publishing. Melinda first experienced her call to ministry as a teenager. She pursued her undergraduate degree at American University in Washington, D.C., and then enrolled at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, where she felt her call confirmed and received her Master of Divinity degree in 1981.

While at Candler, Melinda met and married fellow student Hal Jones. By 1984, both she and Hal were ministering as ordained Elders in the North Georgia Conference. Melinda has served as a senior pastor at Sardis UMC and Vinings UMC, and as an associate pastor at Embry Hills, Chamblee, and most recently at Northbrook in Roswell, before coming to Johns Creek, where she is responsible for adult education and family ministries. She has also served as a pastoral counselor at Betty Ford Center, and a spiritual counselor at Anchor Hospital and Talbott Recovery Campus in Atlanta; during most of these years she worshipped with her family in the pews of Oak Grove UMC in Decatur.

Hal and Melinda have two sons: Steven, who is serving in the Coast Guard, and Jeff, who begins college this fall. Hal serves in extension ministry as Director of Care Transformation for Emory Healthcare. They live in the Oak Grove/Lakeside area of DeKalb County.

Rev. Dalton Rushing

Pastor, SERVE
Email: drushing@johnscreekumc.org

Dalton Rushing was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, where he attended Memphis University School before entering Birmingham-Southern College. While studying political science and writing at Birmingham-Southern, Dalton received his call to ministry and started dating his lovely wife, Stacey (in that order). After completing his undergraduate degree, Dalton entered the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, graduating in 2008 with a Master of Divinity. He was commissioned as a provisional elder in the North Georgia Conference in June of 2010.

Before being appointed to Johns Creek UMC, Dalton served as minister to youth at Berkmar United Methodist Church and Director of Communications at United Methodist Volunteers in Mission. Dalton and Stacey live in Duluth.

Rev. Brian Overstreet

Minister of Recreation
Email: boverstreet@johnscreekumc.org

Brian spent most of his formative years in Fitzgerald, Georgia, where he graduated high school in 1989. Accepting a call to ministry at an early age, Brian graduated from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia (B.A. in Christianity & Greek, 1994) and the McAfee School Of Theology on the campus of Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia (Master Of Divinity, 2000)

Brian has served several churches and ministry-related organizations over the years including the Houston Heights Baptist Church, Methodist Childrens’ Home, & Magnolia Manor (Retirement Home) all in Macon, Georgia, Gum Branch Baptist Church in Hinesville, Georgia, Shively Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, Central United Methodist Church in Fitzgerald, Georgia, and First Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia. Brian joined the staff at Johns Creek in July 2000 and serves as the Minister Of Recreation.

Brian lives in Woodstock, Georgia with his wife, Michelle, and daughter, Jessie and son Levi.. Brian enjoys playing golf, playing cards, and working on genealogy.

JB Foster

Director, Food Services

J.B. Foster was born in Altoona, AL and is married to Mabel. J.B. attended Auburn University but has increased his world with the many things he has experienced in the work force. One of his earliest surprises was to find himself First Cook, receiving commendations from the Radio Technician School, Company B, of the Third Army based at Augusta, GA. As a young man he served as a store manager with Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. From there he went to work with an engineering company out of Oklahoma and worked for them as a liaison with national stores, such as Sears and Montgomery Wards, to train in automotive repairs. He later owned his own business, Auto Specialties, Inc. After selling his business, he worked for Cotton States Insurance Company before his retirement in 1992. J.B. has many interests; he enjoys working with the UMC Walk to Emmaus Ministries. He likes to fish and is presently learning to snow ski. Life has gone full circle for him as he now finds himself cooking again…serving as Director of Food Services with Johns Creek UMC, and enjoying every minute of it.

Gene Ray

Church Administrator
Email: gray@johnscreekumc.org

Gene came to Johns Creek UMC after 30 years in the corporate world where he worked in advertising, marketing and general business. He and his partner owned an Atlanta based advertising agency for 20 of those years. Gene has traveled in all 50 states, most of Canada, Mexico and Europe. He and his wife, Jill and daughter Cori live in Dunwoody. Originally from Missouri, Gene was raised in the Methodist Church and together with his parents was a charter member of St. Luke's Methodist Church in suburban Kansas City. He and his family are members of Johns Creek UMC and Gene is a graduate of Georgia State University, a Navy veteran and a member of numerous historical and genealogical societies.

Cathy Waite

Preschool Director
Email: cwaite@johnscreekumc.org

Cathy grew up in upstate New York. She is a graduate of Endicott College in Massachusetts majoring in Early Childhood Education. Cathy taught preschool in New York before moving to Georgia in 1994 and was a teacher of four year olds at Johns Creek before becoming the Preschool Director in 2001.

Cathy and her husband, John, live in Cumming. They are the proud parents of four sons; Kyle, Christopher, Bradford and Jamieson ~ all of whom live in Georgia.

Cathy enjoys cooking, golf, reading and water sports.

Christy Hinson

Director of Communications
Email: chinson@johnscreekumc.org

Christy Hinson grew up in the "Show Me" State of Missouri. She attended Southeast Missouri State University where she studied business and marketing. Christy has extensive work experience in the television industry. She has held various management positions such as Program Director and Promotions Manager for CBS and NBC affiliate television stations in Cape Girardeau, MO, Wilmington, NC and Raleigh, NC.

Christy and her husband Jeff, along with her two boys; Stokes(18) and Jonathan(15) live in nearby Lawrenceville.

She is a very talented, creative and energetic person whose love for the Lord is apparent and contagious to all that know her.

Vicki Kratzer

Nursery Director
Email: vkratzer@johnscreekumc.org

Vicki Kratzer grew up close by in Alpharetta, Georgia. She received a BBA degree in Finance from Emory University in 1986 and a J.D. degree from the University of Georgia in 1990. She practiced corporate law for two years before acting on her first love – working with children. Vicki left the corporate world in 1992 to open an in-home Montessori preschool, which she ran successfully for several years. In 1997, Vicki and her husband, Frank, decided to extend their mission to help children in need by becoming foster parents to medically fragile young children. Through her work with her preschool and foster care, she has taken over 300 hours of early childhood development and education courses.

Today, Vicki is the proud mom of 9 children, through a combination of birth, adoption, and fostering. They are Zak, Devin, Andrew, Nicholas, Michael, Dejay, and Alonna.

Paula Wamsley

Music Associate, Pianist
Email: pwamsley@johnscreekumc.org

Paula grew up in Michigan and graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Music degree. She then earned a Master of Music degree from East Carolina University. Paula has maintained a private music studio for twenty years, teaching piano students of all ages. She has served several churches in the Atlanta area as organist, pianist, and music associate. Paula joined the staff at Johns Creek in February of 2001. Paula's husband, Bryan, is band director at Webb Bridge Middle School. They have two children, Marilyn and Adam, who are college students.

Randy Elkins

Music Associate
Email: relkins@johnscreekumc.org