SOAPSTONE UMC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Music
- Director of Music Ministries
Andrea was named the Director of Music Ministries in 2017 where she oversees all of the music groups and directs most of them including the choir, praise team, children's choirs, instrumental ensembles, handbell choirs and Covenant, the acapella ensemble. She has a passion for music and even more so, a passion for sharing music as a means to worship.
The NC native grew up in Clemmons, NC and moved to Raleigh in 1991 to attend Meredith College where her passion for church music grew. While at Meredith, she began her work in church music as pianist at Athens Drive Baptist Church in 1995.
After graduating from Meredith in 1995 with a Bachelors in Music with a concentration in piano performance and pedagogy, Andrea went on to further her music studies at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. She earned her Masters of Arts in Musicology in 2000. This same year she felt the call to come to Soapstone where she served as lead pianist from 2000 to 2014 as well as assistant music director, directing the children's choirs and youth praise band. Due to the demands of her busy family, Andrea took a break from her music ministry position in 2014. In 2017, she felt the call to return and welcomed the new opportunity as Director of Music Ministries.
She is married to Brad Turner, and they have two daughters, Lilly Kate and Savannah. Her children grew up at Soapstone and definitely call the church their second home. Andrea and Brad enjoy attending NC State games (although Andrea would much rather go to games at UNC), spending time with family and friends, and chasing around their two very busy girls. Both daughters are active in all types of music activities including dance, piano, guitar and any music programs at Soapstone. The family also has a very lovable dog, Tanner.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Finance Committee
- Finance Committee
The Finance Committee nurtures the financial vitality of the congregation, thinking missionally about budgeting and stewardship. This involves financial transparency, by sharing clear, easy to understand financial reports with members; implementing a strong system of internal controls; and providing for an annual audit of the financial reports. They must
Supports the church's Children's Ministries by providing Discipleship and fellowship opportunities for those birth through fifth grade. Oversees nursery, Sunday School, VBS, and seasonal activities such as Trunk or Treat and the Live Nativity.
Supports the church's Adult Ministries by providing Discipleship classes, small groups, and programs/activities for college age and up. Often helps coordinate all-church fellowship events.
Job Titles:
- Director of Family Ministries
Danny has called North Carolina home since he was a youth in middle school. The passionate runner and musician taps into his life experiences in short-term missions and retreats to help connect with kids of all ages to experience God outside of their everyday context.
He loves helping people make connections. Danny lived and worked in Ecuador for two years, and his job was to connect people across cultures. He uses this experience today as he teaches, preaches and plugs students in to events and projects while walking with them as they experience new things.
While Danny has been all over the mountains, the coast, and the jungle in Ecuador, he would like to see much more of South America. The adventurous family ministry director has hiked the Chimborazo volcano, the summit of which is the farthest point from the center of the earth. And as he admits, "I've been closer to outer space than anybody but astronauts - or as my Ecuadorian friends like to joke, ‘closer to Heaven'."
He credits his ministries' success to surrounding himself with people whose lives are worth imitating. He says, "every time I started serving in some way in the Church - as a kid, a youth, and an adult - it was because I looked up to someone and wanted to imitate them." He adds, "In children's and youth ministry now, I strive to be that person for all of the kids here at Soapstone."
Job Titles:
- Member of the Lay Leadership and Nominations Committee
- Lay Leader
Recruits, trains, nurtures and develops leaders for key lay leadership positions in the church including all chairs and members of other committees.
Works as a team, along with the ministerial staff, to assure that needs of the congregation are addressed in a personal and confidential manner. Assists with hospital and home visitation, meal preparation and delivery, funeral receptions, new moms, prayer shawls, intercessory prayer, and card ministries.
Job Titles:
- Co - Chair of the Missions Committee
Job Titles:
- Resident in Internal Medicine at UNC Hospital
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee provides ongoing review of the church's financial data and related processes to create full transparency and eliminate any financial data errors. Reports to the Annual Conference each August.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Endowment Committee
Responsible for the oversight, management, and governance of both the church's endowment funds and the investment funds for the general budget. Works in conjunction with the Trustees, Finance Committee and Church Council, as needed.
Job Titles:
- Director of
- Director of Preschool
Jessica Slessman joined the Soapstone staff as Preschool Director in the spring of 2020. She has an extensive background in teaching and knows firsthand what it takes to motivate and inspire young children as the mom of two young ones herself.
Jessica believes God called her to serve the preschool ministry, especially in a time of pandemic and crisis. Her creativity, organization, compassion, and tenacious research skills successfully helped manage many disruptions-all while continuing to educate and nurture our pre-schoolers with her creative, fun use of technology. And she successfully re-opened the preschool in person by fall of 2020.
The Maryland native is an avid runner and enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and watching Netflix with her husband. The energetic Slessman wants to travel to Italy one day. And one little known fact is that she was in an acapella group in college. (Our music director loved this!). And if she wasn't loving directing our Preschool, Jessica has dreamed of doing children's education in a museum.
She lives in Raleigh with her husband, daughter and son. And when not in Raleigh, you might find her at Emerald Isle Beach or Asheville, two of her favorite places to spend time with family.
Job Titles:
- Co - Chair of the Missions Committee
Provides opportunities for outreach and mission for adults and youth in areas such as housing and food insecurity, congregations for children, emergency response, home building and repair, blood drives, ZOE partnership, and more. Selects and oversees special offerings for United Methodist causes and other local causes.
Adult and youth members serve young people entering Middle School through High School by facilitating a program for youth to grow in their knowledge and understanding of the Christian faith, principles, and values. Key programs include Sunday School, Confirmation, UMYF, camps, and retreats.
Job Titles:
- Communications Coordinator
- Financial Secretary
Supports the Pastors and Music leadership by planning and shaping worship and the worship environment in which people experience the presence of God and grow in the knowledge of God. The committee coordinates ushers, lay readers, communion stewards and servers, altar flowers, and the altar guild.
The church's "executive" council that guides and furthers the ministries of the congregation by envisioning, planning, implementing, and evaluating the congregation's ministry and mission. Three "at-large" members join the chair, co-chair, Lay Delegate to Annual Conference, Lay Leader, and Chairs of Finance, Trustees, and SPRC, and staff.
Administers the relationship between clergy, staff, congregation, and the District Superintendent in support of the church's mission. Encourages, strengthens, nurtures, and supports the pastor, staff and their families. Assesses clergy and staff effectiveness and establishes salaries and benefits.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant
- Long - Time Soapstone Member
- Preschool Adminstrative Assistant
Long-time Soapstone member, Mika Scarlett, joined the preschool staff as Preschool Office Administrator in the spring of 2021. She brings a wealth of experience to helping our children and families at home at our preschool.
The North Carolina native loves working with children and encourages them to feel free to be themselves. She follows the advice of the all-time favorite "magical" teacher Ms. Frizzle in making sure children are enabled to "take chances, make mistakes, and get messy."
She derives great joy from helping others and working behind the scenes, and shared that one piece of advice she would've given her younger self would be "you will find such joy by doing small acts with great love." So it's no wonder that she truly likes to sort, organize, and label things. A closet full of clearly-labeled bins makes her happy (and keeps a preschool organized)!
However, she also had an adventurous side. Mika once spent a summer in college as part of the crew on a 134 foot, 9 sail, research sailing ship. So it's no surprise that she enjoys being outside and active - only now it's with her husband and their three children. When not outside, you may find Mika baking, as she is on a quest to "perfect" her cookie recipes.
She is a graduate of Meredith College with a master's in community work and parent education. Her family motto aptly demonstrates her creativity, her energy, and her love of children and families: "Our show may not be fancy, but it's noisy and it's free" - Ernie from Sesame Street.
Job Titles:
- Pastor of Discipleship and Missions
Pastor Jon guides Soapstone's Christian discipleship as it relates to Christian formation, education, outreach, and missions. In addition to serving as the staff liaison to Adult Council and the Missions Team, he supports adult Sunday school teachers, Bible Study, and small group leaders, Women of Wonder (WOW), and United Methodist Men.
Regarding outreach and missions, he supports laity who lead Soapstone UMC's missional acts of service, as well as the leadership of our community partners. He also assists with worship leadership.
Jon served for nine years at First UMC of Winter Park (Florida), first as Pastor to Young Adults and planter of the Kinfolk Church, and later as Associate Pastor overseeing Discipleship, Missions, and New Members. He also serves as the Executive Assistant and Consultant to Agua Viva Serves, a non-profit based in Costa Rica that develops community water systems.
Jon earned a BA in Psychology from the University of South Florida, an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School, and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from the Candler School of Theology.
Jon is married to Dr. Austin Coye, a resident in internal medicine at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill.
Job Titles:
- Pastor of Visitation and Congregational Car
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Lay Leadership and Nominations Committee
- Lead Pastor
Job Titles:
- Reverend
- Pastor of Visitation and Congregational Car
George Freeman brings years of pastoral care experience to Soapstone. George is a retired minister who served the Western North Carolina Annual Conference for more than 40 years. The Duke Divinity School alum felt nudged to re-join pastoral ministry on a part-time basis after relocating to Raleigh two years ago.
George loves being able to build meaningful relationships with people and provide support and care in the various seasons of life. His gift of listening along with his warmth and openness make him most suitable for his role.
The Baltimore native has been married for 45 years and has three amazing adult children and four wonderful grandchildren. When not providing care to our parishioners, you will find him playing with his grandchildren.
George also enjoys exploring the outdoors by kayaking and cycling. Being active should come as no surprise, as one little known fact about him is that as a young man he taught figure skating.
When this experienced pastor reflects on the past, George says he would tell his younger self to "Slow Down!" While his retirement has slowed him down a bit, it's a blessing that he has joined the Soapstone staff.
Mitzi grew up in Morehead City, NC and loves calling North Carolina home. Her passion for history guided her career in both teaching and ministry. She majored in history at UNC-CH and taught as part of Teach for America. Now she breathes life into old, important stories in a different way as a minister (graduate of Duke Divinity School). Her work has taken her to Houston, Lake Junaluska, and Raleigh, and she admits that there's something about the Triangle that always calls her back.
Mitzi's ministry has led her to an array of congregations: rural, suburban, urban, and college town churches, as well as a seminary chapel, a Fresh Expression, and a UMC Conference Center. These diverse experiences have given her a deep appreciation for the treasured beliefs and practices that connect all United Methodists. She loves to discern and name the Christian missions that function as the unique heartbeat of the church, and then equip and encourage all the various parts of the body to keep those missions healthy and vibrant.
She lives in Raleigh with her Texan husband, Gordon, and the youngest of their two children. She enjoys reading, cooking, and hiking with a goal of one day hiking the Mountains to Sea trail in its entirety.
Provides advisory support to the Preschool Director; considers and makes recommendations related to the Soapstone UMC Preschool mission "to guide, educate, and nurture children in a creative Christian environment." Areas of advisement may include but are not limited to staffing, policies and procedures, and preschool families, preschool equipment, and budget.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Technology Committee
Enables and enhances the missions of the church and supports the church staff and membership through the use of appropriate technology: computer systems, networks, servers, printers, workstations, security equipment, phone systems, and other technical systems as deemed necessary.
This panel of greeters creates a welcoming experience for guests that connects them from the first time they attend worship through their attendance in the Connection Class.