FUMC ALLEN - Key Persons
Adam Lubbers joined the FUMC Allen staff in July 2021 as our Director of Adult Discipleship. He came to us from Chapel Hill UMC in Farmers Branch where he served as youth minister and pastoral intern for three years.
Adam is originally from Granbury, TX, and became an active United Methodist in high school. He went to college at Abilene Christian University, where he studied history and the Bible.
While at ACU, he met his wife, Courtney, and they were married after graduation. Together, they took a gap year and traveled. Adam recently graduated from Perkins School of Theology with an Master of Divinity.
Adam and Courtney live in Murphy with their two cats, and both sides of their family live in the area. In his free time, Adam enjoys stories (books, TV, movies, video games), watching football, being outside, drinking tea, and playing racquetball.
Job Titles:
- Board of Trustees Chair
- Information Technology Administrator
Alan Quick has been the Information Technology Administrator at FUMC Allen since the days of Windows 95. He believes technology should enhance worship and ministry without distracting from them.
He leads a team of other volunteers to ensure cost-effective technology efficiently and reliably serves the missions of the church. Major systems supported include Wi-Fi, classroom TVs with laptop connectivity, office and volunteer computers and servers, large area projection systems, office phones, security cameras, closed circuit broadcast of Sanctuary, hallway digital signage and photo walls, fire alarm system, access control system, exterior lighting controls, and air conditioning control.
Alan has served as the Board of Trustees chair, Administrative Council chair, and he has also served on the last four building committees. He has been on at least 15 youth mission trips, and he loves to help in Change The World projects in Allen.
Alan graduated from Virginia Tech Magna Cum Laude with a dual major in electrical engineering and computer science. He recently retired as a chief engineer from TI/Raytheon (where he and wife Linda met) after 36 years in defense electronics. Their children, Cheryl and Kevin, grew up in FUMC Allen.
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications
- Communications
Alison Thomas has been the director of communications at FUMC Allen since 2009. She is responsible for our website, social media, printed materials, church communications, and graphic design. Alison joined FUMC Allen in 2000 as the children's choir coordinator in the Music Ministry department.
Alison is the daughter of an Air Force pilot with roots in Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. She has known she was going to be in the word business since she was 17 years old, when she first studied journalism as a high school. She was editor of the school newspaper and advertising director of her high school yearbook.
Alison earned her bachelor of arts in English, her masters of arts in rhetoric and composition, and a writing certification from Texas A&M University (WHOOP!). Following graduation, she worked as a newspaper editor in Bryan and an information specialist at TAMU. She taught freshman English as a graduate student and came to Dallas to work for Electronic Data Systems. As a volunteer, she wrote for, designed, and edited newsletters for her Allen community groups.
Alison and her husband own a commercial door installation and repair service and are the parents of six sons, including a set of twins. She loves every aspect of her job at FUMC Allen and is thrilled to be a part of the body of Christ every day of the week.
FUN FACTS: Alison bowls in two leagues every week in an effort to increase her average-one pin at a time-and lower her handicap. She and her husband love to travel and attend live concerts of all genres.
Andrew is an Allen TX native and graduated from Allen High School. He attended Collin College where he received a certification in Office Systems Management.
In his spare time, Andrew enjoys video gaming with "Final Fantasy" as one of his favorites. He recently attended his first Final Fantasy convention in Las Vegas.
He also enjoys dining out with friends and family and going to the movies.
Clifton "Cliff" Bohaker joined our staff in December 2021 as our church administrator. Cliff was born in New Hampshire and has spent more than 18 years working in the non-profit sector, focusing on operations, finance, and human resources. In his down time, Cliff loves to hike, bike, camp, backpack, cook, and bake. He started golfing a couple years ago and has developed a love/dislike relationship with the sport. "I am excited to meet each of you, join the FUMC Allen…
Ed Whipple, our director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries, serves to guide our students in their journey with Jesus Christ. "I value the role of the church, and I desire to do my part in helping raise generations of believers in Christ."
Ed is pastor for our youth at FUMC Allen as well as the staff contact for our college and young adult ministries.
He has directed numerous youth events, including local and international mission trips,camps, and retreats. Throughout his career, he's been involved with the following organizations in support of youth, college, and young adult ministries:
Youth Specialties
UM ARMY
JUMMP
Big House
Mountain Top
Appalachia Service Project
Young Life
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Lakeview Christian Camp
Bridgeport Camp
Sky Ranch
Epworth Service Project
Kingdom House
Mission Waco
Ed has a bachelor of arts degree from Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX.
Fun facts: When not working with our youth, Ed can be found camping, fishing, hunting, archery, and shooting. He also enjoys film, photography, and writing.
Job Titles:
- Financial Secretary
- Finance / Membership
Elizabeth Fairchild is the Financial Secretary at FUMC Allen. She also keeps member and guest information updated.
With the tremendous support and nurturing of the FUMC Allen community, Elizabeth and her husband Brock have raised three children: Brennan, Ashlyn and Sabrina. She can often be found hanging with her Sunday School class.
Fun Fact: Elizabeth loves all furry pets, gardening, reading, and snow skiing. Her education is in engineering, which has made her pretty good with fix-it projects around the house.
Lisa Romans serves our staff as our executive assistant. She is passionate about growing as a disciple of Jesus and helping others to do the same. She has both attended and taught various Bible studies over the last three decades. Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) is one of her favorites to attend, and she loves studying Old Testament history!
Lisa and her husband, Brian, met at the University of North Texas, both earning their Bachelor of Science degrees in Computer Science. They graduated together and married soon after, living in Plano the first 10 years of their marriage. Lisa and Brian moved to Allen in 2002 and have loved being a part of Allen's one team, one town community. They have two children, Leah and Josh, who have both graduated from Allen ISD schools.
Lisa enjoys spending time with her family, reading, knitting, and crocheting. She and Brian love playing cards; canasta is one of their all-time favorite games.
Lisa's favorite Scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Mike has been a high school and middle school band director, choral director, and taught at two different universities. He has been a singer with the Dallas Symphony Chorus, played in the Bensenville (IL) Wind Ensemble, the Knox-Galesburg Symphony, the Kankakee Symphony to name a few.
Outside of his collegiate and public-school musical experience, Mike has served churches the past 30 years including FUMC Jonesboro, LA, Faith Presbyterian Church Austin, Grace UMC Corpus Christi, FUMC Midland, Treitsch UMC in Flower Mound, Preston Hollow UMC Dallas, and Aldersgate UMC. He has served as the Conference Music Director for the Northwest Texas Conference of the UMC. July of 2023, Mike has been asked to guest speak at the National Fellowship of Church Musicians Conference in Dallas on the implementation of instruments in worship entitled "Woodwinds, and Trumpets, and Strings" Oh My!"
Michael "Mike" Link holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Illinois University (Macomb), a Master of Music Education degree from VanderCook College of Music (Chicago), a Master of Science degree from Concordia University (Austin) in Administration, and Certification in Church Music from Perkins School of Theology.
Mike most recently comes to FUMC Allen from Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Carrollton where has been the past 17 years and University of North Texas as Adjunct Professor in Music Education where he has been since retiring from McKinney Boyd High School in 2021.
Ray Bond, our facilities manager, was born in Mission, Texas. He graduated from Gorman High School in Eastland Country.
Ray left college to join the Army. He worked his way through the construction trades, specializing in HVAC.
Ray and his wife, Dee Ann, have been married for 35 years. They have two daughters, Amy and Kari, and a granddaughter, Natalie, who graduated from high school this year.
He enjoys kayaking and fishing, and recently started to learn fly fishing and tying flies.
"I have enjoyed the first few weeks here at FUMC Allen," said Ray, "and I am looking forward to meeting everyone."
Rev Josh Esparza is our executive pastor at FUMC Allen, responsible for Missions and Care & Support Ministry. Josh, a Dallas-Ft Worth native who grew up in Frisco, TX, spent the past four years serving as the campus pastor of Owenwood Farm and Neighbor Space, the second campus of White Rock UMC. He was also an associate pastor at White Rock UMC.
Josh began at Owenwood in 2018 with a vision for a faith community that made a spiritual and material impact on the people of Far East Dallas. Since then, Owenwood has created a vibrant community through neighborhood partnerships and nonprofit partners within the building itself. Through these connections, Josh believes faith communities can better serve local communities while creating opportunities for neighborhoods to share their gifts.
Josh holds graduate degrees from Dallas Baptist University and Perkins School of Theology. He and his wife, Victoria, and their dogs, Leila and Luna, live in Dallas. Josh and Victoria were not raised as United Methodists; however, they joined the UMC in 2016, and Josh is an ordained elder in the North Texas Conference.
Before Owenwood & White Rock, Josh spent five years leading youth and college ministry. In those years, Josh discovered his passion for organizational management, leadership development, and community engagement through an asset-based development lens. Josh currently serves on Wespath's Young Leader Advisory Board, participates in Dallas Truth, Racial Healing's Racial Equity Now Cohort, and fosters connectional support for BIPOC clergy and laity within the North Texas Conference.
Maxie Moore is the FUMC Allen Associate Pastor in charge of our Welcoming Ministries and our Senior Adult Ministry. She leads our Hospitality Team who strives to extend radical hospitality to everyone who walks through the doors of our church. She also supports our Community Connect Team, which seeks to equip all church members to be evangelists and develop relationships with our community.
Maxie has a passion for teaching and, especially, for leading Disciple Bible Study. Maxie and her husband, George, have two daughters and four grandchildren.
Maxie begins each day with the Psalm 118:24; "This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Fun Fact: Maxie's favorite pastime is playing golf.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Creative Playday Preschool Director
Trish Morehead is the director of FUMC Allen's preschool, Children's Creative Playday. In her role, she works to develop a foundation of faith with our littlest disciples.
Morehead is a graduate of the University of North Texas with a degree in early childhood education. She is a former kindergarten and preschool teacher. She has a heart for working with children and seeing them grow in their faith community.
Trish is a long-time resident of Allen. She and her husband, Rod, have two children, Patrick and Jillian. She enjoys spoiling her cute puppy, Margo, taking road trips, antiquing, watching Allen Eagle football, and writing.
Trish Morehead is our director of FUMC Allen's preschool, Children's Creative Playday, as well as director of FUMC Allen's preschool ministry.