Where I Blog: Making Disciples
Twitter: @jbrimmage
Three ways to describe me: Lord Have Mercy!
My specialties: I have a passion to seek and save the lost. I believe the church is the hope of the world and the church has the opportunity in this day and time to make a difference in people's lives. I enjoy preaching, teaching, and working with a team of servants who want to be led by Jesus Christ.
The pre-CUMC years: Ministry in Mineola, Lindale, and Huntsville, Texas. I worked also in Juvenile Probation.
What I am reading: Leaders Journey, Windows of the Soul, The 8 Concepts of the Bowen Theory, and The Power of Vision.
The people in my life: My bride, Leslie Brimmage, and my boys, Jacob and Caleb.
What I do for CUMC: I am blessed to be the Sr. Pastor of CUMC. This gives me the opportunity to lead, cast vision, preach, teach and be part of a great church in the Texas Annual Conference.
The college years: North Texas (Bachelor); UT Tyler (Master's); SMU (Mdiv) and I have just started my Doctorate of Ministry at Houston Graduate School of Theology.
What have I done for other churches: I have been a Student Pastor, an Associate Pastor with youth and evangelism focus, a Sr. Pastor of a church with two locations in East Texas, and now the Sr. Pastor of CUMC.
Most likely to be when Divine inspiration hits: Running, attempting to rest, and/or reading.
Favorite foods: YES! Chips and Salsa are life’s only food, right!
Five ways to describe me: My friends and family tell me I’m tiny but mighty, sweet but tough, family oriented, loyal and dedicated.
The pre-CUMC years: Where have I been the last 34 years of my life? Well, let's see… I served at Chapelwood UMC in Nash (near Texarkana) for 3 ½ years. Before that, I served a small two-point charge near Tyler. Mountsylvan UMC and Union Chapel UMC for 3 ½ years. During that time I finished up my Master's of Divinity from Southern Methodist University – Perkins School of Theology. I earned a bachelor of science in Sociology at Lamar University in Beaumont. At which time, I worked at Wal-Mart… great place to get people skills!! My husband and I met my freshman year of high school in Bridge City, Texas. He was my first date when I was 16. We were married 10 years later and the rest is history in the making.
What I am reading: I wish!!
The people in my life: My husband Maac (still my high school sweetheart). My children, Ethan and Emily hence, the reason I have no time to read or blog! I love them dearly.
Where I Blog: Blogging? What’s that? Just kidding…Don’t blog…Don’t have time.
What I love: Food, except for onions
What I hate: Onions
What I do for CUMC: Good question... hmmm...I oversee radical hospitality, risk-taking mission and ministry, and fervent prayer. I preach, pray, keep the senior pastor out of trouble…
What makes me laugh: Anything and everything. I love to laugh!!
Favorite color: Any shade of green
Favorite foods: Mexican and cheese
Born: Cortland, New York
Education: University of Dubuque, School of Theology, Licensing School 2001 St. Paul School of Theology COS School, Lon Morris Course Of Study
Married: Wife- Sharon
Children: Dee Knolls, Sioux Falls, SD; Tami Vossler, Houston TX; Lee Knolls, Atlanta, GA.
Grandchildren: Courtney and Drew Vossler
Recreation: Golfing, Fishing, Walking, Family Time
I am a second career Local Licensed Pastor of the United Methodist Church. I left a 30-year career in sales and marketing to answer a call from God to go into the ministry. After much discernment and prayer, I retired early from my secular career and entered the candidacy program for ministry. Upon completing licensing school in Iowa, I was appointed in the Minnesota Conference by Bishop John Hopkins to two rural Minnesota churches, serving there for three years.
In June of 2004, Sharon and I moved to Houston Texas to be near our daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren, and left Minnesota and all its snow and blustery cold weather. Taking on the role of Senior Adult Ministry Director with Cypress UMC has been a blessing and icing on the proverbial cake for us. We have found a warm hospitality at Cypress unlike any other place in which we have lived. As I go through life and sometimes look back, I thank God for the blessings of family, friends, and all of God’s people that we have been in worship with. God has shown me what an awesome God we get to serve every day of our lives, and although I said no to his call twice before in my life, his plan all along was to bring us to Cypress UMC at this very special time of our lives. Sharon and I can’t wait to see what he has in store for us in the future. We enjoy serving the people of Cypress UMC.
5 ways to describe me: energetic, organized, wife, mother, and grandmother
The pre-CUMC years: I worked for Compaq/HP for 15 years. I started at Compaq as a assemble line worker and ended my career as a Project Specialist for customer support and the Account Focal for the Houston Custom Accounts Program, I left HP to pursue my PM certification and began working at FMC as a Project Coordinator and eventually the FMC Project Manager for the BP Thunderhorse Project. .
The people in my life: My husband of 29 years, Tim. My daughter Heather Anne, her boyfriend Jeff, my son Timothy Ryan, his wife Katie, and my precious 2 year old granddaughter Ruby I come from a large family and they are all very important to me - my mother, 2 brothers, 7 sisters 22 nieces and nephews and 8 great nieces and nephews!
What I do for CUMC: Administrative Assistant to the Clergy. I started at CUMC on January 4, 2010 so I am still learning my roles and responsibilities, (Check with me in a month and I will be able to tell you more).
What I love: Spending time with my family, playing with my granddaughter Ruby, sewing, offshore fishing, all music, hotdogs, babies, the smell of clean sheets, spring, summer time and planting a vegetable and flower garden and watching it grow.
What I hate: Cold weather.
What makes me smile: My granddaughter Ruby, Reunions with my friends from grade school, Looking through old photos and reminiscing. Family gatherings at my mom’s house, and being the one on the boat who catches the biggest fish!
Recreation: I love to fish – in a pond, lake, wade fishing, offshore fishing – it doesn’t matter where, and it doesn’t matter if I even catch any fish….I just like to fish. My husband has taught me how to turn wood bowls on a lathe and we enjoy spending time together in his wood working shop.
