John F. Barnes, Senior Pastor
John was born in Virginia, but moved to Roswell, Georgia in 1968. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a BA in History, and received a Master of Divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Seminary in Massachusetts. John is married to the former Catherine Sellers of Charlotte, NC. John and Catherine met and married in Augusta, where Catherine’s family still lives. They have three children: Will, Katie, and Jack. Will lives in New York where he works for Merrill Lynch and is getting an MBA at Columbia University. Katie lives in Augusta and is a small business consultant and riding instructor. Jack is an eleventh grader who loves baseball, basketball and tennis.
John was appointed to TFUMC in June of 2009 by Bishop Michael Watson. John’s appointment to Thomson was exciting both for his ministry and family. He and Catherine had prayed for a vital and active small-town church closer to family; and Thomson is an answer to that prayer.
"As a young teenager I enjoyed going to church. But I didn't meet Christ at church. I went to a youth led bible study where an older teenager told me I needed to ask Christ in my life. I asked him in! I believe I was saved at that time. At the age of eighteen I read "Mere Christianity" and realized for the first time that there were good reasons for believing that there is a God and Jesus is his Son. I began growing in my faith by reading the Bible and being involved in Bible studies. In college I was involve in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at UGA. There I led Bible studies in the dorm and helped organize what they called 'Large Group' meetings. After college I spent a summer in the Philippines working as a short-term missionary. After my stint overseas I attended Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. I thought I would be a missionary, but volunteered at a church and when I got in the pulpit I felt like it was like putting on a glove that fit perfectly. So, I pursued local church ministry. I was ordained in 1988 as deacon and in 1990 as an elder. I thank God that he called me to serve Him in ordained ministry. I hope you will thank God that he has called you to serve him as an unordained minister."
Beverly Wilkerson Casstevens, Associate Pastor
Beverly is a native of South Carolina, born in Spartanburg and raised in Abbeville. A graduate of Georgia State University, she holds a BA in Anthropology, an MA in Comparative Psychology and a doctoral specialty in Primatology. Working with non-human primates (monkeys and apes) led Beverly to a deep appreciation and sense of wonder for the complex and inter-related universe we live in, and the awesome God who creates it. After working in the scientific field, Beverly worked for Fortune 50 companies for nineteen years, first in consumer products and then in computer software. Beverly has two sons, Simon and Jacob.
She answered the call to ordained ministry in 2000, received her Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology, Emory University in 2006, and was ordained an elder in the North Georgia conference of the United Methodist Church in 2009. Prior to her appointment to TFUMC, she served Jonesboro First, and Salem (Covington).
"I believe that I was called to ordained ministry because of the perspective I have gained from my background as a scientist and by years in Fortune 50 corporations. People today speak the language of science and technology, but not the language of faith in part because so many Christians have put faith at odds with science, and spirituality at odds with rationality. In this so-called “post-modern” era, we are being challenged to speak the good news in intelligent, meaningful and relevant ways. We are charged to build bridges and not barriers. If we are to open hearts, minds and doors, we have to embrace dialogue, and have the courage to be an active loving community serving God through our loving actions toward our neighbors."
