Staff

CHIP HALE, SENIOR PASTOR

Chip Hale grew up in Mobile. His family attended Dauphin Way United Methodist Church and he graduated from Davidson High School. He graduated from Samford University in 1975 and Candler School of Theology in 1978. He was ordained a Deacon in 1976 and an Elder in 1979.

In seminary Chip was a Youth Minister at West Point United Methodist in the North Georgia Conference. His first appointment was to small charge United Methodist churches for five years. He then spent five years at First United Methodist Church in Montgomery.

The 21 years before coming to Pensacola had been spent at Spanish Fort United Methodist Church. Spanish Fort was a small church in those days and is now a 2,200 member church. In the years Chip was a Senior Pastor the church built a Fellowship Hall, a Sanctuary, and purchased a 90,000 square foot shopping center adjacent to the property. The church purchased 27 acres of land and grew in programs and staff to accommodate ministry at every stage.

Chip is married to the former Averette Martin. Averette is Assistant Principal at Bay Minette Elementary and has worked as an educator for over 18 years. She taught third and then second grade before her move to administration. Chip and Averette have three daughters: Caroline, Christina, and Anna Camille. Caroline graduated from Birmingham-Southern and has a Masters in counseling from the University of South Alabama. She lives in Mobile and works at Alterpoint Health Care Services. Christina graduated from Millsaps College. She graduated this year with a Masters from Candler School of Theology and is returning to the Alabama-West Florida Conference as a Methodist minister. Anna Camille is a junior at Huntingdon College.

Chip enjoys running, reading, and writing. He writes a daily email devotional column that he continues at Cokesbury. He and Averette enjoy spending time together and are looking forward to new friendships at Cokesbury United Methodist Church.

Chip is honored to have been able to serve the Lord for over 30 years and looks forward to being God’s servant in Pensacola. He believes that life in America is harder right now than it has ever been in his lifetime. People need a relationship with God. It is evident that people thirst for the purpose that God gives us in following Him. He hopes to share a transparent and earnest faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Without the love of Christ it is easy to lose our way. His hope is that the Christians of this church will continue in their long and distinguished history to be a beacon to the substantive difference that Christ makes in our lives.

STUART A. WORTH, PASTOR-MISSIONS AND SATURDAY NIGHT PRAISE AND WORSHIP

Rev. Stuart Worth has been a pastor at Cokesbury since June of 1997. Although originally from Idaho (God’s Country), Stuart went to Middle and High School in Gulf Breeze and therefore tries to sound like a local. Stuart is so Methodist he has been to two Methodist universities graduating from Birmingham Southern in religion and psychology and then getting his Master’s at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Being at Cokesbury for around 10 years he has been involved in a wide array of ministries here. Recently his main efforts have been in leading the Saturday Night Service by preaching, playing guitar, and trying to sing. If by chance you are interested in missions Stuart is the guy to talk with. In Stuart’s spare time he also serves another appointment outside Cokesbury as the Campus minister for the University of West Florida and Pensacola Junior College. If by chance you need someone to talk to, feel free to call him on his cell phone at 723-4716. Stuart is newly married to Jennifer.

CLINT MCBROOM, EXECUTIVE PASTOR

Clint McBroom came to Cokesbury in June 2003. He is a graduate of the University of South Alabama where he received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. Clint has served at Dothan First United Methodist and then at the Florala, Hopewell, and Christian Home United Methodist Churches. His hobbies include jogging, tennis, and scuba diving.

Clint's personal life is dominated by two beautiful women, a brunette (his lovely wife of six years, Amy) and a redhead (their gorgeous, talkative, precocious three-year old daughter, Emma). Clint is happy to show pictures of both with or without request.

CONNIE RAGGHIANTI, PASTOR-CONGREGATIONAL CARE

Reverend Connie Ragghianti came to Cokesbury in August of 2003 to serve as Pastor of Congregational Care. Although she was born and raised in Nebraska, is a graduate of UNL (the University of Nebraska at Lincoln), and is an avid Cornhusker fan (Go Big Red!), Florida has been “home” for many years. She and her husband, Al, who is also a United Methodist pastor, have 2 children, Andrew and Allison. Connie holds a Masters degree in both Counseling and Christian Education from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. She has served as a Hospice Chaplain for Mercy Medical in Mobile, Alabama, and as Children’s Pastor at Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church in Gulf Breeze, Florida. Connie enjoys creating pottery, reading, and spending time outdoors - especially at the beach.

PHIL IGNEY, MUSIC DIRECTOR

Phil Igney came to Cokesbury in June, 2004, from St. Luke's UMC in St. Petersburg where he served for ten years. Prior to that, he served at Seminole First Baptist for sixteen years. He has degrees from Florida State University ( Bachelor's of Music Education) and the University of South Florida, Tampa (M.A. in Music Education). Phil taught public school music at the middle and high school level. He directed the St. Petersburg Boychoir and the chorus for the local opera company and also served as a clinician in choral and handbell festivals and conferences. He has sung baritone roles in Broadway musicals and operas. Phil is a consecrated Diaconal Minister. Phil is married to Keri who plays handbells, flute and the piano.

SANDY SPIVEY, MUSIC ASSOCIATE

Sandy Spivey is an active performer and music teacher. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music performance and is a former U.S. Air Force Band member. His duties at Cokesbury UMC include leading the music for two contemporary services and preparing the CUMC orchestra for services. He and his his wife Julie have three children, Claire, Sam and Abby.

SANDRA DURR, MUSIC ASSOCIATE, ORGANIST

Dr. Sandra Durr has been on staff at Cokesbury since 1995, first on an interim basis and then in the permanent position as organist and music associate. Sandra has been involved in church music in various capacities since the age of twelve, beginning in her hometown of Chipley, Florida. Before coming to Cokesbury, she worked in churches in Chipley, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Pensacola, coordinating and directing children's and youth choir programs., directing handbells, senior adults and ladies ensembles, playing the piano and the organ and serving as music associate.

Sandra studied piano, voice, and organ at William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Pensacola Junior College, and at the University of West Florida. She most recently graduated with a Doctor of Education degree from the University of West Florida. She has been employed with the Escambia County School Board since 1975, teaching music and math at the middle school level. She is now the Fine Arts Specialist for the Escambia County School District, coordinating all of the music, visual arts, theatre, and dance programs in the district. She is married to Jim Durr and they have one daughter and two sons.

KRISTEN RUPERT, DIRECTOR OF YOUTH MINISTRIES

Kristen Rupert was born and raised in good ole Pace, Florida, and knows well the area of Pensacola (since Pace isn’t really a city). She went to college at the University of Florida to receive a Bachelors degree in Animal Sciences and then a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, but clearly God had other plans. During her sophomore year in college, she felt a calling to serve people. Having been thoroughly involved in her youth group in Pace it seemed fitting to begin serving youth. Through college Kristen was a leader and member of the college ministries Campus Crusade for Christ and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. By the end of her freshman year, she helped found the Christian sorority Theta Alpha, and still serves as the ministry’s National Chaplain. Kristen used her summers in college to serve as a youth intern for Woodbine UMC and Spanish Fort UMC, and used her school year in Gainesville to volunteer at Family Church Youth. She graduated from UF in May of ‘09 and has recently come on board as the Director of Youth Ministries here at Cokesbury.

Kristen has her hand in a lot of activities, including but not limited to, writing and playing music (guitar, piano, and more recently, the Irish penny whistle), surfing, anything athletic, drawing and painting, photography, reading, napping, and exploring. First and foremost, Kristen’s heart is set on sharing the love of Jesus Christ with youth and inspiring them to pursue a personal relationship with Him. Being saved in seventh grade, Kristen knows how necessary it is to have hope and purpose in a world full of despair and delusion. “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” 1 John 4:10-12

DAWN FALLER, DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES

Dawn joined the Cokesbury staff in May of 2004 to assist in the needs of our growing Children’s Ministry. She became director of the children's ministries in May of 2007. She is a native of Pensacola, and a local graduate of Washington High School and Pensacola Junior College. Before answering her calling to Children’s Ministry at Cokesbury, Dawn was a homemaker for eight years. Dawn and her husband, Chuck, have two lovely daughters, Jordyn and Madison.

MINA PORTER, CHURCH TREASURER

Mina is from Austin, Texas, and came to Pensacola in August of 2009. She came to Cokesbury in November of 2009. She has two daughters, Kimberley and Denah. In her spare time, she watches science fiction movies and walk on the beach.

SHIRLEY BEAN, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Born in Pennsylvania, Shirley was raised in Niagara Falls, New York. She moved to Pensacola in 1956 and, with the exception of residing for a few years in Mobile and then in Tallahassee, has been here ever since. She brings approximately forty years of professional secretarial experience to her position at Cokesbury, having come out of two years of retirement to join our staff. Immediately prior to her retirement, she was employed in Tallahasssee at Trinity United Methodist Church (over 2000 membership in 1999) as Church Secretary which included being Membership Secretary as well as Secretary to the Senior Minister. She and her husband, William Bean, joined Cokesbury in 1999. Her four children all reside in the Pensacola area as do four of her six grandchildren.

KATHY CORWIN, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Kathy came to Cokesbury in January of 2010. She is married to Steve, and has two lovely children, Josh and Maddie. In her spare time (when she has it) she enjoys jogging and watching her kids play.

WYLEY MURRAY, FACILITIES MANAGER

Born in Thomasville, Georgia, Wyley was raised in Alexandria, Louisiana. After returning from his service in the Air Force, Wyley later moved to Washington, D. C. where he met his wife, Jody. They moved to Jody's hometown of Billings, Montana where he finished college at Montana State University-Billings and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Marketing. After spending a career in the food brokerage business, Wyley and Jody moved to Pensacola in 1998 where he has been employed at Air Products until joining the Cokesbury staff in 2005. Wyley and Jody joined Cokesbury in 2003. They have three sons, Tony who is married to Leah, and Andy who is married to Kara, and one son Alex who is also a member of Cokesbury and attends UWF. They have three grandsons, Bailey, Noah, and AJ. Their first grandaughter, Georgia Ruth is expected in September, 2010.

KATHY SONSALLA, CHIDREN'S CENTER DIRECTOR

Kathy is from Chipley, Florida, and came to Pensacola in 1978. She came to the Cokesbury Children's Center in 2002, and became the Director in May of 2009. She has two sons, David and Matthew, and two grandchildren, Kelsey and Lily. In her spare time she enjoys the beach and gardening.

Staff E-Mail
Chip Hale: chip@cokesburyumc.org
Stuart Worth: stuart@cokesburyumc.org
Clint McBroom: clint@cokesburyumc.org
Connie Ragghianti: connie@cokesburyumc.org
Phil Igney: phil@cokesburyumc.org
Sandy Spivey: sandy@cokesburyumc.org
Kristen Rupert: kristen@cokesburyumc.org
Dawn Faller: dawn@cokesburyumc.org
Mina Porter: mina@cokesburyumc.org
Wyley Murray: wyley@cokesburyumc.org
Kathy Corwin: kathyc@cokesburyumc.org
Shirley Bean: shirley@cokesburyumc.org
Kathy Sonsalla: kathy@cokesburyumc.org