Church Leadership

Reverend Roger Canuel
Roger & Gina have been married for…well…a long time.  They are “besties” (BFF’s if you prefer) and they have four awesome children and two grandchilden.  They met in college, so while everyone around here is saying, “go dawgs” – they are saying, “go necks” (WIU Leathernecks).  Neither one was a Christian when they married, however God has unexpectedly & graciously shown up revealing himself to them as they navigate through their adult lives; they are – quite literally – eternally grateful for this. 
In his spare time (but seriously, what is that?) Roger enjoys:  hiking thru the mountains, writing poetry, exploring the world for the deepest & richest roast of coffee known to humanity, pondering the wonders of quantum physics, & being a spiritual mentor to some of the world’s most recognizable leaders.  But…seriously…his joy is found in spending time with his family…
Children & Youth Ministry Leaders:  Cindy & Kenneth Little
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    Choir Director & Pianist:   Becky Pentecost
Lay Speaker & Assistant Lay Leader:  Cindy Elsmore
Monroe native, married to Frank Elsmore. We have two cats, Sox and Molly. Graduate of Monroe Area and Athens Tech. 2016 Leadership UMC graduate. 
1 Thesslonians 5:16-18   Rejoice always, Pray continually, give thanks in everything.  
It’s one of my favorite scriptures.  No matter what you are going through, always look for the blessings.

Lay Leader: James Johnson
My bride (Carol) and I have now been married much longer than not married in our lives.  Somehow, she's put up with me to raise two sons (well almost grown anyway), but not sure she's made much progress in getting me to act as an adult all the time.  As Dad used to say, “Don't take yourself too seriously because no one else will.”  James is a token minority within the Union Chapel membership but other than a few select times, the ridicule hasn't been too bad – yes, I'm a die-hard Clemson fan and was raised there, went to school there and this is the final resting place for my parents.  My blood runneth orange, but pull for the Dawgs pretty often too.
 I'm a professional forester so my idea of fun is indeed a “stroll in the woods” and have a deep appreciation for trees and the forests within Georgia.  I believe God blessed us a little more than other states I've visited!
I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior when I was a teenager in the Presbyterian Church but have been Methodist since 1987.  I believe each day of our lives is a blessing and we need to make it count, but some days are better than others.  I also believe a strong faith in Christ is more important than ever in today's world, and that church should be a necessary part of our lives.  Regular spiritual nourishment is good for the soul!
 My favorite Bible passage is “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.  Do you believe this?”                                                                                                 John 11:25-26