Our Staff

Ministerial Staff

Dr. John Beyers

Dr. John Beyers was born in Dallas, Texas, and baptized at the Lovers Lane Methodist Church. With his father, mother, and two younger brothers, he moved to the North Atlanta suburb of Dunwoody, Georgia, at age 10. There, he made his profession of faith in Jesus Christ and joined the Dunwoody United Methodist Church.

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Rev. Liz Millar

Senior Associate Minister Rev. Liz joined LaGrange FUMC in late August 2022, after her and her husband Bill moved from Gainsville First UMC in Gainsville, GA. Contact Liz

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Dr. Dane Wagner

Minister in Residence Dr. Dane joined our team as Minister in Residence on August 1, 2022. As a recently retired Ordained Minister (and former staff minister here), his charge is

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Family Ministries

Leah Chapman

Youth Minister Leah joined the LaGrange FUMC staff mid-September 2022. She and her family moved to LaGrange from Dallas, TX. Contact Leah

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Jeanne Jones

Jeanne Jones has served as our Children’s Minister since 2017, when she and her husband, Al, moved to Georgia to be closer to family. She also serves as the District Children’s Coordinator for the SouthWest District of the North Georgia Conference’s Board of Laity and the SouthWest District’s contact for the NGUMC Children’s Ministry Networking Groups.

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Music Ministries

Dr. Richard Prior

Dr. Richard Prior is our Minister of Traditional Worship. Richard was our interim Minister of Traditional Music for a few months before officially accepting the full-time position in February 2022.

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Mary Elizabeth Gerick

As our Minister of Modern Worship, Mary Elizabeth has a heart for creating an authentic worship space for individuals to experience God with others. Mary Elizabeth moved to LaGrange from Kennesaw, and she has more than two years of experience in organizing and leading modern worship services at Hillside United Methodist Church, Mary Elizabeth brings a genuine and abiding faith in Jesus Christ, a relational disposition and people-focused outlook, and exceptional musical talent. 

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Administrative Staff

Andy Rainey

Andy Rainey, our Executive Minister, graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. After working in finance for more than 20 years, he joined the staff of LaGrange First Methodist in 2011 as its Operations Manager and then as the Church Administrator.

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Page Estes

A native Kentuckian, Page Estes received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky (UK), a master’s degree from the UK Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, and is a Doctoral Candidate at Auburn University.  She began her career in institutional advancement for UK and West Georgia Technical College in LaGrange.

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Sara Grace Todd

Sara Grace Todd was selected as the new Director of Member Engagement, and officially became part of our church staff January 2022.

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Facilities Ministries

Rick Free

Rick Free, our church’s Director of Food Services and Hospitality, loves feeding people. He loves the satisfaction of helping others and seeing the good that can come from something as simple as a meal.

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Scott Hill

Scott Hill has been LaGrange First Methodist’s Facilities Maintenance Coordinator since 2019. Originally from Rome, Georgia, he graduated from Berry College in 2010 with a degree in History and a minor in Anthropology.

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Eddie Giddens

Custodian Eddie Giddens most likely walks several miles a day within the walls of our church in his role as LaGrange First Methodist’s custodian since 2001.

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