First Church Staff
Pastoral
Rev. David Adkins, Senior Pastor
Dr. John Clifford 
is in his third year as Associate Pastor at First Church. His primary responsibilites include congregational care, worship planning, spiritual development...and fill-in sound tech! He also writes the Daily Devotional on our church website. Dr. Clifford says he enjoys "the variety and the people here -- there's always someone who has the knowledge and talent to make programs work!" He was ordained in the United Methodist Church (1970 as deacon, 1973 as elder). One thing that drew him to First Church was the desire to be close to his parents in Georgetown as they are now in their 90's. He says, "Thirty-plus years of ministry have made me flexible enough to take on most of the normal activities of church life, so filling the gaps that the Senior Pastor doesn't have time for is fairly easy."
Dr. Clifford is married to Bernie, an RN currently working for Hospice Austin. No children, three cats! In his spare time he likes to read, play tennis, swim, sing (was part of a Barbershop Chorus in Arlington), and garden. He is active in the Walk to Emmaus and a member of Round Rock Kiwanis Club.
At each of his appointments he has stressed the development of the laity as Christian disciples and has a special interest in encouraging growth through spiritual formation. He was active in the conference leadership of the Walk to Emmaus and is now an active participant in the Kairos Prison Ministry. Rev. Aymond is also a trained Stephen Leader. Rev. Aymond and his wife Lucy will celebrate their 42nd wedding anniversary in September. They have two children, Christine and Matthew who are both Texas A & M University graduates. Christine and husband David have a nine year old son, Zachary. Matthew and wife Annie have a four year old son Cole. Together, they enjoy reading and playing games, such as pinochle and bridge. Rev. Aymond is a sports enthusiast, who enjoys a good baseball game as much as anything. Laura's responsibilities include overseeing the ministries related to spiritual growth and fellowship for the adults in the congregation. She also prepares the monthly newsletter, The Messenger, and coordinates other communication efforts in the church. Laura and her husband, Matt, have two active sons, Austin (8 years old) and Justin (4 years old). Matt is an avid sportsman and helped start the Sportsmen's Fellowship Group here at First Church. Laura's parents, Jim and Lavon Mills are also active church members and help with Welcome Home, UMM and UMW. Laura says they set a wonderful example for her when she was growing up, instilling the importance of serving others. In her infrequent spare time, Laura enjoys scrapbooking, reading, yoga and snow skiing. She also gets involved in mission outreach programs such as disaster relief and the Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research.
Rev. John Aymond comes to us from First United Methodist Church in Killeen where he recently retired as Senior Pastor. He has a BA from Rice University (1965) and a M.Div. from Perkins School of Theology (1990). Prior to entering the ministry, Rev. Aymond served with the US Marine Corps including two tours in Vietnam. He retired in 1980 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Since his ordination in 1988 he has served Highland Park UMC, Diamond Hill UMC, First UMC Meridian and Morgan, Cogdell UMC, Western Hills UMC and First UMC Killeen. Under his ministry, churches have grown, constructed new facilities, worked a variety of mission programs locally and with Las Colonias on both sides of the border with Mexico.
Adult Ministries
Laura Naiser, Director of Discipling Ministries,has been on staff since July 2006, and has been an active church volunteer for many years. Laura has a business degree from Southwestern University and has worked in commercial real estate, marketing and public relations. She has been active in Disciple Bible Studies program since 1992 and have served on the Lay Seminary team and as a Lay Delegate to Annual Conference for several years prior to joining the staff.
Youth Ministries
Jennifer Rybaski, Interim Director of Youth Ministries, oversees Sunday School, WNL (Wednesday Nite Live) and Confirmation. She was originally "drafted" to work with students (ONLY as an assistant) on Wednesday evenings during WNL. She was serving as Director of Middle School Ministires and recently assumed responsibilities as Interim Director of Youth Ministries. She enjoys working with youth and the challenge that each new day brings. She says, "There isn't very much "same old, same old" when you work with youth".
Jennifer has been married for 20 years to Dan Rybaski (the homeless, motorcycle, mission trip, Stephen's Ministry guy). They have two sons, Thomas (at this printing he is 18), and Davis (he is 14). They also have two dogs. Shawnee, a petite 97 lb Great Dane and Rivers, a "chubby" Golden Retriever who seems to only be able to retrieve socks.
Although she doesn't have much spare time, Jennifer loves to go to movies, out for dessert and to read. Jennifer and her husband share a passion for mission and relates that it is always an incredible experience to work along side people while the Holy Spirit is hard at work within you! One suprising fact about Jennifer is that she once totaled a boat with her car. You'll have to ask her for details!
Children's Ministries
Judy Pearson, Director of Children's Ministries has been a First Church staff member for seven years. Judy says, "I love that I can get to know the many children and their parents. Even though we have three precious grandchildren of our own, I feel as though all of the children at First Church are my grandchildren"
Judy has a Bachelor of Science in Art from Iowa State University with a concentration in Interior Design and worked for several years in the design field until she had the privilege of being a stay at home mom to raise their two children. During those years she was actively involved in PTA,children's choir and Vacation Bible School and taught first grade Sunday School at First Church. All because she wanted to be involved with her children's lives and their friends.
Judy and her husband, Tom, will celebrate their 38th anniversary in December 2007. They met at Iowa State and lived in Minnesota and Missoure before moving to Round Rock in 1986. They have two children... Matt and his wife Sarah, who have a nine month old daughter Anna Grace, and Betsy and her husband Brendan, who have two sons, Kyle, 2 and 1/2 years and Wade 5 months. They also have a lab mix, Colby, who is Tom's shadow.
Judy's other interests include quilting, glass mosaics and scrapbooking. She enjoys the Food network, especially Paula Deen, and loves the HGTV shows since she is constantly mentally re-desiging every room in her house. She enjoy reading Civil War historical novels and most (but not all) of the books on Oprah's book list.
Judy has serrved on the Relay for Life Committee for a couple of years and is currently a member of the Williamson COunty Child Welfare Board.
Sandy Childs, Director of Council Oak Preschool, has been a First Church staff member for five years. She gets great pleasure from working with the children and the fantastic staff. Sandy has always worked with children and was called by a teacher and parent about the director position. Her grandchild was attending COP and she thought this was a wonderful opportunity to watch her grow and develop in a preschool setting. Sandy has "a wonderful husband who is supportive in everything that I do. My children and grandchildren are very close to me and my life is definitely fullfilled with them by my side. I am definitely a proud parent and grandparent." In her spare time Sandy enjoys playing with her grandchildren, traveling, swimming, walking and gardening.
When asked what motivates her, Sandy replied, "Anything that builds a sense of confidence and belonging where children are concerned. I like helping any individuals spiritually and emotionally. My sense of faith in God motivates me."
Administration
Tricia Gossett wears many hats at First Church. Since 1998, she has served as membership secretary and assistant to the senior pastor. In that role she manages the church membership database, provides administrative support to Rev. Adkins, and assists in the church front office. A new responsibility recently has been involved in the refurbishing of the Family Life Center and Payne Cottage. This draws on her BS degree in Interior Design from the University of Texas. Prior to joining the First Church staff she worked for 10 years as an interior designer with builders and architects. During that time she was also involved in many volunteer roles at First Church and in the Round Rock community including the Handbell and Youth Ministries, the Round Rock Woman's Club, local schools and the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce.
What Tricia enjoys most about her job are the people! She says the staff is like famly and the members are great to work with.
Tricia is married to Warren Gossett, a retired Austin firefighter. They have a son, Sean, who is a freshman at Stony Point HS. Rounding out the family is a spoiled yellow lab named Lucky.
In her spare time (a scarce commodity), Tricia enjoys art and music, working in the yard and walking in the park. She's also a gameplayer...board games, computer and video games.
Susan Alley has worked at First Church since 1994, both as volunteer and paid staff. Susan currently serves as Financial Secretary on a part time basis. Susan graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in merchandising but has worked in banking and finance in her career.
Susan and her husband, Dale, have been married since 1984 and live south of Hutto on Brushy Creek. Dale has 2 adult daughters, Donna and Rhonda. Susan has one daughter, Mandy, and they have ddaughter, Lisa who is finishing up her first year at U.T. Their furry and feathered family includes to 2 inside cats, 1 outside cat, 2 doves, 3 chickens and a horse.
Susan lovesto garden and thinks you can never have too many rose bushes! She also enjoys antiquing and going to estate & garage sales, as well as traveling and staying in B&Bs.
Mike Griffin has served has Facilities Manager at First Church for four years and has responsibility for basically maintaining everything on the church campus from roof tops to landscaping. Mike enjoys completing projects which improve the campus and takes pride in the growth and development of his staff. Mike has an engineering background with a BSIE degree from New Mexico State University and a MEA degree from the University of Utah.
Mike and his wife, Jane, have been married for 38 years. They have two children - Matt and wife who live in Lubbock, and Jill and her husband who live in Manhattan, Kansas with their 4 year old son, Allen, and 18 month old daughter, Katy.
Mike and Jane enjoy day trips around Central Texas and are fans of automotive racing.
Worship Arts and Music Ministries
Dr. Linda Bolding has served as Director of Choral Ministries for three years. As such, she directs and coordinates all choirs, the orchestra, and all instrumental ensembles. She says it is a real treat to work with all the people in the singers and musicians.
An accomplished musician, Linda has a Bachelor of Music degree from Eastern New Mexico University, a Certificate of Performance in Piano from Nurnberg Conservatory of Music in Germany, a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Texas, and a Doctarate in Choral Conducting from Columbia Pacific University. She worked in Philadelphia with Dr. Elaine Brown who supplied choirs for the Philadelphia Orchestra, taught choral music at Round Rock High School and Pflugerville High School, taught summer programs at University of Texas, conducted the Austin Civic Chorus and founded and still conducts the Round Rock Community Choir. She has worked in church music ministry for 9 years.
Linda is a proud parent and grandparent. She and husband Randy havethree children, Chad, Meghan and Randi-Ann, and three grandchildren, Valerie Kate, Zane and Katelin. In her spare time she enjoys reading, gardening, swiming, and shopping with her daughters. She shares her time and talent with task forces and commissions that deal with the arts such as the Tourism Commission and City of Round Rock Arts Task Force.
Carla David created the First Church Handbell Ministries program as a volunteer in 1986. Since 1996 she has been a full time staff member whose whose primary responsibility is the supervision of the fully graded First Church Handbell Ministry. Carla teaches several of the teams and supervises all teams. She also enables others to teach and lead ringing teams. She also works closely with the Worship Design team in planning the musis emphasis for Sanctuary services.
Carla loves music and is passionate about both the ministry, process and performance of handbell ringing. She has a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. She became interested in handbells while attending Austin Avenue United Methodist Church in Waco, Texas. When her family moved to Round Rock in 1985, they quickly became members of First United Methodist Church. A 3-octave set of Malmark handbells was donated to the church . . . and the rest is history! Our church now has 3 sets of bells and 4 sets of chimes! Carla is also a “visiting professor” with the Ensemble Division of the School of Music at Baylor University where she directs the Baylor Bronze and also teaches a Handbell Techniques class required by all church music majors at Baylor.
Carla's husband, Elbert, is a family physician in Round Rock. (He is also a ringer in Council Oak Bells!) Their son, Andy, is currently attending seminary at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, pursuing a Masters degree in Christian counseling and is on staff here at First Church. Andy assists in the youth department by leading worship and is also is in charge of the music at both contemporary "Crossroads" services. Her daughter, Faye, is currently in Thailand serving a 3-year stint with "Overseas Missionary Fellowship" (OMF). She earned her Masters degree from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, MA in 2002. She plans to return sometime in 2008 to serve OMF as a stateside mobilizer.
Carla loves to go to movies, work-out at the gym and read. She actually likes rock and roll music.