Elders

Christ has always had an instrumental role in my life. I’ve grown up a member of the First Presbyterian Church Lawton PCUSA and was baptized at FPC Lawton. I’ve participated with various local missions and several international missions including Mexico in 2003. Early in high school, I was selected to represent the youth group on Session. Then, as a young adult I was elected to serve on Session, being the youngest Elder at FPC Lawton. While on Session I worked to reorganize the Youth Group and was the leader of FPC Lawton Youth Group for a couple of years working to grow it.
My wife Tara and I were married at First Presbyterian Church Lawton in March 2003. In May 2011 we moved to Arlington and shortly after found FPCA. Later that summer we transferred our membership to FPCA and quickly signed up for the mission trip to Belize. We regularly attend Sunday school. We have 2 boys Hunter who is 2 years old and Carter who was born September 8, 2015. Hunter was baptized at FPCA in April 2014. I believe it is my calling to help others get to know Christ through my actions and leadership

Being neither a biblical scholar nor a gifted evangelist, I try my best to reflect Christ in the small ways of everyday life – helping here, encouraging there, studying the Word, and praying often.
I have attended FPCA since age 4. When my children began attending Sunday school here, I suddenly realized that my own Sunday school teachers were beginning to gray. Guessing that it was now my turn to be one of the grownups, I started working with Nita Whitenight on the preschool Sunday school rolls, volunteering at vacation Bible school, and helping with Fellowship activities. In the years since, I have served as both a deacon and an elder. FPCA is now and has always been a focal point in my life.
Professionally, I was a technical editor, technical writer, and proposal coordinator. Now happily retired, my husband James and I spend our time spoiling our combined families of children and grandchildren.

As the son of a Pastor, you might say that it all began a instant after my first breath, but the reality is quite different. I accepted Christ at the age of 12 and consistently questioned my own faith due to my exposure to many religions and friends of different beliefs. This questioning was spearheaded by the observation that my Buddhist or Baha’i friends were more “Christian” than my “Christian” friends. Even though I have been a church member since I can remember, it was not until as recently as two years ago that I truly internalized the meaning of being a Christian or follower of Christ and not merely a Church member. I am in awe of what Christ has done for us all and have committed to learn and hopefully become more like Him in everyday life, which is a never ending and quite frankly uphill pursuit. I grew up in the Presbyterian Church since birth. I have attended a total of 4 congregations in my life, prior to FPCA, due to transfers in my father’s ministry. My last congregation, which was chosen by my wife and myself after marriage suffered a division in which of more than 400 members, only 4 remained the next Sunday after they leadership decided to split from PCUSA. This tragedy, surprisingly, united us even more with the Presbyterian Church because we are convinced our belief system is not perfect but recognizes that we are a Reformed Church that is always reforming. Thus, when we moved to Texas, we decided we wanted to look for a stable, organized church, built on solid principles that would not cave into fads, discontent or selfishness to help ourselves and not our brothers in need. We have found that here in FPCA. We have found peace, stability and a warming community that has opened its arms to strangers without personal or self interest. I am privileged to have an amazing wife, Gisselle, whose external beauty is only surpassed by her internal. She has given me two wonderful and loving children, Diego (about to be 4 years old) and Paulina (about to be 2 years old). My greatest blessing in life since the day I came into the world has been my family, and that blessing continues to this day. I was raised in Puerto Rico, New Jersey and Brooklyn, NY at different stages of my life and my brother and I are the first of our family to be born out of Spain. This cultural variety has been a great gift because it has allowed me to comprehend the premise that we are all citizens of the world, just as all Christians are members of one body. It has also helped me in my career, since as a physician, you are quick to notice that most if not all differences we use to categorize ourselves are quickly evaporated when illness or disease affects us. We all laugh, suffer, cry and hurt. And most importantly, we all deserve love

I am committed to serving our Lord, Jesus Christ and am honored to be nominated. I grew up at FPCA and greatly enjoyed my time in youth group and Agapes (youth choir). A long-time member of FPCA, I regularly attend worship and Sunday School. For the past four years, I have been a member of the Belize Mission Leadership team and have co-lead our spring mission trips to Belize. I am passionate about how we can serve Christ here at FPCA, locally in the community, and internationally. In the past, I have served as children and youth Sunday School teacher, youth group adult leader, a member of a past associate pastor nominating committee, and a past member of the congregational nominating committee. I believe it is important to take our decisions, trials and blessings to the Lord in prayer, to ask for guidance and support as we strive to live as God would have us live our lives. I am the daughter of Jim and Kathy McCoy and have recently added a new puppy to my family

Maggie and her husband Bob have been members of FPCA since May 2010. Maggie attended Family Foundations and Loose Ends Adult Sunday School classes for the first two years and then began to assist in the K-5+ children’s Sunday School most Sundays. She has served FPCA as a deacon, on Fellowship Team, and as a member of the Congregational Nominating Committee, and, on a continuing basis, as coordinator for Sunday morning Sanctuary flower donations.
Maggie was brought up in Presbyterian churches in Houston, Cincinnati, and St Louis MO. It was during confirmation classes that Maggie first encountered the living, active God as One who operates in human history in furtherance of His Story and to make Himself personally known to those who will receive Him.
A string of missionaries who passed through one of Maggie’s childhood churches set aflame in her a desire to serve like they served. Two years’ service with the Peace Corps in Lomé, Togo (W. Africa) and 11 years teaching in several secondary schools in Missouri were fulfilling but left her wanting more.
That “more” presented itself 10 years ago when Bob and Maggie were accepted as members of Wycliffe Bible Translators. Their assignment to positions at the International Linguistics Center in southwest Dallas is what brought them to DFW and to FPCA.

I’m so happy that my wife Melina and I decided to call FPCA our church home. I was raised in the church, but have experienced a significant amount of spiritual growth since becoming a member. Melina and I have been attending FPCA since 2010, and joined as full members in 2011. We have two boys, David and Mateo, ages 5.5 and 2.5 and I’m so proud to be raising them in the community of faith that we have.
For the last couple of years I’ve felt the Holy Spirit calling me to become more engaged in the church, it’s not until the last year that I’ve really started heeding that call, and I’m so grateful that I have.
I’m humbled to be considered for the position of Elder and look forward to faithfully and diligently serving the Church, the congregation and the local community as we continue to reach out and serve as disciples in God’s word.

My statement of faith begins with my receiving Christ as my personal Lord and Savior at the age of eight. I believe I have lived by God’s grace in the past and continue to be thankful for that gift in the present. I have been thru “valleys” in my life, but God has always held me firm and I am richly blessed to live in His presence.
I came to FPCA at the encouragement of Lona, who soon thereafter became my wife, and God has richly blessed our time here. I am humbled to be considered to serve on Session. If elected, this will be my second time to serve on Session at FPCA. Lona and I are members of the Loose Ends class and I am a member of the Chancel choir.
Lona and I between us have five children and seven grandchildren. They are spread from east to west from New York to Colorado including two daughters and a grandson in this area. I am still actively involved in my profession, but have begun to plan toward slowing down after 2018 (maybe).

First, let me say that I count it a great honor and privilege to be considered for the position of elder at FPCA. My husband Jim, a retired PCUSA minister (after 45 years, I might add) and I found FPCA through Boyd and Eleanor Schernbeck, former members of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Grand Prairie, where Jim served for three years. On our second visit to FPCA, we knew we had found our “tribe”!
My relationship with Jesus Christ is central to my life. My faith defines who I am. Throughout my life, God has proven His faithfulness over and over, and His mercy and grace have sustained me in both days of sunshine and darkness.
Jim and I will celebrate 16 years of marriage in March 2018. Both of us have been married before, and each brought one child to the marriage. Jim brought Mary. She is now a wife and mom of two of our grandchildren, Ava and Cameron. I brought Matt, now a husband and dad of our other two grandchildren, Luke and Dylan. Matt and his family live in Dallas.

My career of 43 years was in non-profit fundraising. The last ten, I was a consultant helping organizations across the country find their way through the ever-changing landscape called sustainability. I took down my shingle this year.
These days our focus is on a new ministry that God has called us to birth. We have named it “The Abraham Promise” (Genesis 12:1-4.) It provides tools for parents, grandparents and mentors to pass the baton of Christian faith to the next generations.

I am Divine Agha. I’m from the Northwest Region of Cameroon, the third Child in the family out of six. I was born into a family of ardent Presbyterians and thus became one. I moved to Texas five years ago together with my beautiful wife, Jerise Agha, and daughter Christher Agha. Our good Lord put so many people in our path to find a family friendly church like First Presbyterian Church of Arlington. The welcome we receive from our former pastor was so heart-warming and it has continued this way for the past five years we have been here. We both serve as Deacon in the church and I was on my way to exit when the people said I should continue serving in a different capacity in His vine yard. I enjoyed working with all my fellowship committee members and have learnt a great deal from their huge success and experiences in life. My spiritual life has become richer since i joined this church. As I look to the future in His service, I am more than determined that as for me and my family we will continue to serve the Lord.

Kathi Harper Dailey was baptized as an infant here at FPCA by Reverend Warren Neal and made a profession of faith while in junior high. After graduating from high school, Kathi attended Baylor University and earned her teaching degree; she currently teaches at Lamar High School. She and her husband Mike have two sons, James and Mitch. She has been involved at FPCA in a variety of ways over the years. She has taught both adult and children’s Sunday School, been a youth sponsor, helped with outreach events, been part of the Belize Mission team, and served as Deacon. Kathi feels that she has been blessed to belong to the FPCA family for her entire life. Church members have helped her to grow in her faith, and she is especially thankful to the members of the Genesis Class for their support and encouragement.

First Presbyterian Church of Arlington has been the church home for me for most of my adult life. Raised a Baptist preacher’s kid, I found a real and invigorating church home here and am glad to be back and able to serve our congregation. The commitment to the community and to care for what physically this church can mean in this place is apparent and encouraging.
Ross and Ellen relocated from Arlington to New Braunfels in 2005 for work. Prior to moving there they were members of First Presbyterian Church of Arlington (where they were married) for more than 35 years. Ross is ordained as both an elder and deacon. At First Presbyterian Church he has served as a deacon on two occasions. He has served as an elder two times as well, at various times chairing CE, Nominating, and Stewardship committees. Ross has taught Junior High, High School, and Adult Sunday School classes. At New Braunfels Presbyterian, he was privileged to serve as an elder and chair Worship and an interim pastor search committee.
Ross and Ellen have two married sons and 5 grandchildren. Habits and hobbies include reading, cooking, and travel. Ross is a semi-retired national sales manager dealing with corporate accounts and data analysis for a building products manufacturer.

Tina Hanson has been a member of First Presbyterian – Arlington (FPCA) since 1978 (or thereabouts). She and her husband, Ed Ayers, were married in 1990 and baptized both of their children, Andrea and Ben at FPCA. She has served as an Elder, Deacon and Trustee. Ed and Tina enjoy participating in the Genesis adult Christian education class. Tina has also served on the mission and evangelism team.
Tina is a civil engineer, graduated from UTA, and consults for cities and utilities on water and wastewater infrastructure. Professor and FPCA member, Dale Clark, was one of her professors!