Elders

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!

I was born in Cameroon to Christian parents – raised in the Presbyterian faith. At the age of 11 I publicly pronounced Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. The Word of God has been very instrumental in my life and he has been faithful. I Joined FPCA in 2008 with my husband, Peter Formusoh, and daughter. We have been fed and we are continually growing in the Lord. For the past 2 years I have had the opportunity to serve as a Deacon and part of the Hospitality team. It has been a growing experience for me and my family both spiritually and as a family in the Lord.
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. Peter and I have been blessed with two beautiful and talented girls. We are so grateful for the joy that they show coming to Church and for the blessing of the children and Youth Ministry.

My name is Nelson Abam. I am married to my beautiful and very smart wife Adeline. We have three smart and awesome kids, Ethan, Abigail and Emily. I have a BS degree in Engineering and an MBA. I work for a progressive fortune 500 company. I was born a Presbyterian. I grew up going to church with my parents, grandparents and great-grandparents who are, were all strong Christians and Presbyterians. I believe in Jesus Christ as my Redeemer and I try to follow his teaching daily in my endeavors. I am humble to be part of the First of Presbyterian Church Arlington (FPCA) family. My family and I have been attending services here and we love and enjoy every minute of it. The Sunday sermons are very engaging, stimulate your thoughts about life, community and why we are on this beautiful earth in a positive way which also falls in line with FPCA Mission Statement; Transforming Life by Glorifying God, Following Jesus, and Loving our Neighbor. My family and I always look forward to going to church every opportunity we get. We hope to continue to grow in our Christian faith and walk here. Thanks and May God continue to bless you and this congregation.

I have been a Christian all my life and God is a big part of my life. I was raised Presbyterian and as we moved my parents would look up the local Presbyterian Church in the yellow pages. I have grown up in churches as small as 80 members to ones as large as 2,000. I have never experienced a “lighting strike” profession of faith. I have always believed and I have continued to grow stronger in my faith as I have gotten older. I am very comfortable in my faith and I know that God loves me.
I first came to FPCA shortly after moving to Grand Prairie in 2011. My daughter and I attended the Maundy Thursday service and we both felt moved by the service and comfortable with the church. After checking out a few other Presbyterian churches in the area, we came back to stay at FPCA for its warmth and friendliness.
Prior to moving to Texas with my work, I attended a Presbyterian church in Northern California for thirty years.. I married my wife, Gigi there and our two daughters, Canela and Pamela, were raised in that church. I had served several terms as an Elder before becoming Clerk of Session the last twelve years before moving to Texas.
My wife, Gigi, is a Spanish High School teacher in Castro Valley, California, as is my older daughter, Canela. My younger daughter, Pamela, lives and works in La Jolla in Southern California. I am a big Dallas Cowboy fan and I often joke about how happy I am that both places where I worship—FPCA and AT&T Stadium–are on the same street.

I have been a member of FPCA for 10 years along with my wife Shannon. We also have a son Wyatt (10). I have been active in my brief stint here joining the Chancel Choir almost 10 years ago, served as a Deacon (2011-13), serve as substitute teacher for the Foundations Sunday school class, and serving as an Elder previously (2015-17).
I am honored to answer the call to serve our Lord and his people.