First United Methodist Church, Elizabethton, TN -

At the 199^th meeting of Holston Conference June 2022,  I received an appointment from the bishop to First UMC in Elizabethton. I want to say how happy and pleased I am to be appointed to this church and I want to take the opportunity to introduce myself.

I am a lifelong United Methodist, having grown up in Bristol VA at Reynolds Memorial UMC.   After graduating high school (Virginia High School), I obtained a BA from Emory & Henry College (Mathematics), and, having completed the candidacy process, I entered and finished a M.Div. from   the Divinity School of Duke University, one of our official UMC seminaries. I completed my formal  education by earning a D.Min. degree from Emmanuel School of Religion (now Emmanuel Christian Seminary of Milligan University) in 1999. I have served churches in Holston Conference since 1985, from Knoxville to Rural Retreat, VA. In 1988, I was married to Carla Wininger of Blountville TN—after a blind date!

Carla is also a lifelong United Methodist, having grown up in the Blountville UMC. She is currently a preschool teacher, but has experience in Sullivan County, Knox County and Bristol TN school systems. Carla earned her degree from ETSU and has a Master’s degree in Education from Tusculum College and she also is a Mary Kay Cosmetics consultant. Carla has been active in the UMW and loves to play hand bells. We have two children: Amanda and Jacob.

The Countiss Family, during a Memorial Day Celebration at their home.

Pictured 1st row (left to right) - grandson Gabriel     Carla      Rev. Robert      daughter, Amanda with baby Ellie Marie
2nd row (left to right) - daughter-in-law, Sarah     son, Jacob      son-in-law, Nick

Sasan joined the FUMC Staff as Youth Leader in December 2022. 

Sasan grew up in Kermanshah, a Kurdish city in the west part of Iran. He joined a local church music group in 2007 and got baptized there in 2008 in Iran.

Sasan moved to the US and attended ETSU in 2014. He received his B.A. in music from East Tennessee State University in 2018. He also has a music diploma from the Tehran Music Conservatory. Sasan is passionate about music and loves teaching. Prior to joining FUMC, he worked at Bridges Academy Seattle for a semester as a music teacher, he also worked as a full-time music instructor at Guitar Center from 2019 to 2022. Now he is a gear advisor at Guitar Center.

​In addition to his music degrees, Sasan holds an associate degree in mechanical engineering. Lastly, Sasan holds a lifelong love for soccer, which he looks forward to sharing with students alongside music and his love for Christ.

Meet our Children aka Coolagers Director originally from Greeneville, TN, I moved to Elizabethton in 2008 shortly after completing my Master’s degree in Special Education. I am currently a special education math teacher at Hampton Elementary school where I have taught since 2008. I married my husband, Wesley, in May of 2009 on a kayak trip on the Nolichucky River. I am an avid kayaker, biker, and runner. Most of my free time is spent doing one of these three things! I have no children of my own, other than two spoiled cats, but I do consider all of my students both at school and church my kids. I love them dearly and can’t see myself in any other profession! My goal in Children’s Ministry is to plant a love for Christ in each child and nurture them as they grow to find their place in His church.

A carter county native, coming to us from her beloved Roan Mountain.  She is often called the "face/voice of the church" since most likely it will be her face or voice that will greet you if you come by during the week or give the church office a call.   Robin joined the church staff in December 2005.  She worked previously with the State of Tennessee at Roan Mountain State Park for 18 years with her last position there being an account clerk. 

Robin strives to be just as her title states, Administrative Assistant.  If you need help, she will assist you to the best of her ability.  Her favorite duty is performing work with  "graphic art" area working with the bulletin and power points.  She prides herself as always willing to lend a ear and possibly throw in her two cents.  She strives to greet everyone with a smile, letting everyone know not only does FUMC love them, but more importantly God does.  

Robin also is FUMC Webmaster and can be found in the balcony during services working as our video tech. 

Vickie and her husband, Sam, have been dedicated members of First United Methodist Church for years serving their church in numerous ways.

Vickie came to us as previous Postmaster.  That job required many of the same characteristics and skills needed to be successful as FUMC Financial Secretary.  Upon retiring from the US Postal Service, Vickie was not ready to just stay at home.  She has a true passion for work; especially the work of her church.  She graciously volunteered with FUMC as a counter and office assistant.  She was called upon to fill in as substitute Administrative Assistant.  This ignited a fire to serve The Lord with her talent of attention to details, love of organization and working with numbers.   She accepted a position as Administrative Assistant at Addilynn UMC in Bristol, TN. 

In 2019 FUMC growth was a true blessing.  Growth is great, but also requires more attention of staff.  FUMC SPRC and Finance Committees made the wonderful decision to add a position of Financial Secretary.  These committees also knew the perfect match to fill the slot of this new position....Vickie Shipley!

Vickie shows a true passion for this position and looks forward to  opportunities to use her talents to benefit God’s work through our church.  She sees the position as a chance to conquer financial challenges, new ideas, and striving for ways we can grow in Christ.

Vickie is also a volunteer to the FUMC family doing an amazing job as keeping FUMC up-to-date by being our newsletter editor and publisher.  She does an incredible job.  Seeing this task as a way to give back to her church family and her Lord through her creativity of a beautifully layout of church events documenting memories for the church. 

Deborah Bowers Gouge was a public school teacher for forty five years, with thirty seven of those years spent as the choral director at Elizabethton High School. Other responsibilities at EHS included AP Music Theory instructor, sponsor of the Student Government Association, sponsor of the Chick-Fil-A Leader Academy, Arts Department Chair/Learning Leader, and director of the graduation ceremonies. She has served as an adjunct faculty member in Music Education at both ETSU and Milligan College. Deb is a member of numerous professional organizations, including ACDA, NAFmE, Pi Kappa Lambda, and NEA. She served on the TMEA Council and is a past president of the East Tennessee Vocal Association. Deborah was selected as system-wide Teacher of the Year (2008-2009), is listed in Who’s Who in Teaching, and was recognized by the TN Governor’s School for the Arts as an Outstanding Teacher. She was presented the second-ever “Dave Rider Legacy Award” by the Boys and Girls Club of Elizabethton/Carter County in May of 2019 in honor of her “lifetime commitment to the success and well-being of kids.” She was recognized by EHS for her leadership and passion for the arts at her retirement in May of 2024. Deborah is an honors graduate of East Tennessee State University (BSME, 1978; M.Ed., 1982.) As a voice major at ETSU, Deborah was a member of the Chorale, Chamber Singers, Jazz Singers, Opera Workshop, Percussion Ensemble, the Marching Bucs Band, and accompanist for the Women’s Choir. She has been a featured mezzosoprano soloist for various civic, school, and church events. She was featured vocalist for the world premiere of Jack Stamp’s Five Songs from the Hills for soprano, baritone, and Wind Ensemble (2010) commissioned by East Tennessee State University for their 100th anniversary. Deborah is the conductor of the Elizabethton Choral Club, a community chorus originally founded during WW II. She has led the Choral Club since Christmas of 2007. The Elizabethton High School Advanced Ensembles under her direction performed over thirty times each semester in concerts, competitions, and school/civic functions. They performed the National Anthem at various sporting events throughout the region – including every home football and basketball game at EHS. The ensembles have consistently received superior ratings at district and state choral festivals and have twice performed at Carnegie Hall.

They were the only ensemble from Tennessee and the only high school group chosen to participate in the National Memorial Day Concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, in the spring of 2018. Other notable performances include multiple concerts at Dollywood, singing in the Winter Garden at Biltmore House, and singing the National Anthem for the Atlanta Braves, the ETSU Bucs, and for a race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Deb began playing the organ in church at age 13, which started her work in church music leadership in her hometown of Elizabethton. In recent years, Deb sang and traveled with the TLC, a women’s chorale on mission for the TBC. Notable performances included singing with Keith and Krystin Getty at the Schermerhorn for An Irish Christmas, and participating in a mission trip to Iowa that involved music and philanthropic ministries. She served as the WBA Associational Music Director for several years and has been the guest conductor for the Music School. She will be leading this event again in February of 2025, as area churches will gather to learn an Easter cantata in three days and then present the final product as a mass choir with accompaniment on Friday, February 28. Retirement has not been a quiet time for reflection so far. In November of 2024, Deb was elected to the City Council of Elizabethton. She was happily sworn in on November 26th, and looks forward to serving the community that raised her in this new role. She continues to serve on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Elizabethton/ Carter County, and has just been appointed to serve on the Board of the Elizabethton/Carter County Animal Shelter. A breast cancer survivor, Deb celebrates life and actively supports those who are currently dealing with their own cancer story. She served as regional honorary chair for the ACS Relay for Life in 2010 and for the Susan G. Komen Tri Cities Race for the Cure in 2011. Deborah and her husband Larry met at ETSU and will be married 46 years on January 6, 2025. They have two grown sons and a daughter in law: Jamis, who is currently a medical fellow in critical care at the University of Utah; Jamis’ wife, Veronica, also a physician who works at the Cancer Center in Warner Robbins, GA; and Jerran, who is in private practice as an attorney Knoxville. Deb and Larry are a ‘package deal;’ if you get one of them, you get them both. J They continue to celebrate life together, especially as they are now retired from full-time employment. They enjoy traveling, cooking, gardening together, and doing construction projects. (Larry designed their home – and the two of them built their own house.) Deb’s parents are Ruth Bowers and the late Fred Bowers. The Bowers girls were raised in the United Methodist Church, having all been baptized at Valley Forge UMC as teenagers.