Reverend Howard Grimmenga
Pastor of Faith United Methodist Church
Rev. Howard R. Grimmenga, known to us as Pastor Howie, was born and raised in the Chicago area, where he met and married his high school sweetheart, Nancy. They have two daughters and three grandchildren. He was in the U.S. Army for eight years as a satellite communications technician, which brought him to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa in 1977. He worked at Honeywell in Clearwater for over 12 years, during which time he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in business management from Eckerd College in St Petersburg. He accepted Christ in 1980, and became very involved at St. James UMC in St. Petersburg, serving as a lay servant, Sunday school teacher, and on several committees. After a period of time working in various jobs outside of the technical field in Pinellas County, he felt God calling him into the ministry, and he began that journey in 1999. He served First UMC in Cross City, Florida from 2000 -2007, and he obtained his Master of Divinity degree in 2005 from Asbury Theological Seminary in Orlando. He was appointed to Wacissa UMC from 2007-2009.
He was appointed to Faith UMC in Hudson in July 2009, and was ordained as an Elder in 2012. Along the way, he also took extensive training in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) and chaplaincy, since he has a passion and calling for being a chaplain as well as serving a local church. He has an Ecclesiastical Endorsement as a chaplain by the national U.M. Endorsing Agency, and he has worked as a chaplain at Tampa General, St. Anthony’s in St. Petersburg, and Tallahassee Memorial hospitals. He has served as the chaplain for the Dixie County Emergency Medical Services, Wacissa Fire Department, the Pasco County Sheriff’s office, and he is currently the lead chaplain for the Pasco County Fire Rescue Department, a group of chaplains which he organized and began in 2016. He also serves on the Tampa Bay Regional CISM Team, which covers four counties in this area of the state. God equipped Pastor Howie when He called him into the ministry at a later stage of his life, and his life’s experiences and training have enabled him to use those gifts and talents in service to the Lord through the churches and the communities that he has loved so much.
Marie Knoll
Administrative Assistant
Marie came to Florida from New Hampshire 32 years ago. After attending several other churches in the area, she finally found a home at Faith UMC and joined the church in 2015. Marie has served on several committees at the church including Coordinator of adult education, missions committee (which included a mission trip to Guatemala a few years ago), and is currently serving as the Lay Leader for the church. She also shops for Christmas gifts & school supplies for Moon Lake Elementary School needy children on behalf of the church. She is the facilitator of the Disciple Bible Study program which is currently in its 4th year. Marie has two adult children and three fabulous grandsons!
George Winslow
Worship Arts Director
A lifelong resident of Pinellas County, George has been involved in music since fifth grade. In those early years, he was involved in middle and high school bands. He was an assistant with the Tarpon Springs High School marching band for many years, and was subsequently involved in music ministry at First UMC Tarpon Springs, serving as the Director of the church’s sacred arts school – Integrity Academy. Following that George has served as Music and Worship Director at several churches, including Shady Hills UMC in Shady Hills, Emmanuel Community Church in Palm Harbor, and currently Faith UMC.
Jennifer Morris
Accompanist
In 1980, when Jennifer was a junior in high school, she began playing piano & organ in the church she grew up in because the organist at her church was planning to go to college the following year. Over the past 40 years, She has played for many churches, large and small. She has played for multiple choirs, directed vacation bible schools, childrens choirs, acted and played in dinner theatres, and particpated in many weddings. For her it has always been an act of worship.
David Gray
Financial Secretary
David has over 40 years of experience as a practicing accountant, including positions up to the executive officer level, and as a professional business advisor.
Irene Klotz
Nursery Supervisor
Irene has been a member of Faith UMC for 32 years and a nursery worker for 23 years. She has served on several committees and coordinated many fund raisers. Irene also taught Sunday School for many years and has been leader of the youth group in the past. She also was instrumental in organizing a special needs Boy Scout Troop at the church.
Digital Media Director
Scott Davies
Originally from Western New York, Scott has been living in this area for 30 years and has been a lifelong member of the Methodist church. Scott holds a bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity & Information Assurance and has worked in the IT industry for over 25 years including the Pasco County Schools. Scott and his wife have five children and have been very active in the church over the years.