Rev. Dr. Christopher Ritter
DIRECTING PASTOR
Dr. Chris Ritter has been our Directing Pastor since 2009 and has a passion for connecting people with Jesus. He is the author of Seven Things John Wesley Expected Us to Do for Kids (Abingdon Press, 2016) and holds a Doctor of Ministry in Evangelism from Perkins School of Theology in Dallas. He graduated magna cum laude from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in 1997 and is ordained in the Global Methodist Church. Pastor Chris has been married to Becky since 1988, and together they have four adult children. Our pastor blogs at peopleneedjesus.net.
Yvette Biddle
DIRECTOR OF DISCIPLESHIP
Yvette has been on our team since 2010 serving our church family with her hospitality and caring spirit. As our Director of Discipleship, Yvette oversees many ministries that help people get connected within the church. You will find her every Sunday greeting newcomers, caring for our congregation, and praying with people. She is passionate about seeing people grow in their faith and helping them to do so. Yvette regularly leads several ministries including group Bible studies, the Alpha Course, and more. She and her husband Matt are blessed with two adult children.
Jan Dallas
OFFICE SECRETARY
Jan has been our Church Secretary since 2006. She is responsible for managing the church office and reception desk, taking care of administrative tasks, and organizing the bulletin each week. Jan has a helpful and caring heart and loves to interact with the church family on a daily basis. She has a B.S. in Marketing and has worked in Project Managing before coming on staff at our church. Jan is married to Phillip Dallas and has two married stepsons, Ryan and Collin, and three grandchildren.
Shawn King DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
Shawn is our Director of Children’s Ministry here at First. She oversees every aspect of our Children’s Ministry including Nursery, Sunday School, Children’s Church, IGNITE, and VBS. Shawn has a passion for creating engaging, hands-on lessons about Jesus and providing a safe, nurturing environment for children to learn about Jesus in. Shawn has a B.S. degree in Elementary Education and worked as a Third Grade Teacher in the Geneseo School District before joining the staff at First. Shawn has been married to Tom since 1990 and together they have four adult children.
Jeff Demay DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MINISTRY
Marsha Kuriger
MUSICAL ASSISTANT
Marsha has been on staff since 1993 serving as our Music Assistant. Marsha faithfully plays the prelude for our traditional services, accompanies the choir, directs the Women’s Ensemble, and assists our Director of Music in their job as well. Occasionally, Marsha plays the flute in the wind ensemble and also plays the organ. She is passionate about touching people’s hearts with music and feels that it is such an important aspect in our worshiping God. Marsha is married to her husband, Craig, and together they have four children and step children: Steve, Karen, Doug, and Karen.
Amber Lilly
ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR OF DISCIPLESHIP
Amber joined our staff in 2023. She loves serving in the area of discipleship and has helped lead the Find Your People study, IF Women's Retreat, Backpack Blessings, and Operation Christmas Child. Amber and her husband, Chuck, have made Geneseo their home since 2018.
Terry Haars
FINANCIAL SECRETARY
Terry Haars is the Financial Secretary here at First Methodist Church. She also works at the Little Green Apple Preschool. She is passionate about children and loves to be with them and teach them. Terry also teaches Confirmation classes for our 8th graders and leads missions trips with them. She has a servant's heart and enjoys helping out in any way that she can. Terry has four children: Amanda, Kasey, Kolby, and Gia.
Linda Flatt
TREASURER
Linda Flatt is a longtime member of First Methodist and has served as treasurer since 2018. She also serves in Choir, Worship Band, Orchestra, Tech Team, Vacation Bible School, and directs our Children’s Choir. She and her late husband, Steve, co-founded the Miracle Bluegrass Band. She has six children and twelve grandchildren spread across Illinois and Wisconsin.
Kirstie Foeller
CHILDCARE COORDINATOR
Kirstie Foeller is our Childcare Coordinator here at First and oversees all Childcare staffing and organization for every ministry event at our church. She gives great love and care to our young children during our weekend services and throughout the week during other ministries and events. Kirstie has a great passion for sharing the love of Christ with children of all ages and connecting with other moms in Christ. She feels a great calling to bless every child that we can, and sees all children as a wonderful blessing and a gift from the Lord. Kirstie and her husband Paul are blessed with their two children: Israel and Maddie.
Michelle Gramling
HEAD CUSTODIAN
Michelle is a longtime member of First Methodist and joined our staff team in 2019. She delights in her ministry role serving the needs of the church. Michelle enjoys her involvement with women’s events, Bible studies, and women’s mentoring group. Michelle is married to Keith and they have two children: Brennon and Kaytlyn. Their son Brennon is married to Marley and they are parents to Michelle’s beloved granddaughters Caroline and Isabella. Kaytlyn serves in the US Navy and is stationed in Norfolk, Virginia.
Joel Simpson
DIRECTOR OF WORSHIP
Joel is the Director of Worship at First Methodist. He oversees the music, tech, and planning for weekend programming and other services. Joel works with the music assistant and choir director to provide music for the services at First Methodist. Joel also directs the audio-video-lighting tech team and lends graphics and technical support as he is able across the church’s ministry areas. Joel has a Master of Arts degree from UW-Superior and is passionate about using music and digital visual art to worship Christ and serve the Church.
Linda VanderLeest
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTING PASTOR
Linda joined the staff at Geneseo First Methodist in January 2024 as the Executive Assistant to the Directing Pastor. She has been the chair for the Disaffiliation Team, Chair of the Now for Tomorrow Capital Campaign, led the Primetime Senior Ministry, served on the Finance Board and Board of Trustees. She also leads the Communion team to shut-ins and residents in our local nursing home community. You will find her volunteering for other groups at church.
Linda has a degree in Physical Education from UW-Platteville, and a master’s degree in School Counseling from Western Illinois University. Prior to her role at First Methodist, she worked at Newman Central Catholic High School from 1980 until 1991 and Geneseo High School from 1991 until her retirement in 2021.