Contact district director Tom Santa (tsanta5721@hotmail.com) if you would like to request a Beacon district certified lay speaker for your church.

Stephanie Beasley is a certified lay speaker from Colington UMC. She loves studying and sharing God’s Word. She is married to Terry, and they have one son. She is a retired Dare County school nurse.

Jo Drago is a certified lay minister and lay speaker from Moyock UMC. She is passionate about becoming a light for Christ and helping others grow in relationship with God and fellowship with one another. Professionally, she is retired from the City of Norfolk as an information technology supervisor. Jo led a choir at Moyock UMC for 3.5 years and now leads two Bible studies. She currently serves Moyock UMC as Shepherd Coordinator to her pastor, assisting with hospital visits and tracking the congregation’s needs.

Louanne Ewald, a former teacher, enjoys studying and interpreting scripture to strengthen understanding of how God has acted in the world and what it means to be a 21st-century Christian. She passionately believes the Good News is for everyone, with no exceptions. Louanne is a member of Colington UMC in Kill Devil Hills, sings in the choir, and is an active member of the United Women in Faith. She received her lay speaker certification in 2024.

Timothy Ladd, a member of Pilmoor Memorial UMC, is a lay speaker because he feels God has called him to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in a dark and troubled world. He is married with two grown sons, and he enjoys reading, photography, and occasionally writing poetry. View Sermon

Jeanne Murray is a certified lay speaker and certified lay minister. Jeanne serves at Sharon UMC in Poplar Branch in a number of capacities, including lay leader, small group leader, and UWF President. In addition, she serves as the Beacon district UWF treasurer and UWF conference book club facilitator. Jeanne’s passion for supplying the needs of those around her drives her desire to be a lifelong learner and a spiritual seeker. View Sermon

Marjorie Rayburn is a life-long Methodist who enjoys teaching Bible studies and organizing a summer campground service. She enjoys preaching and sharing God’s Word with others and is committed to sharing her faith through word and action. She is retired from the NC Cooperative Extension Service as an agricultural agent, working with farmers. She is married and has four children and seven grandchildren.

Tom Santa is a certified lay minister and lay speaker from Moyock UMC. He is passionate about becoming a better disciple and helping others grow in relationship with God and one another. Tom is married to Michelle, who introduced him to the Methodist church, and they have two daughters, Mary Elysse and Lauren. He retired from the Navy after 22 years as an active-duty Nurse Corps officer and now serves as a full-time family and acute care nurse practitioner. View Sermon

Bob Waters attends Wesley Memorial UMC in Columbia, NC, where he currently serves as the music leader. He enjoys combining music with God’s word, as given to us in the Bible, to help himself and others better understand our role as His servants.

Contact district directors Janet Groberski (jgroberski@nccumc.org) or James Bernstein (jbernstein@nccumc.org) if you would like to request a Capital district certified lay speaker for your church.

James Bernstein is a member of Soapstone UMC in Raleigh and previously served a UMC in many roles, including mission team leader, youth Sunday school teacher, kitchen volunteer, and liturgist. He became a certified lay speaker in 2017 and has spoken at a number of churches in the district, regularly preaching at a retirement community on the 3rd and 5th Sundays. His messages typically address the practical Christian life or use the lectionary. James has taught the LSM Basic Course/UM101 multiple times. He works in the pharmaceutical industry and enjoys the outdoors. View Sermon

Janet Groberski, a certified lay minister and certified lay speaker, has been a lay leader and lay servant at Westwood UMC in Goldsboro since 2014. She taught an adult Sunday school class for 10 years and is a member of the choir. Her sermons are based on the lectionary or specific scriptural topics. Before moving to Goldsboro, she served in the Air Force for 30 years, traveling to many assignments. Most people who know her know that she is a lover of cats, with seven furry friends at home, and she also cares for a feral colony. View Sermon

Latercha McKnight became a certified lay speaker in 2018. She is a mother, widow, and pharmaceutical consultant. After becoming widowed, she felt that God was calling her to do more. Her pastor introduced her to lay servant classes, which progressed into becoming a certified lay speaker. Latercha has a passion for sharing God with others and telling about the things that God has done in her life.

Natalie Peterson lives in Raleigh with her husband, two children, and two dogs and is a member of Jenkins Memorial UMC. She became a lay speaker in 2024 and feels called to continue learning as part of her faith journey. Natalie enjoys helping with church leadership and leading Bible studies.

Lusi Radford is a certified lay speaker and certified lay minister who attends Avent Ferry UMC in Raleigh, NC. She enjoys preaching, teaching, and meeting people. A retired teacher, she has a background in working with internationals and lobbying.

Jessica Thigpen received her certification in 2025. Her passion is connecting the familiar Bible stories to populations that often feel left out in today’s churches. She currently attends Wendell UMC, where she leads Bible study, organizes special worship services, and helps out wherever she can. View Sermon

Contact district directors Allen Burden (aburden@nccumc.org) or Vicki Ambrose (vambrose@nccumc.org) if you would like to request a Corridor district certified lay speaker for your church.

Vicki Ambrose is a certified lay speaker who has had the honor of serving in that role since May 2021. She is led to share her personal experience, best exemplified in Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I AM God.” She does this through personal testimony, scripture, children’s stories, and devotional sources to illustrate God’s presence in our lives. Vicki currently attends Davis Street UMC in Burlington, NC, where she leads the worship planning team and provides music support.

Allen Burden is a certified lay speaker and certified lay minister whose home church is New Bethel UMC in Rougemont. He is retired from the General Electric Company, where he specialized in servicing and installing radiology imaging systems. Allen was called to spread the Word of the Lord and enjoys serving rural churches. He is married to his wife Donna and has two children and one grandchild.

Wayne Dewberry is a certified lay speaker and certified lay minister. He is currently lay leader at Haw River UMC and serves on multiple committees, including the trustees. He is a past district director of Lay Servant Ministries for the Corridor district and is happy to answer emergency calls for a speaker when he is not already engaged.

Elma Doermann received her certification in 2024. She works in many roles within the church and is always ready to commune with all who wish to learn more about Jesus. Elma attends Lebanon UMC in Mebane, NC, where she also works as the administrative assistant to the pastor.

Dave Hester is a certified lay speaker who is eternally grateful that God never stopped calling, even when Dave tended not to listen. He loves diving into familiar scripture, clearing out cobwebs and his own misconceptions. What gives Dave the greatest joy is providing a “today I learned” opportunity to those with whom he shares the Gospel. Dave currently attends Leasburg UMC and connects through small groups and Sunday School. View Sermon

Thomas Givens was certified as a lay speaker in 2026. He is a member of Mt. Sylvan UMC in Durham, where he serves as Church Council Chair and Lay Delegate to Annual Conference. He co-chairs the Corridor District Committee on Creation Care and leads the Creation Care Team at Mt. Sylvan. Thomas has taught Sunday School for all age groups and especially enjoys leading discussion-based classes on challenging topics, creating space for diverse perspectives and thoughtful conversation. View Sermon

Sandy Quinn is a certified lay speaker who loves to share messages about God’s love with others. She uses scripture when preparing a message, relating God’s Word to people in today’s world. Sandy is a long-time member of Pleasant Green UMC in Orange County, where she serves as lay leader and lay delegate to Annual Conference.

Anggie Thompson, a member of Lebanon UMC, is a certified lay speaker and certified lay minister. She serves as an advisor for the Certified Lay Minister Candidate Training Program. Anggie previously served as a lay minister to two small churches for seven years and now provides pulpit supply for pastors needing coverage. She enjoys developing and teaching lay servant classes and remains actively engaged in serving her church and community.

Contact district director Pam Strug (pstrug@nccumc.org) if you would like to request a Fairway district certified lay speaker for your church.

Claire Cox-Woodlief has served for many years at St. Francis UMC in a variety of roles, currently as Chair of SPRC. She also serves as Chair of the NCCUMC Board of Church & Society, the Fairway District Anti-Racism Team, and as an SEJ Delegate (and alternate for General Conference). She is Board Chair of the NC Institute for Spiritual Direction and Formation and enjoys serving as Retreat Leader for the NC Academy for Spiritual Formation. Claire is a certified facilitator of Sacred Conversations to End Racism and a Consecration Sunday Leader.

James (“Nick”) Gaster is a native of North Carolina whose passion is sharing the Good News in and out of the pulpit, bringing people closer to Christ. He attends Center UMC in Sanford, NC, where he is the administrative board chairman and lay leader, and he received his certification as a lay speaker in 2024.

Ronnie Jones has been a certified lay speaker since September 23, 2017, and has filled pulpits in the Fairway district since 2011. He is a member of St. Luke UMC in Sanford, where he has served on numerous committees, taught Sunday School, and facilitated Bible studies. He is a member of the Heart of Carolina Emmaus Community and served as Lay Director in 2017.

Donna McGhie first became a certified lay speaker in 2016. She loves the Lord and appreciates that he never gives up on her. She wants others to know that God loves them and won’t give up on them either. Donna attends McQueen Chapel UMC in Sanford with her husband.

Debora R. Murphy is an “intentional” Methodist who became a certified lay speaker in 2024. As a lay speaker, she connects her passion for reading and studying to teaching and learning from others from the pulpit. Debora is a member of Fuquay Varina UMC, where she plays keys with the praise team, leads worship in The Venue (the online-only Sunday worship service), serves communion, and greets and welcomes attendees on Sunday mornings. She also leads and plans worship for the NC Five Day Academy for Spiritual Formation.

Don Schwenneker received his lay speaker certification in 2024. His passion is passing along God’s message to those who need to hear it. Don currently attends Holly Springs United Methodist Church, where he teaches confirmation with his wife, Kim, has taught Bible studies, and led the church’s $1.5 million building campaign.

Robert (Bob) Sleight became a certified lay speaker in December 2025. He has served as a Stephen Minister since 2012, offering care and compassionate listening to those experiencing loss, pain, or loneliness. As a lay speaker, he seeks to share the joy and comfort of Christ with others. Bob is a member of Apex UMC, where he sings in the choir, serves as a liturgist, participates in Methodist Men, and has served on leadership committees.

Dominic Strug is a certified lay speaker, having received his certification in 2024. Dominic’s passion is to bring the Bible to life through stories and thought-provoking questions about life. Dominic currently attends Fuquay-Varina UMC, where he leads the Safety Ministry Team and plays trumpet for the Instruments of Praise Team.

Pam Strug became a certified lay speaker in 2017. She loves connecting people with their gifts and passions to serve God’s kingdom. A lifelong United Methodist, she currently attends Fuquay Varina UMC in Fuquay Varina.

Joyce Young-Stewart became a certified lay speaker in 2025. Although she felt called many years earlier, she finally listened, took action, and now finds great joy in serving others and sharing the gift that is God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and our savior Jesus Christ in many ways. Joyce currently attends Kipling UMC in Kipling, NC, where she serves as the Lay Servant Ministries representative, Food Pantry Manager, member of the Altar Guild, part-time assistant to the pastor with administrative duties, and a member of Missions & Outreach.

Contact district director Effie McGill (effie.mcgill@gmail.com) if you would like to request a Gateway district certified lay speaker for your church.

Paul Baldwin, member of Galilee UMC in Laurinburg, is a certified lay speaker and certified lay minister. His certification began in 2019, and he has served with boundless joy and excitement as pulpit supply. He is always eager to fill in for clergy in the Gateway district when needed. Paul is married to Rachelle; together they have two sons, eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Bret Batdorff is a certified lay speaker, having received his certification in 2023. Bret is a member of Haymount UMC in Fayetteville, where he also serves on the Evangelism Committee. View Sermon

Hazel Boatwright is a member of Galilee UMC in Laurinburg, NC. She became a certified lay speaker in 2023 and enjoys serving God’s people using her hands, legs, feet, and especially her heart. She offers her gifts and talents with sincere servitude.

Steve Brotherton is a member of Camp Ground UMC in Fayetteville. He is a certified lay speaker and uses his spiritual gifts of preaching and teaching to help people find and apply God’s wisdom in scripture to their lives. Steve is an avid bicyclist, swimmer, and alto saxophone player. View Sermon

Larry Cameron attends St. Pauls UMC in St. Pauls, NC. He has been a certified lay speaker for three years and a Sunday School teacher for 43 years. Larry’s passion is to teach God’s Word. He treasures the relationship he has with the Holy Spirit while preparing a Sunday School lesson or a Sunday worship service.

Brian Gaskell is a member of Hay Street United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he has been active for over 15 years. He became a certified lay speaker in 2025, encouraged and supported by his former pastor and spiritual mentor, Rev. David Blackman. Brian enjoys coordinating the Men’s Prayer Breakfast at Hay Street UMC and serving on the Church Council as a member at large. View Sermon

Ervin Graham, a member of St. George UMC, shares his gifts through preaching and teaching regularly. Guided by God, he seeks to lead those who do not know the Lord to become his disciples.

George Hendricks received his certification as a lay speaker in 2023. He has a passion for making God’s Word relevant for today. He is a successful motivational speaker and follows a “mind, body, and spirit” approach to a fulfilling life. His most moving faith experience occurred during his Emmaus Walk weekend, and his favorite quote is Wesley’s: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” He and his wife, Kelly, live in North Fayetteville. They have two grown sons and a Chi-Poo named Hope. He looks forward to sharing the redeeming Word of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with your congregation!

Francilla Hill is a member of Galilee UMC in Laurinburg, NC, and attended the 2023 NC Annual Conference as lay leader. Her passions include showing compassion to others, witnessing the Gospel, watching God’s Word unfold, and transforming the lives of God’s people. As a choir member, she loves exalting God’s name as well as telling the Good News. View Sermon

Harry Miller is passionate about making sure the world hears the Word, whether from the minister or his fellow lay servants and lay speakers. He currently attends Harry Hosier United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, where he sings in the Mass Choir and serves as chairman of Higher Education and Technology. He has been a certified lay speaker since 2017.

Jerline Miller has been a certified lay speaker since 2014. She has been a public speaker since she was a little girl, winning many oratorical contests including the National Elks Oratorical Contest while in high school. She attends Harry Hosier United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, NC.

Lorri Shackelford received her certification as a lay speaker in 2023. She has a passion for intercessory prayer, Bible study, and sharing God’s Word from the pulpit. Lorri attends St. Matthews UMC in Fayetteville, where she serves as Finance Chair and leads Sunday morning Bible study. She is married to Kenny and has a daughter, son-in-law, and one grandson.

Contact district director Sandy Core (score@nccumc.org) if you would like to request a Harbor district certified lay speaker for your church.

Walter ‘Wally’ Bengtson is a member of Grace UMC in Elizabethtown, NC. He has taught Sunday School and small group studies at Clarkton UMC since retiring in 2014. After being asked to fill in for the pastor one Sunday, he discovered that preaching was another way he could serve. Wally enjoys digging into scripture and connecting it with John Wesley’s writings as he prepares for a sermon, then letting the Holy Spirit guide him in its delivery.

Sandy Blake is a certified lay speaker and a member of Burgaw UMC, where she serves as lay leader and a Sunday school teacher. Passionate about sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, she is grateful for thirty-eight years of teaching experiences that help shape her ministry.

Richard (Dick) Clark received his certification in 2024. His passion is bringing individuals to the Word through one-on-one conversations, drawing on his lifelong experiences and education as a United Methodist, as well as opportunities provided by the church’s missions. He currently attends St. Paul’s UMC of Carolina Beach, where he serves on the finance committee and on church council as the outreach coordinator.

Sandy Core, through her love and dedication to the Lord, has served in a variety of ministries, including church pianist, choir director, home Bible study leader, Sunday school teacher, and prayer ministry coordinator. After retiring from her careers as a teacher and social worker, she began working part-time as a data manager for First Fruit Ministries, a homeless ministry in Wilmington. Sandy attends Ocean View UMC and answered the call to be a lay speaker in 2016. She also serves as Harbor district director of Lay Servant Ministries. View Sermon

Keith Duclos became a certified lay speaker in late 2024. Keith enjoys grappling with the Bible as it speaks to our times and working with others to fully understand what claims those stories make on their lives. He worships at Seaside United Methodist Church in Sunset Beach, where he leads an adult Sunday School class and a men’s breakfast Bible discussion. View Sermon

Ron Hamilton, a member of Bethel UMC in Bolivia, NC, felt called to preach at the age of eight. He has studied and taught Bible theology over the years, and he became a certified lay speaker in 2025. Ron seeks to be used by God to build up the church in the most holy faith.

Al Howard is a certified lay speaker, having received his certification in 2025. He loves sharing the stories of the Bible, the life of Jesus, the resurrection, and the promise of tomorrow with everyone. Al currently attends Wesleyan Chapel United Methodist Church in Wilmington, where he serves as chair of finance.

Don Kluttz has been a certified lay speaker for over 10 years and has provided pulpit supply most of his adult life. He retired in 2011 as an auditor with the state of NC and moved with his wife, Wanda, to Oak Island, where they have had a home since 1999. When he is not leading worship elsewhere, he attends Ocean View UMC, where he serves as liturgist and communion assistant, among other roles on administrative committees. Don enjoys singing and is happy to offer a song as part of worship when he is filling a pulpit.

Ernest Leatherman has been lay speaking in churches since 2009 and earned his certification in 2014. He likes to draw on his extensive travels and personal experiences to highlight the love of Jesus Christ. He is a member of Ocean View UMC in Oak Island and has served in most capacities within the local church.

Mel Pitts has been a certified lay speaker since 2018. Her passion is preaching, and she believes and trusts the Holy Spirit to guide her in composing and delivering sermons. Mel is a member of Wrightsville UMC in Wrightsville Beach, where she teaches adult Sunday school and leads book studies.

Contact Heritage District Director Bill Kessinger (heritagelsm@nccumc.org) if you would like to request a Heritage district certified lay speaker for your church.

Catherine “Cat” Harris is a member of Flat Rock UMC, where she has served as youth leader for the past six years in addition to many other roles within the church. After years of resisting the call to preach, she took the first step of becoming a lay speaker and hasn’t looked back since. Cat describes bringing the Word of God to the people of God as a humbling privilege.

Sylvia Harrison is a certified lay speaker, having received her certification in 2018. Sylvia’s passion is in bringing the scripture into everyday situations. Sylvia currently attends Oxford United Methodist Church, where she serves on many committees and chairs stewardship.

Marc Thompson is a member of Wake Forest UMC. Before moving to North Carolina, he and his wife were active members of Grace UMC in the Virginia Annual Conference for nearly 20 years. Feeling the Holy Spirit’s call to a speaking ministry, Marc completed his lay speaker certification shortly before relocating. A dedicated Wesleyan Methodist, he enjoys preaching about “connexion,” the Holy Spirit, sanctification, and the practical challenges of daily Christian life.

William Wortham is a member of Flat Rock UMC and became a certified lay speaker in 2024. Reflecting on his call, he shares: “After years of being a Jonah, I finally stopped running from God and started saying, ‘Yes, Lord, what would you have me do?’” William is active in the life of his church, helping with the youth group, supporting the audio/visual team, and coaching a softball team.

Contact district director Elizabeth Harrison (eharrison@nccumc.org) if you would like to request a Sound district certified lay speaker for your church.

Carlton Bennett (“Butch”) lives in Swansboro, NC, and attends Swansboro UMC. He moved to North Carolina in July 2022 to be closer to family; his previous home was Sheridan, Wyoming. Butch was a certified lay speaker in the Yellowstone Conference, which later became part of the Mountain Sky Conference. He has provided pulpit supply for many years, even before the program was officially recognized. He began his official lay servant journey in 1994 as a lay speaker (old program) in the Baltimore-Washington Conference. View Sermon

Elizabeth Harrison attends New Song UMC in James City. She became a lay speaker to deepen her understanding of the United Methodist Church and the Bible. Recently retired, she is enjoying the gift of extra time while also striving not to take on too many new commitments. Elizabeth leans on God for wisdom to say “no” when she needs to. Soon, she will begin serving as a guardian ad litem for Craven County, a role that has been on her heart for many years. She loves God and lives by the words, “Not all who wander are lost.” View Sermon

Gail Bailey Lindsay became a certified lay speaker in 2009 and a certified lay minister in 2019. Her ministry grows from her conviction that the United Methodist Church is led by the Holy Spirit to “do unto the least.” Gail’s passion is witnessing that we were created to be quickened children of the Triune God, a message she has proclaimed in more than fifty pulpits. She has preached over sixty sermons, taught Lay Servant Ministries classes, and led Zoom Bible studies. View Sermon

Kim Rice Smith currently serves as the Sound district lay leader and became a certified lay speaker in 2023. At her home church, Cherry Point UMC, she serves as president of United Women in Faith and as communications coordinator. For twenty years, Kim served her local Board of Education and for eight of those years, she was the Sound District Congregations4Children Coordinator. Her passion is sharing her faith through writing, and she looks forward to growing as a lay speaker. View Sermon

Michael Webb is a member of St. James UMC in Greenville, where he was baptized at age 51. He became a lay speaker out of a deep desire to share the Good News. A pediatric dentist, Michael serves as chair of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics at ECU School of Dental Medicine. Outside of work and ministry, he enjoys playing the banjo and cooking.