• Edd Spencer

  • Born in Atlanta, Georgia
  • Raised in Roebuck in Birmingham, Alabama
  • Attended Banks High School
  • Active in First Christian Church in downtown Birmingham
  • Worked in father’s furniture store as a young man
  • Graduated from Auburn University
  • Graduated from Lexington Theological Seminary
  • Ordained to the ministry on July 9, 1972
  • Married Mary Patricia Kennedy
  • Celebrates the gift of two daughters, Holly and Stacy, and three precious grandchildren.
  • Holly is married to Zachary Fuqua and living in Lexington, KY. She is now the Associate Minister at South Elkhorn Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Lexington, Kentucky. Zach is Academic Advisor for the University of Kentucky. Holly and Zach have a daughter, Kennedy, and a new baby boy, Spencer James Fuqua born in May 2007.
  • Stacy is the mother of Teanna, living in Birmingham and serving as a preschool teacher.
  • Served student churches in Nicholsville and Chaplin, KY while in seminary
  • Served as a National Park Minister in the Great Smoky Mountains while in seminary
  • Served as a minister in Azalea Hills Christian Church, in Mobile, Alabama, First Christian Church, Little Rock, AK: Beneva Christian Church in Sarasota, Florida, and now at First Christian Church in Birmingham, Alabama
  • Hobbies include backpacking on the Appalachian trail and now on trails in Alabama, jogging, reading, doing magic, and watching sports on television
  • His motto in life is: “It’s a piece of cake.”
  • He has loved serving the Lord in the life of the church and looks forward to an exciting ministry at First Christian Church

• Mary Pat Spencer

  • Born in Jacksonville, Florida
  • Raised in the Riverside Christian Church
  • Went to Robert E. Lee High School
  • Very active in scouting and youth groups
  • Graduated from Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, VA
  • Majored in Religion and Sociology
  • Worked in Euclid Christian Church as a youth sponsor and Westminster Presbyterian Church in their inner city ministry
  • Graduated from Lexington Theological Seminary, Lexington, KY
  • Served as Associate Minister of the Madison Avenue Christian Church, Covington, KY
  • During seminary met and married Edd Spencer
  • Ordained into the ministry at Azalea Hills Christian Church in Mobile, Alabama
  • Served the Alabama/NW Florida Region as the Youth Minister
  • Celebrates the gift of two daughters, Holly and Stacy, and three precious grandchildren.
  • Holly is married to Zachary Fuqua and living in Lexington, KY. She is now the Associate Minister at South Elkhorn Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Lexington, Kentucky. Zach is Academic Advisor for the University of Kentucky. Holly and Zach have a daughter, Kennedy, and a new baby boy, Spencer James Fuqua, born in May 2007.
  • Stacy is the mother of Teanna, living in Birmingham and serving as a preschool teacher.
  • Served as Minister of Education at First Christian Church in Little Rock, AK
  • Served as Co-Ministers at the Beneva Christian Church in Sarasota, Florida
  • Serves presently on the LTS Alumni Board
  • Hobbies include white water rafting, traveling anywhere – mostly by plane, crafts, being with family
  • Her motto: “Nothing is impossible” and “Think Outside the Box.”
  • She especially has a passion for children and youth and creative Bible study with all ages
  • She is excited about the opportunity to serve in the great state of Alabama again, and serving as the pastor of First Christian Church. She also looks forward to many lasting friendships in her new church family

Administrative Assistant:  Cecelia Roberts was born at Maxwell AFB, where her father was a Marine Drill Sargeant and who later became a minister. Cecelia claims not only to be a marine brat, but also a PK (preacher’s kid).  Cecelia and her husband met in high school and have two grown children, Andrew and Brandi, and two grandchildren. Cecelia has worked in Office Management/Bookkeeping for the past twenty-three years. She loves her work at First Christian because she travels eighty-two miles round trip to work each day. Cecelia has been employed by First Christian for six years.

Minister of Music: Jan Watts graduated with a Master of Music in 1979 from the University of Montevallo, and is in the process of getting her Master of Divinity from Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. Last April Jan was licensed as a Minister of Music by the Alabama/North West Florida Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  Jan and her husband Bill have three sons and one daughter and three grandchildren. Jan has been involved in music at First Christian almost all her life. She has also been a paid soloist in a number of Birmingham Churches and a choir director. Jan has been the Minister of Music at First Christian for the last seven years.

The Adventure Nook Director:  Beth Patterson was born in Thomasville, Alabama. Beth and her husband Billy have been blessed with two wonderful children, Heather and Chad. Beth has many hours of preschool training and a Director’s certification. She has worked in Preschool programs in Florida and Tennessee. She has been employed by First Christian for the past five years, and the last two years as the Director of TAN- The Adventure Nook.

Nursery Coordinator:  Mary Decker was born in Pensacola, Florida. She graduated from Riverside, New Jersey. Mary has lived in Alabaster, Alabama for the past thirty-three years. She and her husband James D Decker and have two sons, Troy and James, and one grandson, Jacob and daughter- in-law, Tanya. Mary has been employed by First Christian for almost sixteen years.

 Nursery Assistant: Jennifer Powell was born in Greenville, South. Carolina. She graduated from Pelham High School, Birmingham, Alabama in June of 1992.  She lives in Inverness with her parents and is the youngest sibling in her family.  Jennifer has one older sister and brother. Jennifer began working for First Christian Church in the fall of 1992 as well as The Adventure Nook program until 1998. Jennifer has been employed at First Christian for thirteen years.

Custodian:  Lloyd Smith was born in Camden, Alabama. He graduated from Camden Academy, in Camden, Alabama.  Lloyd and his wife Elizabeth have three children and two grandchildren. He has been an employed by First Christian Church for two and a half years.