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The Rev. James Persons - Senior Pastor

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The Rev. James Persons was raised in Minneapolis, MN.  He moved to Mitchell, SD to attend Dakota Wesleyan University and graduated in 1970.  While attending the University James transferred his church membership to First United Methodist Church in Mitchell.  After attending the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado, James returned to South Dakota to begin his ministry.  James has served a number of parishes, small and large, in his career.  The last appointment before Mitchell was an eight year appointment as District Superintendent in the Dakotas Conference.
 
James met his wife, Eileen, while at Dakota Wesleyan and they were married in First United Methodist Church of Mitchell in 1972.  In 1971 James was ordained Deacon in Mitchell First UMC during Annual Conference that year.  “It is a great honor for me now to return to First United Methodist Church in Mitchell.  It is like returning to my South Dakota spiritual home.”
 
James was trained in spiritual direction at the Shalem Institute, Bethesda, MD, and has been the spiritual director for several Academies of Spiritual Formation in the Dakotas.  James has also pursued training as a personal coach through the Center for Emotional Intelligence and Human Relations.
 
James and Eileen are both avid bird watchers, and James enjoys woodworking and dreaming about restoring his old Ford Mustang.

The Rev. James Persons is an ordained elder in the Dakotas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church

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The Rev. Andy Bartel - Associate Pastor

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The Rev. Bartel was born and raised in Billerica, Massachusetts. He moved to New York City at the age of 17 to attend The American Musical and Dramatic Academy where he graduated from the Musical Theatre Performance program. After working in various summer stock, regional, and touring companies, he made the move to Anchorage, Alaska where he attended the University of Alaska Anchorage and earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences while working graveyard shifts at the local supermarket. After graduation, he managed and led the Laboratory Support team, providing services for all of the teaching and research laboratories on campus.

It was in Alaska that Andy and Kate met. They were instantly close friends, and only later did a romantic relationship develop. Andy and Kate were married at Birchwood Camp, a United Methodist church camp just north of Anchorage, where they both lived on site as manager's assistants. Kate also served as the food service manager and the administrative assistant at the camp. During their time in Alaska, Andy and Kate moved around a fair bit (a precursor to the itinerant life) and consequently they had three different church homes: The United Methodist Church of Chugiak, St. John United Methodist Church, and Christ First United Methodist Church.

In 2005, Kate, Andy, and their newborn son James Kline moved to Brookings, South Dakota where Andy was employed as the director of the United Methodist campus ministry at South Dakota State University. After serving as the campus minister for one year, Andy was appointed to serve the three point charge of Wakonda, Irene, and Viborg United Methodist Churches in South Dakota, while simultaneously working towards a Masters of Divinity at Sioux Falls Seminary.

In 2007, Angus Lowe was born and a few months later was baptized by Bishop Deb Kiesey at a joint worship service of the Wakonda-Irene-Viborg parish.

In July of 2009, Andy was reappointed to serve as the Associate Pastor of Mitchell First UMC with primary responsibilities aimed at ministry with youth and young adults.  Andy & Kate feel blessed to be in ministry with and to the people of Mitchell, South Dakota.

The Rev. Andy Bartel is a provisional elder in the Dakotas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

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The Rev. Donna McLaird - Visitation Pastor

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The Rev. McLaird graduated from high school in Faulkton, SD in 1959. She met and married her husband, Jim, at DWU in 1961.  They spent the academic year of 1962-63 at Boston University School of Theology , and then she finished a Masters in Religious Education at Garrett Evangelical in Evanston, Ill., in 1964.   Donna was the Christian Education Director at the Methodist Church of Laramie, Wyoming from 1964 until 1967, while Jim was in graduate school.   They moved to Mitchell in 1967,  and had 2 sons, John and Steven.  Donna worked at DWU, from 1981 to 1984, as Director for non-traditional students. She finished her Master of Divinity at San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Anselmo, California in 1987, and pastored churches from 1977-81 and 1984-2004, including Ethan-Tyndall, Broadland-Hitchcock, Plankinton-Mt. Vernon, Colton,-Chester all in South Dakota. Following retirement the Rev. McLaird has enjoyed her part time employment at  FUMC since 2004.

The Rev. Donna McLaird is an ordained elder in the Dakotas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

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Short Larson - Office Manager

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I am in my 19th year as Office Manager at First United Methodist Church.  My job includes everything from record/calendar keeping, publishing the Sunday bulletin, and scheduling events to searching for food that has been donated to the church and cannot be located.  I love people and feel that my ministry is to make everyone who calls or walks throught these doors feel welcome and loved by God and this church.

I am married to Larry, a middle school teacher who works 3 jobs so that I only have to work 4 days a week.  I have two married children, Brooke (Ryan) Anderson and son Wil, and Tate (Jan) Larson.  My family is my life along with reading, eating, walking, eating, friends, and eating.  My happiest times are vacationing anywhere with my family! 

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Christen Hildebrandt - Newsletter Editor

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Christen Hildebrandt was raised in Faribault, MN.  He is attending Dakota Wesleyan University thanks to the generosity of the United Methodist Church’s Bishop Leadership Award. He is currently majoring in Public Service and Leadership and is working with the Student Ministry Council.  Before coming to Mitchell Christen attend a small country church of 30 members called Prairieville United Methodist Church.  After attending DWU Christen’s current plans are to attend a United Methodist seminary. Christen has volunteered with the local church in different ways vacation bible schools, nursing home visits, co-leading an elderly bible study, putting together a church newsletter, youth group and helping this last summer as liturgist at Kenyon United Methodist Church.

In high school Christen was the Co-editor-in-chief of the school newspaper called the Echo his senior year, and he was also the student rep to the Faribault School Board.  In the summer Christen attends Ultimate Challenge Camp (www.ultimatechallengecamp.com). Christen spiritual mentors are Pastor Dana Houck, Pastor Elden Eklund, Jill Jungers, Rachel Bjork, Dee Teller, and any one that he can listen to.

Christen family back home is his Mom Angie, Dad Todd, Twin sister Tamarae (who is attending Carleton College, and the Family Cat Richie.