Pastor – Rev. Karl Klaus
In 1975, at a spring youth retreat, Karl received his call to ministry, and began his ministry that fall as a youth director at Greensburg United Methodist Church, where he also preached his first sermon. Karl has been blessed to serve in churches ever since. Karl received his License to Preach in 1976. Karl is a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in Baton Rouge. He then graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Music from L.S.U. in Vocal Performance before going on to seminary at Perkins School of Theology at S.M.U. in Dallas. During his time at L.S.U., he served as youth director at Jefferson UMC and Ingleside UMC, Baton Rouge. While at Perkins, Karl transferred into the North Texas Conference and was ordained Deacon in 1982 and Elder in 1987. He was blessed to serve such churches at First United Methodist Church, Dallas (student pastor, 2 years); Ridgewood Park UMC (assoc., 2 years), and was appointed full time associate at First United Methodist Church, Richardson, serving there for 5 and one half years. He then was offered his "own" church in lowa Park, Tx., a suburb of Wichita Falls. After three years there, Karl returned to the Louisiana Conference, serving at Broadmoor UMC, Baton Rouge, (assoc., 6 years), FUMC West Monroe (senior pastor, 3 years), St. Luke-Simpson UMC, Lake Charles (senior pastor, 11 years), FUMC Slidell (senior pastor, 3 years). Currently, Karl is serving at FUMC Bossier City, and is in his fifth year.
Karl has been married to his wife, Kym for over 30 years. They have three children, all married, all graduated from college, and all furthering their long term goals for careers. No grandchildren - yet! Karl and his family love water sports, raising their kids water skiing, wakeboarding, knee boarding and tubing. Being a Ford Mustang enthusiast, and having had Ford Mustangs in his family since 1966, Karl owns two, with his younger son driving one of them. Karl also loves anything to do with airplanes and flying.
In 1975, at a spring youth retreat, Karl received his call to ministry, and began his ministry that fall as a youth director at Greensburg United Methodist Church, where he also preached his first sermon. Karl has been blessed to serve in churches ever since. Karl received his License to Preach in 1976. Karl is a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in Baton Rouge. He then graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Music from L.S.U. in Vocal Performance before going on to seminary at Perkins School of Theology at S.M.U. in Dallas. During his time at L.S.U., he served as youth director at Jefferson UMC and Ingleside UMC, Baton Rouge. While at Perkins, Karl transferred into the North Texas Conference and was ordained Deacon in 1982 and Elder in 1987. He was blessed to serve such churches at First United Methodist Church, Dallas (student pastor, 2 years); Ridgewood Park UMC (assoc., 2 years), and was appointed full time associate at First United Methodist Church, Richardson, serving there for 5 and one half years. He then was offered his "own" church in lowa Park, Tx., a suburb of Wichita Falls. After three years there, Karl returned to the Louisiana Conference, serving at Broadmoor UMC, Baton Rouge, (assoc., 6 years), FUMC West Monroe (senior pastor, 3 years), St. Luke-Simpson UMC, Lake Charles (senior pastor, 11 years), FUMC Slidell (senior pastor, 3 years). Currently, Karl is serving at FUMC Bossier City, and is in his fifth year.
Karl has been married to his wife, Kym for over 30 years. They have three children, all married, all graduated from college, and all furthering their long term goals for careers. No grandchildren - yet! Karl and his family love water sports, raising their kids water skiing, wakeboarding, knee boarding and tubing. Being a Ford Mustang enthusiast, and having had Ford Mustangs in his family since 1966, Karl owns two, with his younger son driving one of them. Karl also loves anything to do with airplanes and flying.
|
Director of Youth – Kaitlin Babington
Kaitlin is a native of Slidell, LA, where her family still lives. She graduated from Pearl River High School in 2012. Kaitlin was an active member of First United Methodist Church, Slidell. She was an active member of the children’s and student ministry. Kaitlin graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2015. It is during her time at Southern Miss that Kaitlin was an active member of the Wesley Foundation. Throughout Kaitlin’s college years, she worked as an Intern for both college and junior high and high school ministry. In 2017, Kaitlin moved to Wilmore, KY to attend Asbury Theological Seminary. In May of 2021, Kaitlin graduated with her Masters of Divinity from Asbury Seminary. Kaitlin enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She loves going to concerts, a great book, relaxing in her hammock, and spending time on the beach. |
|
Director Of Children's Ministry - To be announced soon!
|
|
Choir Director – Katie "Walker" Walker
Walker holds a Bachelors of Music Education from Southeastern Louisiana University in addition to a teaching certificate in vocal music. Walker is an active member of the National and Louisiana chapter of the American Choral Directors Association for which she travels annually to attend workshops and participate in masterclasses. In addition to her role as Choir Director for First United Methodist of Amite Walker currently serves as the assistant director and librarian for Northshore Community Choir in Hammond where she resides. |
|
Organist/Accompanist – Clytae Fulda
Music and music ministry have been important to Clytae throughout her life. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Music from LSU, and she did her post-graduate studies in music at Southeastern University. Clytae plays the organ for our traditional service, and she accompanies our choir in their ministry of music. |
|
Contemporary Worship Director - Keri Pertuit
Keri is an Elementary Instrumental Music Teacher at the Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts, who spends her afternoons working on her Masters degree in Music Composition from LSU. Keri received her Bachelors in Music Education from Southeastern Louisiana University in May of 2020. Keri is extremely excited to continue and expand her musical outreach through Amite First United Methodist Church. Currently Keri resides in Walker, Louisiana with her husband Tyler (aka the drummer) and their dog Pepper. |
|
Office Administrator – Melissa Cox
Melissa has lived in Amite her entire life, went to Loranger High School, and is an experienced office manager. As a teenager she started working as an assistant bookkeeper for a local credit union. After high school she attended and graduated from the Northshore Technical Community College with a diploma in Business Office Administration as well as Word Processing. Melissa has worked as an Office Administrator for the last thirty years. She enjoys digital graphic design and experimenting with new illustration software. During the summer she volunteers as part of the staff for a church camp in DeRidder, Louisiana where she was a camper growing up. She has two daughters who are starting their own families and furthering their lives passions. Melissa also has three grandsons who she loves spoiling and spending all her time with. |
|
Custodian - Allison Singleton
Allison is working hard as our custodian as well as filling-in as part of the office staff when needed. She enjoys being part of her church family at Oak Grove Church of Christ and volunteering as part of the staff for a church camp in DeRidder, Louisiana where she was a camper growing up. Allison and her husband Cody enjoy spending their weekends camping, hunting, fishing and exploring the trails on their ATV. |