Greetings from all of the staff here at Central! We are glad you're here. We are passionate about people and the church and looking forward to serving you. If we can assist you in any way, please don't hesitate to contact us.
MINISTRY staff
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REV. DR. RICK BROOKS
LEAD PASTOR
Rick joined the leadership team at Central on July 3, 2022.
Prior to joining Central, he was pastor of Main Street United Methodist Church in Bay St. Louis, St. Luke UMC in Tupelo, and was ordained as an elder in the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1990. He is a proud native of Raymond, Mississippi, and graduate of Raymond High School, Hinds Community College, Mississippi State University, Candler School of Theology (Emory University, MDiv), and Columbia Theological Seminary (DMin).
He is married to Lynn Loflin Brooks, and they have two adult children, Catherine, and John Wesley.
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REV. Matt Farmer
Associate Pastor
Matt joined the leadership team at Central in June of 2018.
Over the last 20 years, he has served various roles in ministry from Worship Pastor to Lead Pastor and many positions in between. Before being appointed to Central, he was previously appointed to Big Oak UMC, near DeKalb, where he served as Lead Pastor for 2 years. Matt completed the requirements for licensing in May 2018 and was licensed for Pastoral Ministry at the 2018 Session of the Mississippi Annual Conference and is continuing to pursue his educational requirements as a licensed local Pastor in the United Methodist Church through Candler School of Theology at Emory in Atlanta, GA.
Matt desires to help others see and embrace the love and grace of Jesus and is passionate about life transformation in the context of community and personal relationships. He is married to his wife, Tiffany, of 16 years. Together, they have one son, Ellis.
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REV. Bob Peden
Missions & EVANGELISM Pastor
Bob is a retired ordained deacon with the United Methodist Church.
His role at Central includes working with the Missions Committee in discerning needs and deploying people in helping meet those needs, both physical and spiritual, in Meridian, Lauderdale County, Mississippi and around the world.
Bob also helps to lead the CONNECT Band for worship services at Central.
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Sabrina Williams
Children & Family Ministries Director
Sabrina serves as the Children and Family Ministries Director. She plans and oversees programming for Nursery-5th Grade students at Central. She also serves as primary staff person for family retreats, church-wide events and community events. Sabrina has served in Children's Ministry, in one capacity or the other, most of her adult life. She has a certification in Christian Education from Columbia College and has served as Central's Children's Ministry Director for the past 15 years.
Sabrina is married to Rick and they have three children by birth, three by marriage and seven grandchildren. (Michelle and Robert Mayfield - Will, Aubrye, and Miley; Angela and Cyle Keith - Brett and Weston; Lee and Melanie Williams - Hunter and Ella.) In her spare time, Sabrina's number one passion is her family. Nothing inspires or refreshes her more than her grandchildren. She also enjoys sewing, crocheting, antiquing, gardening, cooking and playing the piano. She enjoys all styles of music but her favorite Christian group is Selah.
Her favorite verse in her sometimes crazy life is: "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10.
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