OUR STAFF

Pastor

Rev. Dr. George R. Sinclair, Jr. was installed as Pastor of Government Street Presbyterian Church on December 8, 2002. A North Carolina native, George earned his undergraduate degree in religion and philosophy from Highpoint University in 1975. He holds Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Before coming to Mobile, George served Presbyterian churches in Warsaw, Il, Lenoir, NC, and LaGrange, GA. He and his wife, Paula, have two married children and three grandchildren. Their daughter, Meredith, is a PhD candidate at the University of North Carolina. Their son, Sean, lives in Mobile. George enjoys woodworking, hunting, fishing, and is an avid bike rider. Paula is employed at UMS-Wright Preparatory School where she teaches 8th grade Algebra. She also serves the church as an Elder.

Associate Pastor for Youth and Christian Education

kathryn@gspcmobile.org

Rev. Kathryn Threadgill joined GSPC on August 3, 2009. Kathryn serves as Associate Pastor for Youth and Christian Education. Her specialty, and passion, is to the youth of the church and their spiritual formation. Kathryn grew up in Fairhope, AL after being adopted into a family of 13 brothers and sisters who came from all of over the world. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Montreat College in Montreat, North Carolina where she majored in Bible and Religion with the concentration in Youth Ministry. Kathryn graduated from Columbia Theological Seminary in 2008 with a Masters of Divinity. She was ordained in June 2009 at her home church, Spanish Fort Presbyterian.

Associate Pastor for Evangelism and Discipleship Formation

ryan@gspcmobile.org

Rev. Ryan Jensen joined Government Street on June 16, 2008. He leads evangelism and membership efforts at GSPC and is active in the church's Board of Deacons and World Mission Committee. Ryan and his wife,Laura, moved to Mobile from Austin, Texas where Ryan graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in May of 2008. Ryan is a native of Shelbyville, Tennessee, and graduated from the University of Memphis in 1996 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Prior to seminary, Ryan served as a youth director and staff member at First Presbyterian Church, Shelbyville and First Presbyterian Church in Franklin, Tennessee. Ryan was ordained and installed at GSPC on March 1, 2009. Laura has a Master of Arts in Teaching from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. Laura works as a Pre-K teacher for the lower school of St. Paul's Episcopal School in Mobile. The Jensens live in the Leinkauf District in Midtown Mobile.

Seminary Intern

kristin@gspcmobile.org

Kristin Austin brought her passion and laughter with her when she joined our staff as Seminary Intern in August 2010. A native Texan, she graduates from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in May 2011 with a Master of Divinity, but will remain on staff as Intern until August 2012. She enjoys leading Bible study for our Coffee Club guests every Tuesday and Thursday and handing out vitamins afterward. This gives her an opportunity to practice her passion of hearing people's stories and sharing the love and joy of the Lord with them. Among other things, she also coordinates our Alternative Spring Break offerings in the spring and directs our Urban Mission Camp program throughout the summer. When she is not at the church, you might find her running, reading, writing or porch-sitting.

Director of Music and Fine Arts

tmaddox@gspcmobile.org

Terry D. Maddox, M.M. is a native of Indiana. Terry received his Bachelor of Science degree in Music and Religion, with an emphasis in organ performance, from the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana. While studying there, he also attended Harlaxton College of Grantham, England for a year. He received a full fellowship and assistantship from Loyola University of New Orleans, Louisiana, where he earned a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting. He currently completes half of his work towards a doctorate in Music. Terry is married to Rebecca Rasmussen Maddox, a former politician, singer, jeweler, and artist. Terry has served as an educator for three private, Christian school systems in the position of Director of Fine Arts for twelve years of his career. He is currently in his thirteenth year at GSPC where he serves as organist, choir director, and administrator of music and fine arts programs of which the Greater Mobile Bay Area Choral Society is a part. Terry also serves as Assistant to the Cantor for Touro Synagogue of New Orleans, a position he has held for nearly eighteen years; Ajunct Professor for Spring Hill College's Chorale Program and Music Education program; and organist/choir director for St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. For the last six years Terry, and his wife have directed the Boy's & Girls Club of Lower Alabama's Honor Choir. Terry formerly served as Adjunct Professor of Organ and Liturgy Studies for the University of Mobile and Artistic Director for Eastern Shore Choral Society. In the spring of 2007 and again in March 2009, Terry prepared and led a large choral group to Carnegie Hall. In 2007, a presentation of Gabriel Faure's Requiem was given and Terry served as an assistant conductor. In 2009, he conducted John Rutter's Requiem which was performed as the featured evening program in the near-capacity filled Isaac Stern auditorium. Terry has also led several "Choir Trips with Friends" to Europe, visiting and singing in Italy, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Terry is a member of the American Guild of Organist, Temple Guild of Musicians, American Choral Directors Association, Choristers Guild, The American Guld of English Handbell Ringers, Music Educators National Conference, Chorus America, Presbyterian Association of Musicians, and the Music Fellowship of the United Methodist Church.

Director of Children's Ministry

shawn@gspcmobile.org

Shawn Walker joined Government Street Presbyterian Church on June 1, 2011. Shawn serves as the Director of Children's Ministry. She has been a member of GSPC since 2003 and has served as a Deacon. She hold a BS in Elementary Education from the University of South Alabama and an Early Childhood Education certificate from Howard Community College in Maryland. She has taught Kindergarten for twenty years and dance classes at Melinda Leigh Performing Arts Center for eighteen years. Shawn is married to Duke Walker, a Captain in the United Sates Coast Guard, and together they have three children.

Director of Hospitality

bligh@gspcmobile.org

Bligh Tissington Jones is a native of Mobile and life-long member of Government Street. Bligh attended Mobile County Public Schools and the University of Alabama. She is an ordained Deacon and Elder and has served on every level of Presbyterian Women. In 1998, she received a PW Lifetime Membership. Bligh writes "Going in Circles," a humorous article, for the award winning PW magazine Horizons. As Director of Hospitality, Bligh greets everyone each Sunday before worship. She oversees the kitchen and housekeeping operations of the church and staffs the Congregational Life and Congregational Care Committees. Bligh has three children, four grandchildren, one dog and two cats- some are better trained than others.

Bookkeeper

bonnie@gspcmobile.org

Bonnie Johnston joined GSPC staff in August of 2007 as Bookkeeper. Bonnie is a native of Lydia, Minnesota, where she grew up with her four brothers and one sister. She earned her undergraduate degree in Bible from Vennard Bible College in Oskaloosa, Iowa. There she met her husband, Daryl, of 36 years. Daryl holds a undergraduate degree in Bible and Christian Education from Vennard College, a Masters of Divinity from Wesley Biblical Seminary, and a Masters of Divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary. Bonnie served as Bookkeeper for Vennard College. Then Bookkeeper and Office Manager for Christway Ministries in Duncanville, Texas and also bookkeeper for the Mid-States District of the Evangelical Methodist Church. She is the mother of three children and seven grandchildren.

Office Manager

carrie@gspcmobile.org

Carrie J. Diamond joined GSPC in January of 2011 as Office Manager. Carrie is a 2000 graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi where she earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education. She is the mother of two young children. Her husband, Matthew, is the owner of Diamond Properties a real estate company in Mobile. When Carrie isn't working, she enjoys reading, running, organizing and spending time with her family.

Food Services Director

Shelia Smith came to Government Street 25 years ago. Her first three years here she worked in the nursery. She says, "the only cooking experience I had was at home growing up. Mom had each of the girls do a night in the kitchen. She would teach us how to make this and that." Shelia grew up in Mobile, the second of seven children. Every weekday morning she arrives at work at 5:30 and begins cooking breakfast for Coffee Club. Approximately 80-100 homeless people from the streets of Mobile turn up each morning to eat. After Coffee Club, Shelia prepares up to 50 sandwiches and hot meals for the Meals on Wheels deliveries. Shelia is the chef for most of the church functions throughout the year, including Forums, Urban Mission Camps, holiday events, special services, and Sunday coffee hour. As she leaves each day for home she says, "if the creek don't rise, I'll see y'all in the morning."

Sexton

Herbert Pettaway joined GSPC in 2010. Pettaway, as he prefers to be called, performs and directs all of the church maintenance and cleaning. He helps Shelia every morning with Coffee Club, and with Fellowship Hall preparations for special meals and events. Pettaway assists members with many of their volunteer efforts, such as bread delivery. He works many evenings as security detail for after hours committee meetings, choir rehearsals, and special services.

Assistant Sexton

Marilyn Mills joined GSPC in May of 2011 as Assistant Sexton. Marilyn is a long time resident of Mobile, Alabama and is one of ten children. Marilyn has been married to her husband, Stanley, for over 30 years. She is a proud mother of two girls and one grandson. Stacey, Marilyn's oldest daughter, is a graduate of Faulkner University and Christian, her second daughter, is a student at Bishop State Community College. Marilyn is a member of True Life Baptist Church.