Dr. Kevin Payne was raised on a small working farm in the little town of Fruithurst in Cleburne County, AL. His father, Rev. Donald Payne, was a part-time local pastor serving a 4-point Charge for 36 years. His dad also worked for U.S. Can Company in Tallapoosa, GA until retirement. His mother, Beth Payne, is a retired special education teacher, who taught at Cleburne County High School for 32 years.

His first appointment was in 2005 to the Rockford Charge (a 3-point charge) in Rockford, AL. Prior to ordained ministry he served as a church music director and youth director.

Kevin is a 1997 graduate of Cleburne County High School. He received his B.A. degree in Music from Jacksonville State University, Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology, Emory University, and the Doctor of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary. He has a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education from UAB Hospital.  Kevin is also a veteran, having served as a Chaplain in the US Navy Reserve.

Kevin has served in the North Alabama Annual Conference in various ways over the years. These include Board of Ordained Ministry, Dean of the Licensing School, and a mentor in the Residency in Ministry program. Currently he is serving as the Chair of the Petitions and Resolution Committee for the Annual Conference and as the conference parliamentarian.

He is married to Melissa, who teaches math at Talladega High School. Together they have two children: Benjamin and Robyn.

Kevin believes in the historic understanding of the Church as contained in the Apostles’ Creed. His personal drive is to help others come to Christ in the saving grace of God, laying down burdens we are not meant to carry.

Reverend Deb Welsh grew up in Rock Run, Alabama and attended Elementary School at Spring Garden. She graduated from Cherokee County High School before attended Berry College and Jacksonville Stated University.  She graduated with a degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Deaf/HOH Education. She taught in Mobile County and Jefferson County before attending seminary at Perkins Theological Seminary and Memphis Theological Seminary. She was ordained a Deacon in the UMC in 2009.

She has served as youth minister at Centre FUMC and Rainbow City UMC. She was Minister to children and families and Discovery UMC and Lakeview/Pelham UMC. Other appointments include, Four Mile UMC, Glen Addie Mission, Canterbury UMC, UAB Wesley Foundation, Urban Ministry, Inc, and Highlands UMC in Birmingham. Currently, along with serving as preaching Associate for the Weiss Lake Parish, she works as a full time RN at Cherokee County Health and Rehabilitation. (She graduated from nursing school in May of 2020 completing her childhood bucket list of: preacher, teacher, nurse, missionary, TV star, and the first white female Harlem Globetrotter—she has the jersey to prove it and can be seen listed as “extra” on the NBC series ED episode “the Shot”.)

Of all her roles, her favorite is Aunt Deb to her fabulous nieces, nephews, and godchildren. Her parents are Coach Dale and Marshea Welsh.

In her spare time, you will find her hiking the Pinhoti trail, attending sporting events, looking for the nearest swimming pool, dancing, or luring her precious fur babies Baloo and Mowgli back to their pen by holding a handful of bacon out of the driver’s side window on County road 45.

We believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;*
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic** church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen

*The term “catholic” is Latin for “universal.” We believe in the body of Christ expressed in many different ways.