Our Team

  • Rev. Dr. EbB Hagan

    Senior Pastor

    TRINITY@TRINITYFWB.ORG

    Ebb grew up in Evergreen, AL where he attended Evergreen First United Methodist Church. After two years at Troy State University and two years at the University of Alabama, he ultimately graduated from Washington State University (Go Cougs!). This allows him to stay out of the Bama/Auburn and Florida State/Florida rivalry cross-fire! After spending the better part of 20 years in Seattle, WA, Ebb is enjoying living close to home.

    Rev. Hagan received his Master of Divinity degree at Princeton Seminary in New Jersey. While at Princeton he was an assistant on the Dead Sea Scrolls Project and was awarded an archaeological fellowship to work a dig in Bethsaida, Galilee, Israel and research in Jerusalem. He completed his doctoral studies at Emory University. His personal academic interest is the cross-section between biblical principles and secular cultural media.

    Ebb's wife, Emily, grew up in Inchelium WA which is located in NE Washington state. She is also a graduate of Washington State University and graduated with a Masters in Ministry from Asbury Theological Seminary.

    They are joined by their three teenaged children Gaston, Mallory, and Stefan. The kids are enjoying the freedom of the Florida Panhandle lifestyle.


    In his free time, Ebb enjoys going to WWE Monday Raw and Friday Night Smackdown live events and watching live music! He loves getting outside to play disc golf whenever possible.


    Favorite verse: Matthew 5:9 (NIV) -“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."

    Favorite TV: Friday Night Smackdown & The Walking Dead

    Favorite Book: The Kings of New York by Michael Weinreb

  • Melissa johnson

    Student Ministry Coordinator

    STUDENTS@TRINITYFWB.ORG

    Melissa Johnson began as our receptionist in 2014 and became our assistant youth director in 2018 after volunteering and interning with our youth group for several years. A Ft. Walton Beach native, Melissa was raised at Trinity United Methodist Church with her grandfather, John Remine and nanny, Annie Ferguson. She is an alumni of the University of West Florida (Go Argos!) and has a degree in Children and Society. For many years Melissa knew her calling was to work with the young people in her community. One summer at Oakwood Experience at Blue Lake, Melissa felt her calling to ministry and has been full speed ahead ever since. Melissa married her high school sweetheart, John and they have a daughter, Jane (2020) and two fur-baby cats, Piper and Kona. She has a passion for people, adventure and friendly competition. Her passion for others doesn’t end with the church, Melissa also works for Okaloosa County as a substitute teacher. In her free time she can be found bingeing Netflix shows, enjoying a football game with good food or planning her next road trip with friends.


    Life Verse: "Leave your simple ways and you will live;  walk in the way of insight." Proverbs 9:6 (NIV)

    Favorite TV show: Grey's Anatomy & The Office

    Favorite Book: Love Does by Bob Goff

  • Laura Finley

    Kids Ministry Coordinator

    KIDS@TRINITYFWB.ORG

    Laura Finley was born and raised in the Fort Walton Beach area. She always knew that someday she would work with kids. Her father, Brian Pennington, even said she would make a great kids minister someday! After spending a few years living in south Florida, Laura knew that Fort Walton was the place she wanted to call home. After moving home, Laura began working with the youth group and singing with the contemporary worship team. For a time, she served as the interim contemporary worship leader. She transitioned into the Kids Ministry Coordinator role in October of 2022, where she ultimately knew where she was meant to be. Laura was baptized and raised here at Trinity and couldn't imagine being part of another church family! In 2020 Laura met her now husband, Dakota Finley. Together they have adopted their son Mason. Laura is a firm believer in family ministry and growing in Christ together. She can be found adventuring with her family or visiting Mickey Mouse at Walt Disney World in her free time! 


    Life Verse: "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." John 15:12-13

    Favorite tv show: The Office

    Favorite food: Tacos

  • Mariah Picot

    traditional music leader

    MUSIC@TRINITYFWB.ORG

    Mariah Picot has spent her life in the arts. From childhood musicals, to piano bars, to studying acting with teachers from the HB Studio in NYC, to a couple of stints as an Elvis [impersonator] backup singer, she has led an eclectic life that has all prepared her for being a church choir director.

    She is back in the Panhandle after 15 years in Dallas, where she was brought to work with a music agent after Rita and Katrina wiped out a lot of work that she had with a jazz quartet while living in Panama City. Dallas had incredible advantages as to the resources available. She was able to write a musical that she had started in Panama City at the Unity Church there and get it up on its feet to have 'professional reads' with actors and musicians. She was also an accompanist at an acting studio for 10 years and saw kids grow up to be young professionals and go off to college.

    Somewhere along the line, while she was the music director at First Christian Church in Lewisville, TX, she fell in love with choral music. She was conducting the choir from the piano. The church eventually merged with another First Christian church, and she became the conductor and helped the church grow its choir and repertoire.

    As fate would have it, or the hand of God, another natural disaster was influential in bringing her back to Florida. She lost her teaching studio [piano & voice] during the pandemic, and even as people started returning, the adults still had their own challenges and had to drop out.


    She is delighted to be the new Traditional Music Leader at Trinity United Methodist Church to help grow the music program. There is lots of info on her website. www.mariahpicot.com.


    Her door at the church is always open.


    Favorite Verse: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

    Favorite Book: The Artist's Way

    Favorite Food: Fajitas

  • David yetter

    organist

    David began serving at Trinity in October of 2019. He is a native of upstate NY, Binghamton, NY. He received his B.Mus. & M. Mus. degrees from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ in 1976 & 1978 respectively. While at college he sang with the Westminster Symphonic Choir in orchestral/choral concerts with the NY Philharmonic, the National Symphony of Washington, DC, the Pittsburgh Symphony, & the Atlanta Symphony. In Aug. 1986 he came to Christ UMC in Jackson, MS to serve as Assistant Music Director, organist/accompanist. It was at this church that David met & then married his wife, the former Susan Spann. in July 1988.   David served as Wesley Biblical Seminary chapel pianist & graduation ceremony organist from 1987 to 2015. David also served as a music instructor & private piano instructor at a small Christian college, Wesley College, 18 miles south of Jackson, MS from 1997 to 2010. He enjoys traveling, American History, reading, & aquaria. The Grand Tetons National Park in NW Wyoming is proof of our Almighty God’s handiwork! He is a HUGE fan of UKY Wildcat basketball & love all the reruns of the 1970s TV series: “EMERGENCY!”


    Life Verse: "When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives." Matthew 26:30

  • John Peters

    Business Administrator

    BUSINESS.ADMINISTRATOR@TRINITYFWB.ORG

    John has been a part of the Trinity staff since July 2023. A veteran of the United States Air Force, he served for 20 years as a Meteorologist. After retiring, John and his wife, Mary, and their eight children decided to remain in the area. Since then, John has earned a degree in Business Administration from Purdue Global University. He has spent his time volunteering at Trinity, including serving on our Trustees team as well as various organizations in the area before working as a part-time facility manager here at Trinity. 


    Favorite TV Show:  "Alone" on the History Channel

    Favorite Musician: Dermot Kennedy

  • MaKenzie Johnson

    communications & operations

    communications@trinityfwb.org

    MaKenzie Johnson has been a part of the Trinity staff since October 2020. A former military dependent born in the Midwest, MaKenzie has spent most of her formative years growing up in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. During Junior College, MaKenzie was able to spend a year studying abroad in South Korea, which helped fuel her love of travel and exploring different cultures. She is a 2013 graduate from the University of West Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. After graduation, she was fortunate enough to work in the field of Student Activities in higher education for seven years until she decided to answer God’s calling to work at Trinity and assist in spreading the message that Trinity provides spirit-filled ministries and worship opportunities to equip people to become disciples of Jesus Christ. MaKenzie was baptized in 2007 and has had a heart for God ever since. In her free time, MaKenzie enjoys spending time with her family. She is an avid book reader/collector, a massive New Orleans Saints fan and the proud mom to a beautiful baby boy, Wrenly, as of June 2022.


    Life Verse: “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” Proverbs 27:17

    Favorite TV Show: Game of Thrones Favorite Book: The Hunger Game series by Suzanne Collins.

  • josiah drew

    worship leader

    WORSHIPLEADER@TRINITYFWB.ORG

    Josiah was born and raised in suburban Alabama. He grew up in the church and has been playing in a church band since he was 16.  While not leading worship, Josiah is currently in performance training but his ultimate passion is spreading love and smiles! He is also passionate about applesauce. 

Employment Opportunities

We appreciate your interest in joining our Trinity UMC staff team. Please click on the below to learn about current openings.

This year-round part-time position will work with the pastoral staff and worship planning team to design meaningful contemporary worship service that will lead people to a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. The Worship Leader will lead the congregation into an atmosphere of worship that will grow the church members and disciple Jesus Christ through worship, music, and prayer.


This individual will need to have a clear testimony of faith in Jesus Christ and a vital, growing personal relationship with God. They must also have a vision for growth. This individual needs to be a team builder/player with love for God and His music. They need to have written and public communication skills and knowledge of Musical Theory and musical skills on an instrument, preferably voice, guitar, or keyboard.


PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Skill and experience leading Contemporary Worship and Rehearsals, two years or more

• Strong leadership and relational skills

• Strong communication skills

• Ability to recruit, train, and empower volunteers for a worship ministry

• Budgeting and organizational skills

• Familiar with Pro-Presenter, Loop Community Tracks, and Song Select (Song Resource Library)

• Familiar with building order of worship, maintaining song repertoire, and communication and scheduling volunteers, preferably with Planning Center


PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Plan, Coordinate, Enhance, Manage, and Lead a spirit-filled contemporary worship service each week.

2. Plan, Coordinate, Manage, and Lead a spirit-filled Praise Band rehearsal each week.

3. Keep up Planning Center details each week

4. Program Playback set each week.

5. Coordinate with the Communications & Operations Coordinator to ensure proper audition, multimedia video, lighting, and lyrical slides weekly.


Full Job description available upon request.


TRINITY UMC SUMMARY

Trinity United Methodist Church in Fort Walton Beach, FL, offers the healing, help, and hope in Jesus Christ through genuine, heartfelt worship and learning experiences. Our church is a place where all are invited to discover who God is and the purpose, He has for all of us in His story. We think Church should be one of the most engaging and exciting places on the planet—a place where people of all backgrounds can experience a God who is real and relevant in their lives today.


REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY

• Resume

• Audition Tape of Musical Abilities (singing, instrument playing, etc.)

Send resume and audition tape to Mr. Kim Allen at trinity@trinityfwb.org.