Matt Hull was born in Baltimore, MD, but has been in Florida since he was 7. He received a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences with a focus on Diversity Studies from The University of West Florida. He was in retail management before entering full time ministry. He joined the Trinity staff in 2006. You will always find him in a polo, shorts, and flip flops no matter the weather. He is married to Shannon and together they have a daughter, Justice. He loves disc golf, watching Orioles baseball, traveling, and grilling.

Life verse: Ephesians 4:29 (NIV) - “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Favorite Movie: Star Wars 4-6

Favorite Book: Blue Like Jazz - Donald Miller

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 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 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 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

Jacque Schlageter has been a part of the Trinity staff since 2016. Originally from Huntington Beach, CA, Jacque spent a majority of her life in Ft. Walton Beach, FL with a few years spent in the Middle East. These years spent overseas developed a love for traveling and Jacque has been fortunate to visit many different countries and experience various cultures around the world. She has a passion for animal rescue and has been volunteering and fostering dogs with the Saving with Soul organization since 2017. She describes this experience as being the “best and most rewarding experience in my lifetime”. She typically has 4 dogs (3 + 1 foster) and 2 cats at home. Jacque loves being outdoors and active, growing up a competitive swimmer, she has worked with the Okaloosa County Beach Safety as a lifeguard part-time since 2014.

Life Mantra: “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”

Favorite Movie: The Martian

Favorite Book: Lone Survivor

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 which she has done for the last 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 Food: Pina Rellena de Pollo from Chapala’s Mexican Restaurant Niceville, FL.

Katie Emerson is a homegrown product of Fort Walton Beach, FL. Katie joined our church in 2011 when she became part of our youth group after being invited by a friend. Moving forward after graduating from high school, she began serving as a youth volunteer in 2013. Shortly thereafter, Katie started to volunteer with our contemporary worship team and it was at that moment she knew leading worship would always be apart of her life in some capacity. She considers it pure joy to help others experience Jesus through music. Katie loves people with all she has and serving has always been a big part of her heart. In addition to serving others at Trinity, Katie is also a health coach where she gets the opportunity to help others live their lives the way God intended by helping them get healthy in all areas. She loves all things The Office and if you're around her enough, you may just get to hear a few movie/tv quotes inserted into the conversation. In her free time, you'll catch her watching reality TV shows, watching football or working on a DIY project.

Life Verse: "He can. He will. But even if, God is still good." Daniel 3:17

Favorite Movie: Steel Magnolias

Favorite Book: To Kill A Mockingbird