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

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 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.