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)

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. 

Jessica McClung was born and raised here in Fort Walton Beach and grew up in First United Methodist Church. Jessica is a 2020 Northwest Florida State College alumni with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Project Management. After graduation, she was able to get her foot in the door on Eglin AFB as a contractor. Jessica has always had a heart for children and received her calling to ministry work while she was a leader at Blue Lake during a summer camp for students and has now answered her calling by taking on the role of kid ministries here at Trinity. In her free time, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family (specifically her new niece). She also loves to spend time outdoors playing disc golf or going to the beach to watch sunsets. Jessica is a Florida Gators fan and spends her Saturdays watching college football with friends and family.

Life Verse: “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 46:10

Ben J. Savage is a worship leader, arranger, and producer dedicated to crafting meaningful worship experiences at Trinity United Methodist Church, where he oversees the church’s worship arts as minister. He received his call to worship leading on a Chrysalis flight conducted at Blue Lake Methodist Camp in Andalusia, AL, in July of 2000.

Ben graduated as valedictorian in Audio Production from Full Sail University. He is pursuing a master’s degree in worship studies at the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, deepening his understanding of biblical, theological, and historical foundations for worship. His leadership is rooted in a commitment to vibrant worship and intentional discipleship. He aims to foster authentic community and transformational leadership within the church. In 2025, he will discern his call to pastor in the United Methodist Church.

He is married to his wonderful wife, Angelina Savage, who accompanies him on Sunday mornings with her beautiful voice. Ben has four kids: Nathan, Ryan, Lillian, and Bethany, a granddaughter, Tahali, and two furbabies, Ashoka and Luna.

Besides long walks on the beach, Ben loves playing guitar, singing, Florida State Seminoles and Tennessee Titans, and volunteering with student ministry—an advocate for good food and theme parks.

Life Verse: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.” - Romans 12:12

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

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. 

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. 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 traveling, spending time with her family, watching Saints football and reading. 

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

Leigh (Johnson) Rice has been the director of JOY at Joyful Place Community Respite since 2022. She's a native of Okaloosa County, born and raised in Ft. Walton Beach, and currently resides in Shalimar with her husband of 31 years, Brian. Leigh graduated from Choctawhatchee High School and the University of South Alabama with a Master's Degree in Therapeutic Recreation. 

She's spent much of her 30-year career working with senior adults and has a specific gift for connecting with people living with dementia. Leigh and Brian have two sons, Evan (wife, Chloe) and Eric, and numerous dogs, goldfish and granddogs. Leigh volunteers for a local dachshund rescue and loves boating, fishing, thrifting/antiquing, weekends at Lake Seminole, and traveling near and far with friends and family.

Life Verse: "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the  bones." Proverbs 17

;22

Forrest L. Oliver is the Assistant Director of Joyful Place Respite Ministry. Forrest was an active volunteer for years before taking on the role of assistant in 2024. 

She feels being a part of respite gives her an opportunity to give back to the community in an area that is special to her. Forrest's mom and family members dealt with Alzheimer's/ Dementia for years, so she feels as though it is her calling to serve. I grew up in the Methodist church, so this feels like home. In my free time, I love being outdoors and traveling. 

Life Verse: "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11