Meet the Staff
 |
Scott Sutherland Senior Minister Scott Sutherland is the Senior Minister of Forum. As Senior Minister, Scott is the primary preaching/teaching minister on the staff – he sets the tone, the vision, and is to set the pace for the ministry. Scott has served in ministry since 1985 and that service has taken him all over the world leading, teaching, and helping to equip other church leaders in ministry. He’s written for various church magazines and newspapers. In his down time you might find him on a tennis court, golfing, playing chess, kicking a soccer ball with some of his kids, or reading. His wife, Melody, and their five children strive to live for God daily. Both Scott and Melody are graduates of Johnson Bible College with B.A.’s, a B.S., and M.A.s. Melody currently teaches grade 8 at Jefferson Junior High school. As a family, they strive to integrate faith and living for God daily. |
 |
Associate Minister Jared has been the Associate Minister at Forum since July of 2007. He graduated from Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, Tennessee with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Studies & Preaching. Jared grew up in Missouri and is the third generation of preachers in his family. His responsibilities at Forum include preaching, teaching, and encouraging others to take the next step in connecting to Jesus. He hosts a Sunday morning class during the 11:00 hour for college-age and young adults. Jared married his beautiful wife, Katrina, in June of 2007. His hobbies include reading, drinking strong coffee, hiking, and snow skiing. |
 |
Bill Fussner Worship Minister Bill is from Columbia and joined this congregation when his family moved here in 1978. God called Bill to a life of ministry in his late 20's at which point he attended Central Christian College. He graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor's Degree in Christian Ministry and joined the Forum staff at that time. Bill is passionate about worshipping Jesus and loves to sing and speak about His greatness. He can also be found from time to time playing the drums for the worship team where he has the most fun. The other aspect of his ministry is that of Pastoral Care. Bill can be contacted for personal spiritual counseling and feels called to walk with others in their struggles. When he's not at church Bill loves spending time with his wife Heidi and four year old son Will. He also enjoys their three dogs, hunting, fishing, cooking, and attending live music performances. |
 |
Sr. High Youth Director Justin can easily be found at any coffee shop around Columbia, if he is ever lost, this is where people start looking. It takes a lot of caffeine to keep up with high schoolers, but Justin gets just enough to help him succeed. He has many areas of involvement around FCC including: youth, children, speaking and worship. Justin graduated from Ozark Christian College in 2000 with a Bachelor of Biblical Literature degree. In his free time he likes to chase his yorkies, Rocky and Rolley, around the neighborhood and make photoshopped pictures of other staff members in funny situations. He considers his relationship with Christ the number one priority and wants to tell others of the peace in Jesus that he has found. |
 |
Jr. High Youth Director Jody loves energy. He loves being around energy, and what better place to be for energy than in junior high youth? The 6th-8th grade students hold a special love in Jody’s heart, because their faith shows us all what our faith should be like, seeking God with the heart of a child. Jody teaches Sunday school, teaches and speaks at Synergy Sunday nights, sponsors for the senior high youth on Wednesday nights and helps with the Tuesday night men’s basketball group. He has been at Forum since 2005. He has degrees from Western Kentucky University and Virginia Tech as well as graduate experience at Mizzou and Central Christian College of the Bible. He looks forward to being married soon to Kara and starting a family someday. So, just like with our faith walk, all things are looking up right now. |
 | Jessie Spellman Nursery/Preschool Director Jessie is a “take each day as it comes” kind of gal and has enjoyed the variety of paths God has taken her down thus far. She grew up in a small rural congregation in Illinois where her father was the minister and she quickly learned from the examples of the people around her that serving the church with your gifts is a both a joy and a blessing. Jessie moved to Columbia with her parents in 1990 and quickly became active serving in Forum’s children’s ministry in a variety of capacities. Forum is where she met her husband Steven, a rare lifetime Columbia resident and they now are parents of four children: Isaiah, Huston, Avery and Lillie. Jessie graduated from the University of Missouri with a major in Elementary Education and just a few credits shy of an additional major of Early Childhood Education. She is our Nursery/Preschool Director and absolutely loves the creative process of coming up with new ways to help parents become the spiritual leaders of their family. |
 |
Ted Mountjoy Discipleship Minister When Ted became a Christian at thirty, he devoted his life to helping others have a closer relationship with Christ and His people. He graduated from the Sunset School of Biblical Studies, the Sunset School of Missions, and received his BA in Biblical studies from York College. After helping to establish three churches in northern Wisconsin, Ted served with five other churches, in two of which he was their Life Group minister. As Forum's Discipleship Minister, Ted connects people to life groups and to ministries, and serves as a resource and encourager for the life group leaders. Ted and his wife, Janet, have four children and fifteen grandchildren. He enjoys time with his family, camping, and working on his home and yard. |
 |
Marlowe Schlegel Director of Operations After a career with the USDA, Marlowe was called to volunteer his time and skills to help the ministry at Forum. God is using his life and work experiences to assist and support the leadership team. Staff members affectionately refer to him as the “Do Guy” which fits as he just does things. With focus on operations, his time and energy is spent on the business side of church activities. Marlowe and his wife Judy have two children plus one “adopted” son. They enjoy time with their grandson and look forward to grandson number two. Marlowe enjoys music, flower gardening, ebaying, and following the MU Tigers, Cubs, Bears and Carl Edwards. |
 |
Office Administrator Carolyn is the office administrator. She, her husband, and two children became members of Forum in 1990. Her husband, Dan, is an elder of the church. They also lead a Life Group at their home. She attends the Hooked on Jesus class that Dan co-leads. Carolyn also is a facilitator for the Tuesday evening women’s Bible study. Her interests include her seven grandsons and one granddaughter, traveling, eating out, and occasionally working in the yard. |
 |
Helen Stevens Receptionist Helen Stevens is our receptionist. This includes answering the many phone calls and doing all the time-consuming jobs for each ministry, such as stuffing and labeling newsletters, cutting and organizing children’s crafts, gathering statistics each Sunday and posting them for the staff, and the list goes on...) She also keeps the candy jar filled for the money counters on Sunday and our plants living and thriving in the office entryway which doubles as her office. Her husband Tom leads a Life Group here at the church on Wednesday nights and they attend the Rhema Class on Sunday Morning. Helen and Tom have been members of Forum since 1974. They have 3 grown children with 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. She enjoys family, reading, and knitting. |
 |
Financial Secretary
Melanie is financial secretary here at the church. That means she pays the bills and keep all the accounts in balance. She married Jim Abernathy in 1996, moved to Columbia and has been at the church ever since. She is a member of the Disciples Class that Jim teaches and they have a Life Group that meets in their home. She and Jim have four grown sons. Melanie loves camping, family reunions, and fishing with her husband. |
 |
Secretary Melinda is the secretary for the ministers on staff. She prepares the weekly bulletins, announcements, newsletters and so much more. She is in a Life Group and attends the Maranatha Class taught by Ted Mountjoy. She is also with a G!Group that gets together twice a month for food and games. She is the mom of one grown son, Britton. She loves eating out with friends, going to movies, reading and preparing taxes. |
| All Photos courtesy of Schmidt Photo |