First United Methodist Church of Stuart
The Team
Meet Our Staff!
Jeff Bennett
Senior Pastor
Rev. Jeff Bennett has served First UMC Stuart for 5 years. Jeff has a deep desire to see people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ and believes that getting involved in a small group Bible study is key to this growth. He loves seeing God use the church to transform the world!
Before coming to First UMC Jeff served 13 years as lead pastor of Ponte Vedra UMC near Jacksonville. He has been a pastor for over 20 years and worked for ten years as a software engineer prior to hearing God's call to pastoral ministry. Jeff and his wife Jill have three children, Abby, Sophie, and Spencer.
Thomas Green
Minister of Music
For over twenty years, Thomas Green has led engaging worship to all age groups in the United Methodist church. He has served as our director of worship since 2015, when he moved to Stuart with his son, Noah. Being born into a military family gave Thomas a diverse background living in Idaho, California, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and now Florida. He holds a bachelor’s in music, master’s in psychology, and is currently pursing a Ph.D. in psychology at Keiser University.
Chrissy Stanley
Administrator
Chrissy was born and raised in Clarkston, Michigan. She moved to Florida in 1995. After 9/11 she realized that life was fragile and she wanted to rekindle her relationship with Jesus, so began her search for a church here in Florida. Chrissy found FUMC Stuart a few months later and has been a member ever since and considers this church and the people in it her family. Chrissy sings in the choir, is on the praise team and rings hand bells. She is also apart of a small group that she loves. Chrissy is married to George and they have two children Annie and Tyler.
Sam Noonan
Director of Preschool
Sam has served in the field of Early Childhood for twenty-five years from being a licensed home childcare provider when her youngest was born, to working at First United Methodist Church in Port Orange, FL as Children’s Ministry Director and implementing a Preschool Program, to joining the staff at First United Methodist in Stuart serving as Director of our amazing Preschool. She love working with children and families and feels that God has called her to this ministry!
She and her husband are blessed to have 3 sons and a daughter-in-law, and most recently her first grandchild was born.
Shelby Trembly
Director of Student Ministries
Shelby was born and raised in Palm City, Florida. FUMC Stuart has been her church home for over 20 years. While pursuing her AA in Dance at Indian River State College, she was the Music Intern at FUMC Stuart. She then transferred to the University of Florida to continue studying Dance and Event Management. During her collegiate career she worked at Warren Willis United Methodist Church Camp for two summers as a camp counselor. Shelby then finished off her last internship for school being the Youth and Music Intern at FUMC of Stuart. She graduated from the University of Florida in August of 2021. Shelby has always had a passion for working with kids, and is a dance teacher in Stuart and Vero Beach.
