Meet the team
As they say, it takes a village! We are blessed at First UMC Newton to have a gifted and dedicated staff. It is our goal to empower the church to follow Christ where he leads us.
Rev. Josh Sherfey
Senior Pastor
A Duke graduate, triathlete, private pilot, music lover, and travel enthusiast. Josh has been at FUMC since March of 2020. He is married to Dr. Shannon Sherfey who is one of the partners at Newton Family Physicians.
Rev. Sara Beth Pannell
Minister of Discipleship
A UNC Chapel Hill graduate, Sara Beth felt called to ministry as part of the Wesley Campus Ministry. She is recently married to Jake and resides in Taylorsville with their dog Josie. She has served churches from Apex, to Sanford, to Pittsboro.
Beverly Underwood
Church Administrator
Beverly is originally from Catawba County and is married to Randy, has 2 children and 2 grandchildren. She is the first person you meet in the church office, has a million responsibilities and manages to keep us all straight!
Jennifer Sigmon
Preschool Director
Jennifer is honored to serve as the Preschool Director at Newton Methodist Preschool. With more than 20 years of experience in early childhood education, she is passionate about nurturing young children in a safe, loving, and Christ-centered environment where they can learn, grow, and experience God's love. Jennifer has been married to her husband, Michael, for 26 years and together they have two adult sons, Noah and Jonah. She also loves being "Gigi" to her granddaughter and looks forward to welcoming another grandchild soon.
Cammie Adams
Director of Music
Cammie is a former Lake Junaluska Singer; has received opera contracts with the VA Opera Company, The Washington Opera at the Kennedy Cetner and The Spoleto Festival; and currently teaches Theater and Chorus at Maiden High School! She and her husband, Scott, live in Newton with Cameron (23) and Cadence (17) and their 2 goldendoodles!
Kayla Jenkins
Assistant Director of Music
Kayla recently joined First Newton and provides not just expert accompaniment but does so with the work of the Spirit always in mind and heart. Her husband Chandler is a teacher.
Hank Weddington
Praise Team Leader
While there is an academic and serious side of Hank, who is a dean at Lenoir Rhyne University by day; by night (and early Sunday morning) he is a guitar hero and praise band leader! He is married to Monica and lives in Hickory.
Gina King
Director of Communications
Gina is a proud graduate of Appalachian State University . She lives in Hickory and is married to her husband, Scott. Gina is a full time NC Real Estate Broker with over 29 years of experience and works at Realty Executives Hickory & Lake Norman.