Rev. Thomas W. Newman

Degrees: Bachelor of Arts, 1992. Magna Cum Laude. Elon College, Master of Divinity, 1995. Duke University: The Divinity School.

Appointed June of 1995: Full Time, Licensed Local Pastor (La Grange UMC, La Grange, NC)Ordained a Deacon in June of 1996, Ordained an Elder in June of 1998.
Appointed pastor of Angier UMC in June of 1999.
Appointed pastor of Salem UMC in June of 2006
Member of NC Annual Conference (of the UMC) Board of Institutions (oversees colleges, retirement homes/centers, camps and other UMC owned/affiliated institutions in NC.)

Personal:
Married to Marcie Anne Cantwell Newman (May 23, 1999), two sons; Joshua (May 7, 2003) and Elijah (October 25, 2005)

You may reach Pastor Tom at tom@salemmethodist.org

Mindy Stoica - Administrative Assistant

Mindy has been with Salem Methodist since August of 2002.  Prior to moving to Greenville in 1998 she lived in Atlanta Georgia and worked at the Territorial Headquarters of the Salvation Army in the Property Department in Accounting for 3 years and with Georgia Pacific Corp in Suffolk, Virginia for 7 years in human resources and accounting.

She was married to Alex Stoica in 1998 and they have two beautiful children, Darian & A.J.  Alex is a journeyman with Yongue Electric and has been employed with them since February of 1998.

As a child of Salvation Army officers, Majors Joseph & Annie Carawan, she has lived in many different areas including Texas, West Virginia & Virginia and is very familiar with the ins & outs of the church.  

Please feel free to contact her if you have any special needs or requests.

Mindy can be reached at mindy@salemmethodist.org

Brigitte Freeman Morris – Children Minister

Degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Christian Education, cum laude, Centenary College of Louisiana. Masters of Arts in Christian Education and Master of Divinity, Methodist Theological School in Ohio.

Centenary School of Church Careers, Certification in Children’s Ministries. Consecrated Diaconal Minister; 1985.  Certified Minister of Christian Education, 1986. Ordained Deacon in Full Connection*; 1998.

Churches served in the North Carolina Conference: St. Paul UMC, Goldsboro; First UMC, Morehead City; Oxford UMC, Oxford; First UMC, Washington; Salem UMC, Simpson.

I am a Texas native but have happily called North Carolina my home for over 25 years. My husband, Graham, is from Atlantic, North Carolina. He is currently Security Team Leader at Cypress Glen retirement home. I am employed part-time at Dixon Social Interactive Services, working with young people with behavioral and mental health diagnoses. While the majority of my ministry has been with persons of all ages (focus on children and youth); it is a joy to focus on my first love, children’s ministry.

*Deacons in Full Connection came into existence through the 1996 Book of Discipline. “Deacons are persons called by God, authorized by the church, and ordained by a bishop to a lifetime ministry of Word and Service to both the community and the congregation in a ministry that connects the two”. Deacons, unlike elders, seek their own positions which must be approved by the Bishop who appoints them to that position. Deacons serve in a variety of settings: education, music, chaplains, ministry organizations, to name a few. Joy Melton, attorney and author of the Safe Sanctuary materials, is a deacon in full connection.

You may contact Brigitte at brigitte@salemmethodist.org

Jody Paramore - Youth Minister

It is so good to be back at Salem with the opportunity to serve as youth minister!  I believe that God has been preparing me for this opportunity a long time.  I can see how He has orchestrated events in my life, like a master conductor, to bring me to this point in His plan for me.  His faithfulness is overwhelming and His goodness beyond compare! 

Salem is a very special place to me.  I spent about 20 years of my life growing up in Christ at Salem Church.  I am grateful to everyone that sowed seed into my life and have continued to reap the benefits.  I have been ministering to youth for most of the ten years or so I've been away from Salem.  I led the youth group at Salem before leaving but have since worked with youth at another church, as well.  In addition to that experience, while teaching at South Central High School I led a student ministry named Students & Athletes for Christ for about four years.  This opportunity was challenging and rewarding as I helped equip students to live for Jesus outside of their churches.  I've had the privilege to help lead ministry to students at summer camps, also.

I have a bachelor's and master's degree in science education, and I'm currently serving my 11th year as a high school science teacher.  I enjoy working with teenagers and believe it's God's will for my life to be a presence for Him in the trenches of public school.  I have been married to my beautiful wife, Stephanie, for almost 13 years.  We have three children the Lord has blessed us with.  Our daughter, Chloe (4), is the big sister and we also have Luke (3) & Ethan (1) who are her little brothers.

I am looking forward to connecting and reconnecting with the Salem family.  I believe God has given me a vision for our youth ministry, and I'm looking forward to seeing Him do His part as I'm obedient to His leadership.  In addition to serving in youth ministry, I will be helping to lead praise and worship during our services.  If you'd like to be a part of Salem's worship team, and can commit to meeting once a week outside of Sunday mornings, please e-mail or give me a call ASAP.  I'm looking for musicians and singers.  If you sing and/or play guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, etc., then please contact me if you'd like to serve on this team.  Finally, parents please contact me if you have children in the youth program.  I'd love to communicate with all parents of our youth before I officially start January 3rd, 2010.  Anyone can contact me at jody@salemmethodist.org or call me at (252) 864-6486.

Reverend Tom Newman

Mindy Stoica

Brigitte Morris

Jody Paramore