Our Vision, Values, Purpose, and Pathway

Our VISION is to be a congregation that is actively
Transforming the World from the Heart of Las Cruces.

 We VALUE highly being a…
God-centered,
Bible-inspired,
Outreach-oriented and
Kingdom-focused congregation

We believe our PURPOSE is to lead people to become Disciples of Christ who…
Know God personally
Know about God deeply
Make God known intentionally
Come to know God fully

 We offer people a PATHWAY to follow as Disciples of Christ so they can…
Grow by attending worship services

Connect by joining a small group
Serve by working in a ministry team

Reach by participating in special events

Senior Pastor

Greg Kennedy

575-526-6689

Rev. Greg Kennedy was born in Belleville, IL (a St. Louis suburb) on May 29, 1960. He graduated from Missouri Baptist College and Asbury Theological Seminary. He has pastored churches in the  Northwest Texas and New Mexico Annual Conferences for the last 25 years. He married Cindy Kennedy on December 20, 1987. She's taught school for 23 years and currently is not working outside the house. She is a burst brain aneurysm survivor and is highly allergic to wheat and wheat products. 

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We have two Children, a son (Trevor), a daughter by marriage (Daniele), a daughter (Emily), five grandchildren, and a Goldendoodle, Abigail, who believes she is a human. Our son and daughter-in-law live in Cedar Park, TX where he pastors Good News UMC and Daniele teaches high school math. Emily teaches elementary school in Oklahoma City. 

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Greg's religious background is as a Southern Baptist as a child, an Episcopalian as a young adult, and as a United Methodist when a job transfer moved us to the Texas Panhandle. The story requires a conversation because it is quite long. 

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Greg loves watching St. Louis Cardinal baseball and UNAM Pumas soccer. Both, Cindy and Greg love to travel. We look forward to our. move to Las Cruces and working with you in building the kingdom of God at St. Paul's and in the greater community.

“Pastor Paul” (as he’s been called for years) retired from active clergy status in the New Mexico Conference in 2011.  After settling in Las Cruces to be near his children he was hired part-time as the visitation pastor at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.  Though his duties have changed over the years, he still enjoys serving Jesus Christ with others, teaching the Bible, visiting the sick, and training others in how to become mature Christian disciples.  He teaches our “Discipleship Pathways” course monthly to all who wish to join the church and oversees some of St. Paul’s Care Team.

Pastoral Assistant

Paul Duerksen

paul@stpaulslascruces.com

575-541-3181/575-526-6689 x1006

Doug was born in Mississippi and grew up in Pueblo, CO and Gary, IN.  He married Rosanne Sgroi in 1977.

Doug earned his undergraduate degree from Samford University, his Master of Music and Doctorate degrees from Washington University in St. Louis, MO.  He has taught elementary school music and continues to bless the youth of Las Cruces with his originally written musicals for summer music camps and various other productions.  Dr. Weeks has worked with churches since 1974 in St. Louis, Columbus, MS and now here.

Doug and Rosanne have two children, Ryan (Baltimore, MD) and Bethany (Denver, CO)

They also have 1 dog, 1 cat, 14 chickens, 14 dove and a wonderful flower garden.  His drink of choice is iced tea.  He likes the color red, Caliche’s custard and raisins.  He prefers Wal-Mart to Target (but tries to avoid both), La Fiesta apple fritters over bagels and going to a the Fountain theater or watching a movie at home.  His favorite place to eat is Andele”s Dog House.  And the most important question asked in Las Cruces:  Red or Green…..Doug says Green!!

Director of Music & Worship Arts

Doug Weeks

575-541-3189/575-526-6689 x1009

Mark moved to Las Cruces as an infant and St. Paul's has been the only church home he has known.  His earliest memory of St. Paul's is as a preschooler in worship sitting beside his grandmother and waiting for the ‘Angels’ (choir members) to enter the choir loft in the pre-1965 sanctuary.

Mark joined St. Paul's staff in 1982 as an administrative assistant and became the Church Administrator some two years later. Mark graduated from NMSU with a BA (Sociology) and completed his certification in Church Finance and Administration from Emory University in 1993. 

Mark is married to a native Las Crucen, Lupita, and they celebrated their 40th anniversary recently.  They have 2 children, Michelle Culberson, who is married to Brian, both are teachers in the Lordsburg School District, and Brandi VerPloegh who is also married to a Brian and resides in Albuquerque.  Brandi is a Bank Examiner with the OCC and Brian is a charter school teacher.  Mark and Lupita have 1 grandchild, Mackenzie VerPloegh who was born in April 2016.

Mark believes there is still much work to be done in our community reaching people for Christ, and he looks forward to the privilege of making disciples for Christ and transforming lives from the heart of Las Cruces.

Church Administrator

Mark Ewing

575-541-3169/575-526-6689 x1002

Barbara was born in Garden City, Kansas and raised in Hobbs, New Mexico. Barbara is the proud mother of one son that lives in Albuquerque and two daughters that live in Phoenix. She has one grandson who is now 21 years old.

Barbara began her secretary position at St. Paul’s in June of 1998. What an experience it has been and she says she has made sooooo many wonderful friends.

Barbara enjoys singing in “The New Desert Harmony Chorus” where she has been on the board in many positions. She enjoys singing in trios, quartets and small groups.

Presently she has discovered altering/decorating cigar boxes and wine and liquor bottles to be a hobby she really enjoys.

Church Secretary

Barbara McDonald

575-541-3179/575-526-6689 x1004

Sheila Skinner is a Certified Lay Minister in the UMC New Mexico Conference, El Paso, TX District and currently serves as the Director of Student Ministries at St. Paul's.

2010-2015 Sheila was the Director of Children's ministries at Hobbs First UMC as well as the dean of King's Kids Camp at Sacramento Assembly. 

Sheila is the mother of three sons, two daughter in laws, a grandson and Rebel the Pug. She and her husband Rev. Darren have been in ministry for over 20 years together. Rev. Darren has been in ministry for 30 years. 

Director of Youth Ministries

Sheila Skinner

575-541-3184/575-526-6689 x1008

Sheryl Barham is a teacher with 15 years of experience. She works part-time as a reading specialist for the local elementary charter school. She has a degree in Elementary Education and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction. She is married to Sean and is the mother of two little girls.  As a family, they enjoy reading together, watching movies, hiking, birding, camping, traveling, playing board games, and baking. Sheryl loves Mexican food, especially queso, yoga and Zumba, reading suspense novels, spending time with her family, and coffee… lots of coffee. Sheryl and her family have attended St. Paul’s since 2012. Sheryl joined the staff as Director of Children’s Ministry in 2017. Her teaching experience has helped her to understand the organization, planning, and management of resources and volunteers that make her suited for this position. She loves working with children and engaging them in hands-on ministry and creative bible teaching to help develop the next generation of disciples. She looks forward to continuing to grow the children’s ministries of St. Paul’s.

Director of Children's Ministries

Sheryl Barnham

575-541-3182/575-526-6689 x1007

My name is Kendra Robb, I recently accepted the position of Director at the Child

Development Center here at St. Paul's. I am blessed and excited to be here! I have

3 daughters who have absolutely enriched my life: Trinity age 9, Serenity age 8,

and DJ age 9.

I have been passionate about working with children since I was a young girl. I feel

blessed to play such an important role in educating and caring for young children.

I have worked with children of all ages over the past 20 years, and I have grown in

my profession from teaching Sunday School, to getting my degree, and then being

the Lead Teacher in Infant, Toddler, and Preschool classrooms. I believe in going

above and beyond for families and meeting their individual needs. I believe that

each child is an individual and as an educator I value and develop each child's

strengths, interests, skills, abilities, and knowledge to extend their learning. I

believe that children learn through play, and curriculum should be play based to

allow for authentic observations and growth in children. I love this work and plan

to continue my own personal growth and strive to be the best in every role

throughout the field of Early Childhood Education.