Our Team
Jimmy Allen - Lead Pastor
Jimmy@woodbinechurch.org
Pastor Jimmy Allen became the Lead Pastor at Woodbine Church in June of 2011. He has been married to his beautiful wife, Anita, since 1982. They are the parents of three remarkable children. Their daughter Crystal is married to their son-in-love, Wayne, and they have three children, Jacob, Grant, and Faithlynn. Their daughter Dana is married to their son-in-love Neil, and they have one son, Barrett Jameson. Their youngest child is their son Joshua, and he is married to their daughter-in-love, Danielle, and they have one son, Fisher Leon. Pastor Jimmy began preaching in 1981 and has been a pastor in the church 1983. Pastor Jimmy graduated from Benjamin Russell High School in 1981. He attended the University of West Alabama (formerly Livingston University), graduating in 1988 with a BS in Education. Pastor Jimmy continued to pursue his education in seminary and graduated from Memphis Theological Seminary with an M.Div. in 1994 and Wesley Biblical Seminary with an M.A. in Christian Studies in 1995. Pastor Jimmy received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Bethany Divinity College and Seminary in 2006. Pastor Jimmy loves to travel with Anita and continues to enjoy their dates wherever they go. The joy of Pastor Jimmy and Anita’s lives is their family, and they love spending time with them every chance they get. They especially enjoy spoiling those wonderful grandbabies. Pastor Jimmy also enjoys reading, riding his motorcycle, woodworking, hunting, fishing and playing golf.
Brenda Lewis - Executive Pastor
Brenda@woodbinechurch.org
Brenda Lewis is a native of the Pensacola area and a graduate of Leavell College in New Orleans, Louisiana with a Bachelor’s Degree in Christian Ministries. She has served in the past as Director of a Preschool and Administrative Pastor in one of our local churches. She and her husband, Michael H. Lewis have a daughter and son-in-law, Sheena & Richard Faircloth, and a delightful granddaughter, Kinsley Grace and grandson, Brycen Michael. Brenda and Michael also own Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio in Pace. Brenda desires to see future generations grow in their knowledge of our Lord by providing exciting opportunities that build both faith and families.
Brenda would like the church to be empowered with the knowledge of the Lord and each to know their spiritual giftedness so we all could be about God’s work together.
Chrissie Lindholm -
Worship Minister
Chrissie@woodbinechurch.org
Chrissie Lindholm grew up in Pace and loves this community. After searching for a church that felt like “home,” Chrissie and her husband, Bill and their children, Veronica and William, first came to Woodbine in 2008. In 2009, Chrissie joined the music ministry team. Her passion for the Lord and joy in leading worship grew during the years she served faithfully on the worship team and in the fall of 2015, she was asked to serve as Woodbine’s interim Worship Minister. In January of 2016, Chrissie was humbled to be asked to take on the role permanently. Chrissie sees worship as the place where we come together in joyous surrender to our Heavenly Father. Her desire each week is for the Holy Spirit to move among us that we may feel His presence and know Him more intimately.
Chrissie believes that we have the great honor and responsibility as Christ-followers to be the reflection of God’s love, grace, and mercy in the world. Her “life verse” is Psalm 37:4 which reads, “Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Her prayer is that we find joy in Him that He would fix our eyes, hearts, and deeds on what He calls us to do.
Sam Soutullo - Media Minister
Sam@woodbinechurch.org
Sam grew up in Pace and graduated from Pace High School in 2013. Woodbine felt like the place to be and was quickly made his home church in 2007. From that moment on, Sam deeply involved himself in every aspect of the youth. He discovered his passion for leadership and ministry through youth events such as Revive, where he was asked to council younger staff and campers as well as be a role model, by setting a Christ-like example. Sam feels we are all uniquely qualified to lead due to the individual struggles each of us have had to face in our lives. Every success and failure is a tool that shapes us into the work of art we were created to be.
Who we are is only a stepping stone to what we can become.
Ann Thames - Family & Children’s Minister
Annt@woodbinechurch.org
Ann Thames joined our team as Children’s Minister January 2015 and brings with her over 20 years of experience in children’s ministry. Not only is she a graduate of UWF with a B.A. in Communications Arts she also completed a two-year paraprofessional course through the Alabama-West Florida Conference; The Academy of Children’s Ministry. Ann has a great passion for ministering to children and their families and has a great appreciation for the arts. In her free time, you may find her either painting (acrylics), bird watching, or kayaking
Ann is married to Chuck Thames. They have two sons, Zach and Ben, a daughter-in-law Patricia, and their four grandchildren, Phoebe and James, Nora, & Moriah
Dianna Smiga - Early Childhood Minister
Dianna@woodbinechurch.org
Dianna was born and raised in Linden Michigan, and after graduation, she joined the Navy in July of 1995. She was a plane captain and jet engine mechanic stationed in San Diego California, and while there she met her best friend and future husband, Keith. After serving four years she moved back to Michigan to attend Michigan State University and studied Fisheries and Wildlife specializing in wolf behavior. Dianna moved to Texas in 2003 and started working at the San Antonio Zoo. Keith and she were married, and we were blessed twice with daughters. In 2010 we moved our family to Pace FL for Keith’s job transfer to NAS Pensacola. Our family has been attending Woodbine UMC since 2012 and I have served in Kidz for the last 5 years.
We will be celebrating our 17th year anniversary this July and our daughters are Sydney who is 15, and Sara who is 12. Currently, we have 2 cats, a dog, and this past Christmas welcomed two fancy mice to the family that has been lovingly named Saltine and Swiss. Dianna likes to read and go on hikes with her family. A few years ago, God placed on her heart to make puppets. So, in her free time, she enjoys creating and sewing finger puppets and donating them to children.
John Lowe - Missions Minister
John@woodbinechurch.org
Born and raised in Texas, John earned his degree from Lee College in Baytown, Texas. Excited about traveling and seeing new places, John has lived in Texas, Tennessee, and Florida, where he later settled in the Pensacola area in 2003. After moving to Florida, John became a land surveyor, and during that time met his wife and were married in 2006. After seven years of land surveying, he and his wife started a commercial cleaning company, gaining contracts with government and other businesses cleaning newly built buildings. Their company was hired to clean the newly built Woodbine UMC Worship Center, and they were drawn to the staff and congregation. Two years later, in March of 2013, John joined the team.
As Missions Minister, John is responsible for the outreach programs and mission trips of the church. John’s heart to reach the lost has taken him to Haiti, starting in 2013, and later Guatemala, in 2018, and he is excited about the doors that God will open in other locations domestic and foreign. He’s excited to see where God takes him and uses him to further His Kingdom, both locally and abroad and feels blessed to get to serve Him here at Woodbine.
Ann Johnson - Administrative Minister
Anniej@woodbinechurch.org
Ann Johnson moved to Florida 20 years ago from Maine. Once settled here, a close friend suggested they visit Woodbine. Ann started here as an office volunteer once a week. After serving in that capacity for 4 years, she took a position as Administrative assistant, working afternoons. The Financial Secretary position became available and she decided, that if they would have her, she would put her accounting degree to work. The rest is history. She and her husband, Kevin, love to spend their spare time being grandparents, RVing and Off Roading, and hang out with friends.
Her favorite saying: Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion for the world is to look out; yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good, and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.” ~Saint Teresa of Avila
Trey Riley - Youth Minister
Trey@woodbinechurch.org
Trey grew up in Spanish Fort where he developed a passion for Christ and youth ministry. After participating in youth and attending Revive camp, Trey continued in youth ministry, joining the leadership team in Spanish Fort and stepping into a counselor position at Revive. Trey graduated from Troy University in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Business/Marketing and joined the Woodbine family in 2022. Trey has a love for scripture and discipleship and is excited at the opportunity to inspire this same love in Woodbine students!
Thomas Vick - College & Young Adult Minister
Ione Barninger - Administrative Assistant
Ione was born July 10, 1938 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She met her husband in December 1956. They were married for 59 years. They have 4 children, 2 sons and 2 daughters, grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren and 2 great, great grandchildren.
She lived in Harrisburg, PA. then moved to Elgin, Illinois due to husband’s job, then to Pensacola, Florida. opened a business in 1974 Harrison’s Paint; Wall Covering. For 10 years Ione was responsible for sales and setup for instillation. Closed the business in 1985. Went to work for TGNY Sales Department jewelry; freight for 1 year. Ione then got a job at a new company, Walmart, as department manager for jewelry. After 3 years she was helping set up in new stores. After 5 years with Walmart she was promoted to District Manager for jewelry and shoes in 7 stores. In 2004 changes were made in the company. She then went to work in eyecare divisions for 1 year. She retired from Walmart after 20 years.
Ione has been with Woodbine Church since 2012, she started as a volunteer answering the phone and doing odd jobs. She is now Administrative Assistant. “I love what I do it keeps me busy and feeling useful.”
Patty Hall - Administrative Assistant
Patty was born and raised in Gardiner, Maine. She has been married to her husband Lance for 48 years, they have two grown sons, two lovely daughters-in-law, and 9 grandchildren. After she graduated from high school, she and Lance married, and she started on the journey of being a Navy Wife. She worked a variety of jobs in the 23 years, and moved to nine duty stations, Honolulu, Hawaii, Argentina, Newfoundland, and Ceiba, Puerto Rico is the most memorable.
She moved to Pace in 1997 when Lance retired from the Navy. Worked at AAA Auto Club and retired after 17 years. Patty likes to walk, work in the yard, read and shoot darts. Shortly before the pandemic, Patty started attending Woodbine Church wanting to find a church family closer to her home. She was inspired by the love for Jesus she saw in the church. In February 2021 she was hired as an Administrative Assistant and is extremely grateful for the opportunity to work, learn and grow in her knowledge of God beside a God-fearing staff.
Misty Baker - Administrative Assistant
I am just beginning my career in church administration. My background is in the medical profession where I studied many aspects of the Radiology department. I have also held a position in scheduling, and I don’t recommend it.
My passion is making people laugh along with me. I enjoy seeing others smile. I have discovered I really enjoy the creative expression that comes with this admin position.
My currant favorite verse is: Lord, when doubts fill my mind, when my heart is in turmoil, quiet me and give me renewed hope and cheer. Psalms 94:19
Michelle Hinnant - Custodian
Matt Hayden - Publication Assistant
Matt was born in the Pensacola area and resided in Gulf Breeze for 26 years. He attended Gulf Breeze public schools there and after High School worked for several years at the ARC’s Pollak Training Center in Pensacola and then at Gulf Breeze UMC’s Community Life Center on Hwy 98. After Hurricane Ivan flooded their family home in 2004, he and his family moved to Navarre for a year before moving to Pace with his parents in December 2005. He initially volunteered at both Pace FUMC and Woodbine UMC, but now is at Woodbine exclusively.
Matt absolutely loves his “work” and his involvement as part of the Woodbine family. He currently provides assistance on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings in areas of facilities maintenance and administrative support.
Matt’s favorite pastimes are surfing the internet, playing Wii Sports on the TV, and playing baseball on a “Miracle League” ball team. Go Rangers!