Team
Our Pastoral Team
Dr. Kevin Conrad
Senior Pastor
Dr. Kevin Conrad is in his 38th year of pastoral ministry in the United Methodist Church, most of which was spent in the Memphis Conference of the UMC. His appointments include Humboldt-Gadsden Extended Ministry, Follis Chapel-Union Charge, Mullins Associate, Adamsville First, Grace-Jackson ( a new church where he was founding pastor, 1994-2001), Covington First, Covenant in Cordova (Memphis area), Memphis Conference Director of Connectional Ministries and New Church Development, and Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Milan, Tennessee. Dr. Kevin attained his undergraduate at Lambuth College, his MDiv at Vanderbilt Divinity School, and completed the DMin program Wesley Theological Seminary in 2019. He is married to Kathy Conrad and has two children, Daniel and Chelsea. Kevin and Kathy have one small dog, Daisy. They enjoy travel, history, hiking, kayaking, creative hobbies, restoring antiques, reading, cooking, genealogy and missional involvement.
Rev. Rob Wheeler
Minister of Discipleship and Engagement
Rev. Rob Wheeler is a life-long United Methodist and a second-career pastor who began his work in the church as the Director of Youth Ministries at Cookeville First in 2016 before his appointment as Associate Pastor in 2017. Rob is a Goodlettsville, TN native and graduate of Tennessee Tech University and United Theological Seminary. He and his wife Beth have three children – Graham, Isaac, and Mariah. Rob loves going to dinner with his wife, watching movies and playing chess with his oldest, playing tennis and video games with his younger son, and pretty well does everything his daughter tells him to do. Rob has a passion for working to restore the credibility and influence of the church, teaching, and building Christian connections and relationships.
Our Ministry Leaders
Our Support Team
Scripture Reading: Paul's Letter to Philemon
Greeting
From Paul, who is a prisoner for the cause of Christ Jesus, and our brother Timothy.
To Philemon our dearly loved coworker, Apphia our sister, Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church that meets in your house.
May the grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Paul’s prayer for Philemon
Philemon, I thank my God every time I mention you in my prayers because I’ve heard of your love and faithfulness, which you have both for the Lord Jesus and for all God’s people. I pray that your partnership in the faith might become effective by an understanding of all that is good among us in Christ. I have great joy and encouragement because of your love, since the hearts of God’s people are refreshed by your actions, my brother.
Paul’s appeal for Onesimus
Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to command you to do the right thing, I would rather appeal to you through love. I, Paul—an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus— appeal to you for my child Onesimus. I became his father in the faith during my time in prison. He was useless to you before, but now he is useful to both of us. I’m sending him back to you, which is like sending you my own heart. I considered keeping him with me so that he might serve me in your place during my time in prison because of the gospel. However, I didn’t want to do anything without your consent so that your act of kindness would occur willingly and not under pressure. Maybe this is the reason that Onesimus was separated from you for a while so that you might have him back forever— no longer as a slave but more than a slave—that is, as a dearly loved brother. He is especially a dearly loved brother to me. How much more can he become a brother to you, personally and spiritually in the Lord!
So, if you really consider me a partner, welcome Onesimus as if you were welcoming me. If he has harmed you in any way or owes you money, charge it to my account. I, Paul, will pay it back to you (I’m writing this with my own hand). Of course, I won’t mention that you owe me your life.
Yes, brother, I want this favor from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. I’m writing to you, confident of your obedience and knowing that you will do more than what I ask. Also, one more thing—prepare a guest room for me. I hope that I will be released from prison to be with you because of your prayers.
165 E. Broad St., Cookeville, TN 38501
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