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Meet the staff

 

Rev. Jennifer Dawson

Rev. Jennifer Dawson is an ordained Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA). She is currently serving part time at both First Christian, Parsons and First Presbyterian, Parsons.
 
Jennifer graduated from Brite Divinity School, a Disciples of Christ seminary, in 2015 with her MDiv.  Jennifer's first career was in education. She worked in many capacities in education including teaching reading.She was also the principal for a charter school in Texas.  In addition to her MDiv, Jennifer holds a Master's of Education Administration as well as a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies. Her continuing education includes work inTransitional Ministry, family systems theory, and grief counseling. Jennifer moved to Parsons from McKinney, Tx. She is the proud mother of two daughters and nana of two granddaughters. Her free time is spent spoiling her pets, gardening, and watching classic movies.

 

Office Administrator: Brian Orender

Brian has earned several degrees during his 30-year career in public safety. He currently holds a certification as an Emergency Medical Technician. Brian has been employed as the administrator for the First Christian and First Presbyterian Churches in Parsons since October of 2023. Brian has the distinction of being one of the first disabled technicians certified by the Kansas Board of EMS. Brian has been disabled since birth but will never let the disability define him or make a goal unreachable.

Brian is engaged and has a son named Mikah lovingly known as “Monster”. Amber also has a daughter named Nataleigh. In his spare time when you don’t find him in an ambulance, or working at home, he will be spending time with friends, family, or watching Nataleigh or simply “Bug” being involved in volleyball, cheerleading, or playing with her puppy Porky.

Brian remembers growing up in the area churches. As a young boy he fondly remembers seeing his father deliver many sermons across the area. Thinking back, he remembered his father’s last sermon. His father, who suffered from multiple strokes which caused problems with balance and walking, was asked to deliver the message. True to form his father with assistance made on to the stage and delivered the message as he would have prior to the strokes. Determination provides results.

 

Office Assistant: Patti Findley
Patti Findley was born and raised in Parsons and attended Parsons schools from kindergarten at Garfield to getting an associates degree from LCC. She then received her bachelor and master's degrees from Pittsburg State University. She retired after 35 years of elementary teaching.

Her passion for saving animals led her to Proud Animal Lovers Shelter where she serves as a volunteer, fundraising coordinator, and vice president of the board.

During all of her life, she has been involved in Bible studies and churches, including spending many years at the First Presbyterian Church, where she served as chairperson of Christian Education and Evangelism, as well as youth director. She rejoices at being with her Presbyterian family and meeting the wonderful people at First Christian Church.

 

Organist: Carol Hoyt

Carol Hoyt earned a Bachelor of Music Education from Wichita State University where she majored in violin and piano. As a student she played violin professionally in the Wichita Symphony. Ms. Hoyt studied violin with Kato Havas (London, England) and was selected for the orchestra for a conducting masterclass taught by Hans Swarowsky (Vienna, Austria). She earned a Master of Music in piano performance from Pittsburg State University and has done post-graduate work in piano performance and pedagogy at the University of Oklahoma where she studied with Jane Magrath. Ms. Hoyt has been a piano soloist with the Wichita State University orchestra and the Pittsburg State University Orchestra. In 1986 she was a winner in the Wadill Chamber Music Competition. Ms. Hoyt studied organ with Susan Marchant at PSU and has been a church organist since 1985. She has served the United Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Church of Pittsburg, the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Scott and is currently serving the First Christian Church and the First Presbyterian Church in Parsons. Ms. Hoyt taught class piano and piano pedagogy at Pittsburg State University from 1990-2004. She has 38 years of public school teaching experience and currently teaches K-3 music in Parsons. Carol and her husband Lewis live in Neodesha. They have two children, Sara and Evan, and three grandchildren.