Staff Directory

Lyle Holland, Senior Pastor

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Lyle is husband to the former Linda Denton of Culleoka, Tennessee, and together they are parents of two college students, Maggie and Bennett. Lyle and Linda have served five congregations in North Alabama Conference since 1990, the last 13 years as the founding pastor of the Church at Cahaba Bend, a United Methodist Church in Helena. Linda is currently the Director of Connectional Ministries for the North Alabama Conference.

As an Elder and member of the North Alabama Conference, Lyle currently serves on the Board of Ordained Ministry, the New Church Team, and the Church Revitalization Team. Each group reflects his personal passion for effective church leadership, making disciples of Jesus, and renewal of United Methodist Churches.

In his spare time, Lyle enjoys University of Alabama football and basketball, watching good movies, and playing bad golf.

Melody Traylor, Pastoral Assistant

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Rev. Melody Traylor works with the missions and the shut-ins in our church. Melody is also the director of Discovery Ministries. Discovery is a weekend event for middle schoolers for spiritual formation. Discovery Weekend is in 23 states and three countries. Melody has two children and she is a nerd at heart who loves reading, plants, rocks and kayaking. Melody also enjoys playing cards and chess.

If you would like to be involved in missions, please let her know.

Jennifer McCracken, Director of Children’s Ministries

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Jennifer Bagley McCracken joined Forest Lake in August 2013 as a teacher in the Weekday Kids Program and later became the Director of Children’s Ministries in January 2014. Jennifer is from Montgomery, Alabama and moved to Tuscaloosa in 2004 to attend The University of Alabama. In college, she was a member of The University Singers, the premier auditioned traveling choir. In 2009 she graduated with a B.S. in Human Environmental Sciences, Majoring in Human Development and Family Studies with Concentrations in Family Studies and Adolescent/Youth Development and a Minor in Social Welfare. Jennifer is signed to Marion Model and Talent Agency in Carrollton, Georgia, whose main focus is Christian Entertainment and she has a self-released album called I’m Gonna Move. Jenifer has a passion for children and their families, enjoys singing in Brighter Day Bluegrass Gospel Band, and is a self-proclaimed “Disney Nut!” Ministering alongside her is her husband, and college sweetheart, Kyle McCracken of Ralph, Alabama. They have a toddler named Kylie Grace.

Tommy Flowers, Director of Youth Ministries

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Tommy has been the Youth Director at Forest Lake since August, 2002.
He has over 25 years of experience in youth ministry. From “Music With a Message” to “The Gospel According to Spongebob”, Tommy enjoys creating fun and unique programming for today’s youth. Tommy is also a 6th grade teacher at University Place Middle School. He is the curator of the World’s Smallest Museum, Edgar’s Closet. It is a homage to all things Edgar Allan Poe is his classroom closet. He is married to Erin and has four children, Will, Katie, Brayden and Charley. In his spare time, Tommy loves camping and bicycling.

Barry Turner, Connections Worship Leader

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Barry is married to the former Evelyn Suzette Crawford of Harvest, Alabama. She goes by Susie, and they have a married son, Ben. Susie is a reading teacher extraordinare at Creek View Elementary School in Maylene, Alabama. At a young age in 1978, they decided to spend the rest of their lifes together – aggravating each other and loving life to the fullest; so far, so good. Barry, playing the guitar since learning from a songwriter in Nashville, has been blessed to have shared the stage with Minnie Pearl, been run out of the recording studio by Roy Orbison, (literally), and avoided a hit and run misdemeanor by narrowly missing Jimmy Buffet as the Parrot-Head jay-walked across Music Row (“Hey, I was in a hurry!”) His group, “Unlimited” was the studio band for WSM-TV’s syndicated show “Young Country.”

Barry’s musical experience in the United Methodist Church starts with being choir director for various churches, being music leader for the North Alabama Emmaus Community, the Alabama Young Adult Chrysalis, and contemporary worship leader for various churches in the North Alabama Conference.

In his spare time, Barry enjoys playing with and being loved by his grandson, Michael; and by his two dachshunds, BJ and Daphne.

Deanna Clements, Administrative Assistant

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Deanna is a native of Tupelo, Mississippi. She is a graduate of the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English & Journalism, and a Masters Degree in Journalism.

She has had 12 years of experience in administrative support before coming to work at FLUM.

Shundre Nevels-Bishop, Nursery Coordinator

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Shundré has been a part of the Forest Lake United Methodist Church since 2001. She and her daughter, Demi, enjoy being a part of the Forest Lake family. Shundré has an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Development and Family Studies and a graduate degree in Counseling / Psychology.

Shundré is the Thrilling Threes teacher with the Weekday Kids Program and the Forest Lake Church Nursery Coordinator.

Velma Williams, Director of Weekday Kids Program

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Velma Williams has directed Weekday Children’s Ministries at Forest Lake UMC since 1982, including 17 years directing the After School Enrichment Program and as director, since 2000, of the Weekday Kids Programs – which includes My School Preschool, After School, and Summer Camp.

Other work experience includes teaching various age levels from preschoolers to adult learners. Velma has a B. S. degree from Southern Illinois University in Home Economics and a M.S. from the University of Alabama in Human Development and Family Studies.

Velma has been married since 1974 to Dr. Vergil Williams, retired from U/A, and they now travel frequently. Her daughter Colleen, son-in-law Bob and grandchildren Lauren and Alex live in Atlanta. In addition to travel, she enjoys spending time with her family, cats, reading and a variety of crafts.

Janet Scott Edwards, Assistant Director of Weekday Kids

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Janet has been on staff at Forest Lake United Methodist Church since
1995. She began working with the After School Program while attending the University of Alabama. In 1998 she graduated from the University with a degree in Secondary Education Social Science. When the After School Program, the My School Preschool Program, and the Summer Camp program were combined into the Weekday Children’s Ministries Program in 2000, Janet became the Assistant Director. Janet is married and has 2 children.

Jan Chesnutt, Assistant Director of Weekday Kids

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Jan has been a member of Forest Lake United Methodist Church since 1985. She has a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education and a Masters degree in Learning Disabilities from the University of Alabama. She taught in Selma and in the Tuscaloosa City School Systems before staying home to raise four children, Callie, Mary, Jamey and Patrick. Jan has worked with Weekday Kids since 1996, first as a teacher of Four Year Olds, then as Assistant Director. She has been active in helping develop the Alabama United Methodist Association of Preschools and presently serves on the ALUMAP council.