Our Team
Pastor Luke Fillmore
Rev. Luke Fillmore is an ordained elder within the United Methodist Church and has a firm belief in the transforming power of the love of Jesus Christ, both in our personal and communal lives. Graduating from Central College with a degree in linguistics and Iliff School of Theology with a master of divinity, Pastor Luke has been serving churches in the Iowa Annual Conference since 2015 and was appointed to Fort Dodge, First UMC in 2021. A father to three beautiful children and husband to a wonderful wife, Pastor Luke enjoys long-distance cycling, playing the bagpipes, and getting lost in a good story.
Adyson Schanz
Adyson Schanz is the Youth and Family Ministries Coordinator. She has a Bachelor's Degree in political science and is currently pursuing her Masters in theological studies at Wesley Theological Seminary. Adyson was born and raised here in Fort Dodge and was a part of First UMC’s 2014 confirmation class. Adyson loves to go on walks and cook for her family. She lives in Fort Dodge with her husband, Alec, and son Gale.
Lindsay Kavanaugh
Lindsay joined First United Methodist Church’s team as the Administrative Coordinator in December of 2021. She loves visiting with church members when they stop by the office. She also helps assists the Lord’s Cupboard Community Pantry as their Marketing and Media Manager. Lindsay graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a health promotion and wellness degree. She enjoys all time spent with her husband and two children, morning coffee on their front porch, being outdoors, and attending her children’s sporting events and activities.
Amy Champagne
Amy is the director of our two choirs for youth: the elementary choir called King's Kids, and the middle school choir called Joyful Noise. She is also the co-director of our praise team with Gretchen Stanley. She has been directing the middle school choir for approximately 15 years and added the elementary choir and praise team about nine years ago. She has a BA and MAE from UNI in elementary, early childhood, and special education and work as a Special Education Consultant for Prairie Lakes AEA. In her spare time, she likes to read, walk, watch sports, feed birds, drink coffee, and do anything social with friends and family!
Gretchen Stanley
Gretchen is the director of the Chancel Choir as well as co-director of the Praise Band. She has been at First United Methodist Church since September of 2014. She is a lifelong church musician by starting as a young child singing in the Children's Choir. She graduated in 1995 from Dana College with a BA in music education. During her free time, she loves spending time with family and friends, cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes, and seeing shows.
Brian Robison
Brian is our director of the Wesley Ringers Bell Choir as well as a guitarist and bass player for the Filling Station Praise Band. He is also the 5-12 orchestra director for the Fort Dodge Community School District. He received his Bachelor of Music in Education from the University of Northern Iowa where he studied primarily the double bass and the other bowed string instruments. Brian received his Masters of the Arts in Teaching from Morningside University. He lives with his wife, Jasmine and three kids. In his free time he enjoys playing music and taking care of his numerous animals.
Amaia Walsh
Amaia joined us as our organist in 2024. Amaia is a music instructor at Iowa Central, an organist at First Congregational UCC, and a trumpet player in the Karl King Band and FD Area Symphony. She also composes music- hymn tunes, chamber works, and music for full orchestras. Amaia received a Master of Music degree from the University of Arkansas in 2020 and a Bachelor of Music from Drake University in 2018. Trumpet performance was her focus with organ as a secondary instrument.
Financial Officer: Danelle Willer
Nursery Assistants: Lyndsey Bennett and Ella Champagne
Maintenance: Jordan Harvey