Branches Book Club Branches Book Club will be meeting in the Café on Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 6:30pm. Join them for a great discussion on the book Her Only Wish by Shelley Shepard Gray. For more information, contact Becky Owen at info@middletownumc.org.
Bobby Patton is excited and grateful to be joining Middletown United Methodist Church as the new Youth Pastor. Originally from Damascus Maryland, Bobby has served ministries at his home church, Minnesota, Ohio, and now Louisville.
For him, youth ministry has always been about relationships—helping students know they are loved by God, connected to a caring community, and equipped to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Over the years, Bobby has had the privilege of walking alongside students through mission trips, retreats, small groups, service projects, and everyday moments of faith and life. He is passionate about creating spaces where young people can ask honest questions, build meaningful friendships, and discover how God is calling them to live out their faith.
Bobby is a big fan of Star Wars and all things Tolkien and loves ice hockey. He and his wife, Sarah, have two elementary age children.
Dwayne Freeman is an experienced Audio-Visual professional with a background in church production, having served as a Technical Director, Camera Operator, and Sound Engineer. He brings a strong understanding of live audio, video systems, and worship production to every environment he serves.
In addition to his AV leadership, Dwayne is an accomplished photographer and videographer in the Louisville area. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance and is a devoted father.
He is honored to serve at Middletown United Methodist Church, using his gifts to support and enhance the church’s mission.
Jennifer Gilcreast grew up in western PA near Pittsburgh. She graduated from Asbury University (piano performance) and Notre Dame (MM), playing the organ where she attended. She taught music in Jessamine and Bullitt counties, and teaches choir and music at Highlands Latin School. She has 4 children age 18-24. Hobbies include cookings, reading, and being in nature.
Paula grew up in Huber Heights, Ohio and then lived in Lancaster County, PA for 30 years. In 2020, she and her husband, Keith, moved to Carroll County, KY where they live on 18 acres of land with their dog, Max, and chickens. She has three adult children that live in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Bowling Green, KY. She enjoys reading, quilting, and putting together jigsaw puzzles. In the evenings, she enjoys working in her garden and tending to her flowers. Her true passion is serving the Lord in the church and community.
Paula has 12 years of experience as a church administrative assistant and is excited to be a part of MUMC.
Matt joined our team in 2021 with over 20 years of ministry experience and brings with him a wealth of ministry, business, design, and technical experience. He has helped to plant multiple churches and missions throughout the country and serves on our district’s New Church Development Team. Matt is also an author, musician, and public speaker, serving as the Executive Director of Journey to Freedom Ministries, which you can learn more about at www.journeytofreedom.net. He, with his wife Janna, and his children Aiden and Adelyn love the outdoors, love exploring new places and trying new restaurants, love meeting new people, and love building God’s kingdom wherever they go.
