CELEBRATE RECOVERY at Bridgeport UMC offers a safe place for all. Celebrate Recovery is a place where folks can relax, and focus on solutions to all of life's challenges. Those solutions come through our faith in Christ. Celebrate Recovery provides us God-given tools and principles to live by.
CR Bridgeport is an engaging service opportunity. With exciting contemporary worship and weekly testimonies or lessons, many come to find Wednesday evenings as their reprieve from the daily pressures of our culture and lives.
Celebrate Recovery is not just for substance use issues. In fact, that is the minority. If you struggle with bad habits, worry, depression, anger, resentment, or any of life's issues that pull us from our God-given potential, then CR is right for you.
Come check out Celebrate Recovery - you'll be glad that you did.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY at Bridgeport UMC offers a safe place for all. Celebrate Recovery is a place where folks can relax, and focus on solutions to all of life's challenges. Those solutions come through our faith in Christ. Celebrate Recovery provides us God-given tools and principles to live by.
CR Bridgeport is an engaging service opportunity. With exciting contemporary worship and weekly testimonies or lessons, many come to find Wednesday evenings as their reprieve from the daily pressures of our culture and lives.
Celebrate Recovery is not just for substance use issues. In fact, that is the minority. If you struggle with bad habits, worry, depression, anger, resentment, or any of life's issues that pull us from our God-given potential, then CR is right for you.
Come check out Celebrate Recovery - you'll be glad that you did.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY at Bridgeport UMC offers a safe place for all. Celebrate Recovery is a place where folks can relax, and focus on solutions to all of life's challenges. Those solutions come through our faith in Christ. Celebrate Recovery provides us God-given tools and principles to live by.
CR Bridgeport is an engaging service opportunity. With exciting contemporary worship and weekly testimonies or lessons, many come to find Wednesday evenings as their reprieve from the daily pressures of our culture and lives.
Celebrate Recovery is not just for substance use issues. In fact, that is the minority. If you struggle with bad habits, worry, depression, anger, resentment, or any of life's issues that pull us from our God-given potential, then CR is right for you.
Come check out Celebrate Recovery - you'll be glad that you did.
Rev. Dr. Matthew Paugh, Senior Pastor
Rev. Ben Randolph, Associate Pastor
Rev. Jim Lang, Pastoral Care
Rev. George Bramble, Pastoral Care
Sarah Carr Parsons, Director of Music Ministry
Joe Starkey, Leader of Children & Youth Ministry
Russ Francis, Treasurer
Brett Miller, Organist
Jennifer Walker, Administrative Staff
Kim Kapp, Administrative Staff
Polly Steele, Director of Preschool
Becky Thornton, Director of Joyful Noise Afterschool Program
Denny Owens, Facilities
Dorothy Prunty, Facilities
Cathy Hamilton, Facilities
Your Ministerial Team
Rev. Dr. Matthew Paugh
Matthew graduated from Southern Garrett High School in Oakland, MD. He continued his education earning a Bachelor of Arts from Messiah College in Grantham, PA, the Master of Divinity degree from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, MO, and the Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.
As a seminary student, Matthew served as an associate pastor of worship and discipleship at an Assemblies of God congregation. After graduating from seminary, he taught as an instructor of Bible and Theology at Evangel University, a liberal arts college in Springfield for three years.
Matthew has served on numerous boards and is very active in the communities he has serviced and teaches in the West Virginia Extension Course of Study program. We are so very excited Matthew, wife Melissa, and son Isaiah are now calling Bridgeport, WV home. Please welcome Matthew and Family.
Rev. Ben H. Randolph
The Reverend Ben H. Randolph, Associate Minister, began his appointment to Bridgeport United Methodist Church on July 1, 2019. Ben is a graduate of Bridgeport High School and went on to receive his business degree in Finance from West Virginia University. Ben also holds a Master of Business Administration from WVU. He completed the studies for licensing as a local pastor and is enrolled in advanced theological studies as he continues forward. Aside from ongoing corporate employment, he served The Clarksburg Mission for 2 years as Director of Finance and 8 years on its Board of Directors. Ben enjoys sharing his faith among various youth sports organizations. At Bridgeport UMC, he will be responsible for pastoral duties including the development of various family programs. Ben also has extensive experience in pastoral care in times of family or personal crisis and leads our Revive Recovery Ministry in a pastoral role. Ben resides with his wife, Christa, and their two children - Taylor and Alex.
Sarah Carr Pasons
Mrs. Sarah Carr Parsons, Director of Music Ministry, began her tenure at BUMC in July 1987. Sarah was hired as a 3/4 time Director of Music and Christian Education. Over the ensuing 35 years, music has become the largest part of her responsibilities. As Director of Music Ministries, Sarah has oversight for all church choirs and instrumental ensembles for children, youth and adults. She and her team of dedicated and talented lay musicians, provide spiritual growth as well as inspiration to all of the various worship services that are a part of BUMC weekly worship schedule.
A graduate of Buckhannon-Upshur High School, in Buckhannon, WV Carr Parsons received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Music (Vocal Performance) from West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, WV, a Master's degree in Choral Conducting from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, under the tutelage of Lloyd Pfautsch; and a Master's degree of Sacred Music from the Perkins School of Theology. For 25 years Carr Parsons was also the founder and artistic director of the Chanticleer Children's Chorus. Sarah has had extensive experience as a performer, conductor and teacher.