Meet Our Staff
REV. ISABEL RIVERA-VELEZ, Stated Supply Pastor
JOYCE PARKER, Administrative Assistant
Joyce was born and raised in Akron, Ohio and graduated from Kenmore High School. She worked at Akron City Hospital for two years before moving to Avon Lake, Ohio. While there, she became a mother and homemaker before going to work for Avon Lake City Schools for three years as an elementary school secretary.
The family moved to Texas in February of 1981, and Joyce began working for Goose Creek CISD as a secretary in administration. She worked for the school district for 17 years before retiring in 1998. She began working for First Presbyterian Church in 2004 and First Westminster Presbyterian Church in January 2006. As of 2008, she works and serves at Faith Presbyterian Church.
Joyce’s husband, Ron Parker, is Director of Meals on Wheels in Baytown. Together they have 5 children and 9 grandchildren. She enjoys reading, bicycling, walking, and working jigsaw puzzles.
DIANNE WILSON, Business Manager
DiAnne was born in Ardmore, Oklahoma, but spent most of her youth in Lubbock, Texas, graduating from Lubbock High School. Her first two years of college were at Midwestern University in Wichita Falls, Texas. In 1975, she married her husband, Mike Wilson and moved to Baytown, where Mike took a job with Citizens Bank & Trust.
DiAnne continued her education at Lee College and the University of Houston Clear Lake. She went to work for U.S. Steel in 1977 as a cost analyst. During that time, she became a mother of three children. After 10 years, she retired to become a stay-at-home mom.
When her children were mostly through high school, her volunteer work led to a new career as Executive Director of Baytown Habitat for Humanity. In April 2008, she became the business manager for the church as well as part of Faith’s Habitat mission.
DiAnne’s hobbies include cooking, playing bridge, and spending time with friends and family.
DAVID CORDER, Music Director
David Corder started singing in the chancel choir when he began teaching instrumental music at Lee College in 1967. After several directors, he took over the position of interim choir director and has remained ever since.
His professional music ranks include performer, director, composer, arranger and administrator. He likes to bring together all his talents to make the chancel choir and church live out its mission.
BRENDA ODELL, Associate Music Director
Brenda Odell is a proud native Texan. Born in Uvalde, she spent her school years in Dayton. She attended University of Houston and earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree from University of St. Thomas, and has taught elementary and jr. high music in Goose Creek Consolidated ISD since graduation.
When she is not playing the piano, Brenda enjoys working with hot glass (fusing and lampworking), designing jewelry in her studio, and spending quality time with her three spoiled cats.
ELLA RAE STOVALL, Organist
Ella Rae believes the most important thing an organist can do is lead the congregation in singing praise to God. She tries to select preludes to help worshippers set aside the worries of life to focus on our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. The prelude is sometimes meditative and sometimes joyful praise.
Ella Rae began playing for church services at age 11. She trained as a church organist by earning both a diploma of Sacred Music (Moody Bible Institute) and a Service Playing certificate (American Guild of Organists). She has a Master of Music degree, majoring in piano from the American Conservatory of Music.
She teaches piano, and her husband, Jim teaches voice. They have two sons.
ROSA MARTINEZ, Nursery Attendant
Rosa Martinez is the nursery attendant for Faith Presbyterian Church. While she originates from the Dominican Republic, she’s lived in Baytown since 1978. She’s been married to her husband, Juan Martinez for forty-two years and has two children and four grandchildren.
During the week, she’s either babysitting her grandchildren or working at a nursery in a church in Cypress. Rosa enjoys going to movies and listening to Christian music.
LAY CHAPLAINS
Community of Hope Lay Chaplains at Faith Presbyterian Church are commissioned on a yearly basis to extend the reach of our pastoral care ministry. They visit, send cards, make phone calls, and take communion to our shut-ins. The Community of Hope Lay Chaplains remain united in prayer and community as this ministry leads them to serve in the congregation and in the wider community.
Two Lay Chaplains are on call for a calendar week. See the current Sunday Bulletin or call the church office to contact the chaplain(s) on duty.
To learn more about Community of Hope International click here– www.cohinternational.org.
