CAPS TITLE
Who We Are
Our Vision, Values, Purpose, and Pathway
Our VISION is to be a congregation that is actively
Transforming the World from the Heart of Las Cruces.
We VALUE highly being a…
God-centered,
Bible-inspired,
Outreach-oriented and
Kingdom-focused congregation
We believe our PURPOSE is to lead people to become Disciples of Christ who…
Know God personally
Know about God deeply
Make God known intentionally
Come to know God fully
We offer people a PATHWAY to follow as Disciples of Christ so they can…
Grow by attending worship services
Connect by joining a small group
Serve by working in a ministry team
Reach by participating in special events
Rev. Greg Kennedy was born in Belleville, IL (a St. Louis suburb) on May 29, 1960. He graduated from Missouri Baptist College and Asbury Theological Seminary. He has pastored churches in the Northwest Texas and New Mexico Annual Conferences for the last 25 years. He married Cindy Kennedy on December 20, 1987. She's taught school for 23 years and currently is not working outside the house. She is a burst brain aneurysm survivor and is highly allergic to wheat and wheat products.
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We have two Children, a son (Trevor), a daughter by marriage (Daniele), a daughter (Emily), five grandchildren, and a Goldendoodle, Abigail, who believes she is a human. Our son and daughter-in-law live in Cedar Park, TX where he pastors Good News UMC and Daniele teaches high school math. Emily teaches elementary school in Oklahoma City.
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Greg's religious background is as a Southern Baptist as a child, an Episcopalian as a young adult, and as a United Methodist when a job transfer moved us to the Texas Panhandle. The story requires a conversation because it is quite long.
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Greg loves watching St. Louis Cardinal baseball and UNAM Pumas soccer. Both, Cindy and Greg love to travel. We look forward to our. move to Las Cruces and working with you in building the kingdom of God at St. Paul's and in the greater community.
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Mrs. Schutz earned a BA degree in Choral Music Education from Texas Christian University and a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting at New Mexico State University. Mrs. Schutz began her teaching career in New Mexico in 1975. Mrs. Schutz taught elementary, middle school and high school choirs for the Gadsden and Las Cruces Public School Districts. Diane served Westside Baptist Church as their Minister of Music for 15 years. Diane served as a Summer missionary at The Baptist Children’s Home in Round Rock, Texas.
Diane taught for 20 years at Las Cruces High School, where her choirs won National Acclaim for their solo performances at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Carnegie Hall. Mrs. Schutz served three terms as Choral Vice- President for New Mexico Music Educators Association, and has completed three terms as New Mexico American Choral Director’s Association President. She is a member of several professional organizations including NAMFE, NMMEA, NMACDA, Mu Phi Epsilon, Phi Delta Kappa and PEO. She also served as a board member for the Las Cruces Symphony.
Mrs. Schutz was honored in 2002 as the New Mexico Music Educator of the Year, in 2006 as the recipient of the Arts In Education award from the Dona Ana Arts Council and was inducted into the NMMEA Hall of Fame in 2005. She was awarded NMMEA’s Emeritus Educator Award in 2015.
Mrs. Schutz served as a Student Teacher Supervisor for New Mexico State University, Organist and Children’s Choral Director for St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and Director of “Good Time Singers” a Senior Adult Community Choir in Las Cruces. She continues to mentor new teachers for Las Cruces Public Schools. Diane is a member of the Mesilla Valley Concert Band, and serves as accompanist for schools in Las Cruces and El Paso. Diane has served as Choral Director for the Las Cruces Symphony for three concerts and 3 Broadway musicals. In September 2015 she directed combined community choirs for a tribute to Tony Award Winner and friend, Mark Medoff. She has served as an adjudicator and clinician in New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Nebraska, Colorado and California. Mother of five children and proud grandparent of eleven, Diane is married to John Schutz, Retired Fine Arts Consultant for Las Cruces Public Schools and Associate Director of “Mesilla Valley Concert Band.”
Diane has served Saint Paul’s since 2006 as accompanist and is very humbled to now serve as The Director of Music Ministry.
Barbara was born in Garden City, Kansas, raised in Hobbs, New Mexico and moved to Las Cruces in 1994. Barbara is the proud mother of one son that lives in Albuquerque and two daughters that live in Phoenix. She has one grandson who is now 25 years old. Barbara began her secretary position at St. Paul’s in June of 1998. What an experience it has been and she says she has made sooooo many wonderful friends. Barbara has enjoyed singing in many groups in the past where she has been on the board in many positions. She enjoys singing in trios, quartets and small groups. Soon she will be retiring from St. Paul’s and will start a new adventure in her life.
Sheryl Barham is a teacher with 15 years of experience. She works part-time as a reading specialist for the local elementary charter school. She has a degree in Elementary Education and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction. She is married to Sean and is the mother of two little girls. As a family, they enjoy reading together, watching movies, hiking, birding, camping, traveling, playing board games, and baking. Sheryl loves Mexican food, especially queso, yoga and Zumba, reading suspense novels, spending time with her family, and coffee… lots of coffee. Sheryl and her family have attended St. Paul’s since 2012. Sheryl joined the staff as Director of Children’s Ministry in 2017. Her teaching experience has helped her to understand the organization, planning, and management of resources and volunteers that make her suited for this position. She loves working with children and engaging them in hands-on ministry and creative bible teaching to help develop the next generation of disciples. She looks forward to continuing to grow the children’s ministries of St. Paul’s.
Director of Children's Ministries
Sheryl Barnham
575-541-3182/575-526-6689 x1007
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My name is Kendra Robb, I accepted the position of Director at the Child Development Center here at St. Paul's in August of 2020. I am blessed and excited to be here! I have 3 daughters who have absolutely enriched my life: Trinity age 12, Serenity age 11, and DJ age 8. I have been passionate about working with children since I was a young girl. I feel blessed to play such an important role in educating and caring for young children. I have worked with children of all ages over the past 20 years, and I have grown in my profession from teaching Sunday School, to getting my degree, and then being the Lead Teacher in Infant, Toddler, and Preschool classrooms. I believe in going above and beyond for families and meeting their individual needs. I believe that each child is an individual and as an educator I value and develop each child's strengths, interests, skills, abilities, and knowledge to extend their learning. I believe that children learn through play, and curriculum should be play based to allow for authentic observations and growth in children. I love this work and plan to continue my own personal growth and strive to be the best in every role throughout the field of Early Childhood Education.
My name is Cindy Lopez, I am a Las Cruces native born and raised. I have traveled all over the United States and always return home. I accepted the position of Bookkeeper here at St. Paul's in December of 2023. I am blessed and excited to be here! I have my wonderful husband Robert, 1 son, 2 daughters, 2 grandsons, and 6 granddaughters who I absolutely LOVE. I also have 5 fur babies! I really enjoy my position here at St. Paul’s as it has enriched my life. I continue to learn how to be a better human every day.