Staff
The staff are here to serve you. Feel free to contact us directly at the information listed by our name or call the church office at 334-285-2488.
Pastor:
Family: Renae (wife), 2 sons - Caleb (age 12) & Cole (age 7)
Bio: When people ask where Chris is from, he often has a blank stare on his face. He was born in West Virginia and has lived in Maryland, Florida, New York, Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky, Texas and Alabama. He finished high school in Birmingham then went to Mississippi State University where he earned his B.S. in meteorology. During his senior year of college God called him into ministry. He and Renae were married 1 month after Chris graduated college and then, 2 weeks after their honeymoon to Disney World, they moved to Wilmore, Kentucky to begin seminary. Chris finished his Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary while Renae earned her Master of Arts in Christian Counseling at the same time. In May 2007 Chris graduated with his Doctorate in Leadership from Asbury as a Beeson Pastor (a competitive full-fellowship doctoral program), winning the distinguished dissertation award for excellence in research. He has served as youth pastor and music pastor as well as pastoring Mannsville and Mt. Zion UMC (a 2-point charge in Taylor County, Kentucky), Huffman UMC in Birmingham, First United Methodist in Huntsville and Common Ground in Huntsville (a church plant Chris and his family started). Chris is currently the district disaster response coordinator for the Montgomery-Prattville District and an authorized disaster response trainer for UMCOR. He is an adjunct professor in religion at Huntingdon College and in pastoral counseling & leadership at Asbury Theological Seminary. He has authored two books: Learning To Talk Sheep:Understanding Those You Lead (Pilgrim Press: 2010), which he coauthored with his father, Dr. Wayne Perry, and The Church Mouse:Leadership Lessons From the Magic Kingdom (Pilgrim Press: 2011). He is a regular conference speaker around the country on leadership and creativity.
Hobbies: Playing ice hockey, pistol shooting, storm chasing, computers, reading, traveling with his family and playing Playstation 3. He also holds black belts in 2 Samurai martial arts and is especially proficient with the katana sword.
Favorite Food: Anything Italian
Favorite Vacation: Walt Disney World and Prince Edward Island, Canada
Favorite Scripture Passage: "They preached with joyful urgency that life can be radically different" - Mark 6:12 (The Message)
Administrative Assistant:
Tanya Leo
tanya@rsum.org
Family: Chris (husband), Madeline “Maddie” (daughter)
Bio: Tanya Leo was born and raised on a dairy farm in northwestern Wisconsin. After graduating from high school, she enlisted in the United States Air Force where she served for 5 years in amazing places, such as Okinawa, Japan, Pattaya, Thailand, and Minot, North Dakota. In 2003, she joined her husband in Biloxi, MS and has since traveled throughout the United States while serving our nation. The Leo family relocated to Millbrook, AL, in 2012 due to a military transfer and are extremely excited to serve our nation and community in Alabama! Tanya graduated from the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. Presently, she is completing her Master of Science in Human Service, Social and Community Services with a concentration in non-profit organization and management. Tanya is passionate about serving those in need and showing God’s love to our world. She is actively involved at local nonprofit organizations, such as W.E.L.C.O.M.E. Inc, a food bank serving our local community.
Hobbies: Spending time with my family, reading, walking, and volunteering
Favorite Food:
Favorite Vacation: Visiting her family in Wisconsin and New York
Favorite Scripture: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” - 1 Timothy 4:12
Dr. Christopher Perry
