Meet The Staff
Lead Pastor
Reverend Dr. Gale L. Seibert
Our Pastor, Gale, was born and raised in Winder, GA, went to college in NC. She met her husband Rich on a blind date and supported him as he served in the Air Force. He retired after a career of twenty years and flew for Delta Air Lines while Gale worked in a half-way house for men, served as youth minister in her home church, and later volunteered in Winder First UMC. It was in Winder First UMC that she was encouraged to attend seminary and become a pastor.
Gale attended Emory University and earned her MDIV so that she could enter the ministry as a UM pastor. She has served God as a UM Pastor for twenty years. Her joy for learning and God's grace helped her finish her doctorate in supernatural ministry in Dec. 2015.
Pastor Gale is finishing up her first year serving at Little River and is still learning about all of our many traditions. Her husband, Rich, of 47 years, supports her and the church with prayer, singing, and lots of other ways. They have three sons, who are married to three terrific young women, and six grandchildren with another one arriving around Christmas! Her whole family is excited about how God is blessing Little River and supports her as she and her husband join Little River in its pursuit to be the best church it can be. To do this, we are dreaming big and praying bigger! Praise God!
Email: [email protected]
Jessica is 5th generation of her family at Little River UMC, and a 6th generation Cherokee County resident & Woodstock native. She attended Little River ES, Dean Rusk MS, & Sequayah HS before going off to college at the University of Georgia. Go Dawgs! Jessica double majored in Religion & Communications and minored in Personal Finance, Housing, & Consumer Economics.
Jessica has been a servant of Little River ever since she was little, and she was very excited to be invited onto staff in August 2016. She was just recently married to her husband Joey Porter in April 2017 and they are enjoying life in their newly purchased Woodstock home.
You might see her around town working for the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, where she assists in organizing networking events for local businesses, leads the Going Green Committee, and welcomes necomers to our area.
When you ask Jessica what her favorite part of her job here at Little River is, she will tell you she loves seeing kids and youth learning to love Jesus and ask questions about God that some adults are afraid to ask. She also loves to sing and worship with the kids & youth, and she invites your family to come and see what a wonderful church family we have here at Little River.
Email: [email protected]
Cell: 404-217-3158
Youth & Children's Minister
Jessica L. Porter (Goddard)
Jorge had been with Little River for several years now, and has been enjoying his time with the choir. Jorge is originally from Columbia and is fluent in Spanish and English. You may be not be surprised that he plays not only piano, but also percussion, flute, violin, viola, cello, bass, horns, and more! He enjoys composing, arranging, producing, and teaching music, but truly loves performing. He is currently in a jazz band that performs many weekends throughout the year.
Jorge believes that the choir is moving up in performance level, and is always excited to begin teaching new music. Since he has begun at Little River, he has noticed the progress the choir has made through hard work and practice, but is especially proud of the conscious effort everyone is putting forth to always make the music better for not only the listeners but the Lord.
Email: [email protected]
Choir Director & Pianist
Jorge Alvarez