Staff
Becky Youngblood brings 32 years of experience in ministry to the Center for Ministry, where she began her tenure as director in February 2005. She is an elder in the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church and has served as a pastor, a district superintendent, and in many leadership roles at the general church level.
Immediately prior to joining the CFM staff as Associate Director in September 2004, Becky spent three years as director of The Iliff Institute for Continuing Education at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado. She is a graduate of Millsaps College (B.A. in sociology) and Candler School of Theology, Emory University (M.Div., 1979). She has pursued further training in family systems theory at the Center for Family Process in Bethesda, Maryland, and in Appreciative Inquiry. She is a practicing spiritual director and is pursuing certification in spiritual formation through the United Methodist Church. Her active memberships include the Fellowship of United Methodist Spiritual Directors and Retreat Leaders, Spiritual Directors International, the Society for the Advancement of Continuing Education for Ministry (SACEM), and the Mississippi chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
"One of my abiding interests in ministry is the nature of leadership. How is leadership defined in religious communities? How is it encouraged and developed? In what contexts does leadership flourish; where does it flounder? How are leadership and stewardship related, in that we are called to be stewards of the various gifts God bestows on each of us? The work of the Center for Ministry-lifelong learning for clergy and laity, spiritual formation, and sustaining pastoral excellence-allows for both the creative exploration and disciplined practice of effective leadership. It is work best done in a diverse community of peers and best realized when the whole person-heart and mind and soul and strength-is engaged. It is work that expresses and stretches my own call and I count it as privilege to be part of the Center's staff."
An avid reader of fiction, Becky also enjoys gardening, antiquing, and cooking. The best book she has read in 2011, hands down, is Cutting for Stone. Sunday mornings find her at Broadmeadow UMC in Jackson, where it is rumored she may soon join the choir.
What A Friend We Have in Jesus” was one of the first hymns Sherry Johnson learned as a child. This sense of Divine friendship led her to a ministry of Word and service as an ordained deacon in the United Methodist Church. After nine years as executive director of Bethlehem Center, she joined the staff of the Center for Ministry at Millsaps College in 2005.
As the associate director of the Center for ministry, Sherry Johnson, oversees the Pastoral Excellence Project which is funded by the Lilly Endowment, Inc. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Indiana University, Bloomington and completed ministerial studies at Perkins School of Theology. A trained spiritual director, Sherry is enrolled in the certification program for spiritual formation at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. She is a published author whose writings have appeared in a host of publications including Parade, Essence and American Film.
Richard Robbins became the Director of the Mississippi Course of Study in July 2010 after retiring from 41 years of pastoral ministry in the Mississippi Conference. He brings 18 years of experience on the Mississippi Course of Study faculty to his work as director.
Richard is a graduate of Millsaps College and Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. He is certified in the area of Spiritual Formation and serves on the staff of Journey Partners, the Center for Ministry’s training program in spiritual direction. He is an avid reader and is partial to cats bearing the names of archangels.
Betty Wheat is the Center’s Program Coordinator, managing myriad details for the Course of Study School, Continuing Education events, and overall office administration. She is the voice of hospitality at 601-974-1488.
A graduate of Mississippi University for Women with a B.S. in speech pathology and a minor in psychology, Betty is a lifelong United Methodist. She and her husband Gerald have been members of St. Mark’s UMC at the Reservoir since 1981. Prior to joining the staff of CFM in 2001, Betty was employed for 20 years with Ear, Nose and Throat Surgical Group. She has two children and two grandchildren. She enjoys reading mysteries, beach trips, and collecting flamingos
Jane Watts is the Center's consultant for Spiritual Formation Programs. She and her husband are members of Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson.
Jane is trained in Spiritual Direction and holds certification in Spiritual Formation through the General Board of the United Methodist Church. She is the Director of Journey Partners, guiding both the Training in Spiritual Direction program and the continued journey of the Sustaining Community of Spiritual Directors in Mississippi.
Jane consults with other spiritual formation programs for the Center for Ministry, the Mississippi Annual Conference, as well as congregations and groups across the state. She leads contemplative retreats, small group experiences and offers individual spiritual direction. She guides the planting of spiritual direction training programs as well as sustaining programs for existing communities of spiritual directors. Her ministry reaches across several Christian faith traditions throughout Mississippi and beyond.
When asked about her call to the ministry of spiritual formation, Jane said, "I invite persons to the contemplative journey. Expanding the ministry of spiritual guidance in the church is greatly needed in these days of deep hunger for God. My passion is to invite, encourage and hold hospitable space for the life-giving deeper journey, especially for those called to offer spiritual guidance for others.”
“For too long 'thinking and doing' have been the focus of living a life of faith,” Jane said. “Without the quality of 'being' these vital but incomplete aspects of the spiritual life can become life-depleting. The ministry of spiritual formation invites persons to be present to God and know that which is life-giving."
Jane is a member of the Fellowship of United Methodist Spiritual Directors and Retreat Leaders and of Spiritual Directors International.
For more information on the current Spiritual Formation offerings of the Center, contact Jane by email. Please let us know if you would like to be on a mailing list for Spiritual Formation opportunities
Kristina Kelly is the Pastoral Excellence Project administrative assistant and general all-around go to person when people need help. She has been with the Center since 2008. Her office hours are 10 am - 2pm Monday - Friday.
Kristina is a Historical Reenactment enthusiast and teaches dance classes in the Jackson area.