Rev. Brad Goode
Pastor
For the past five years, Brad Goode has been the Associate Pastor at Dauphin Way UMC in Mobile, AL. There, among other duties, he led the church's contemporary service with weekly preaching, worship planning, and missions. Before that, he served nearly ten years at Saint James UMC in Montgomery, where he married his wife Rachel, had their first child Caroline (10), and adopted their daughter Amelia (7) from Uganda. They later had their son Owen (4) in Mobile.
He grew up in central Illinois, but has loved the South since the moment he arrived in 2002. Before that, Brad worked in churches in Detroit, Honolulu, and Vail. Brad completed his Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in May, and received his undergraduate degree in Religion from Olivet Nazarene University.
Michael Lambeth
Director of Discipleship
Born and raised in Mobile, AL, Michael has worked as a church planter, and worship pastor, and most recently houseparent, with his wife Melinda at the Alabama Baptist Children’s Home’s campus in Mobile. They have one daughter, Kayton Amelia born April 2017.
jessica@goodnewsumc.net
Jessica Varnado
Jessica Varnado
Kids Minister
Jessica was born and raised in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. She grew up homeschooled and attended the Okaloosa Walton Collegiate High School where she obtained her AA along with her high school diploma. She transferred to Jacksonville University to receive her B.A. in Dance Education. It was there that her passion for dance merged with her passion for teaching. After graduating she went on to pursue her Masters in Primary Education through the University of West Florida.
Jessica has spent the last four years as the Crosspoint Academy Assistant Director in Niceville, Fl. While there, she ran the preschool and oversaw the Kindergarten and 1st Graders on Sunday mornings. God laid it on her heart to move full time into ministry, so she jumped at the opportunity to serve here at Good News UMC as the Director of Children’s Ministry.
Brenda Ousley
Preschool Director
Brenda was born and raised in St. Charles, Illinois. She attended the University of Mississippi where she obtained her B.A. in Elementary Education with a minor in Special Education. She met her husband Corbin and they moved to Destin, Florida in 1997. Brenda was an aid in a special education classroom at Destin Middle School and then taught social studies and special education at Seaside Middle School. In 1999 Brenda started a business called Baby’s Away of Destin and sold the company after 7 years in business. Brenda jumped at the opportunity to become Director of Beginnings Preschool at Good News UMC. As a church member and Preschool Board Member, Brenda knew she was up for the task. She and Corbin live in South Walton with their two wonderful children Dalton, age 15 and Grace, age 12.
Liz Barrett
Administrative Assistant