Rev. Adam Sparks
Senior Pastor
asparks@stmumc.org
Adam Sparks is a native of Salyersville in Eastern Kentucky. He and his wife of 12 years, Melanie, met at the Wesley Foundation at Morehead State University, where they both graduated. Adam has a B.S. in Psychology from Morehead State (2005) and an M.Div. from Asbury Theological Seminary (2009). Melanie is the Community Relations Manager at Dominion Senior Living of Louisville and a former choir director at Bullitt Central High School. Adam and Melanie have two sons, Noah and John, and two Labrador retrievers. Adam has served congregations at Bethel/Mt. Pleasant, Owingsville, Sunshine in South Shore, and College Heights in Elizabethtown. He enjoys cycling, hiking, cooking, University of Kentucky basketball, listening to NPR, and going on adventures as a family
Yoel Escriba
Associate Pastor
yescriba@saintmatthewsumc.org
Pastor Yoel was born in Cuba and came to the United States in 2016, with his wife, Oreanna. From his start at SMUMC in our TDA service, Pastor Yoel showed a deep desire to serve and become an active part of the ministry’s growth. He has served in the men’s ministry, the worship ministry, and community outreach projects alongside other churches. In recent years, he has focused his calling on preaching, discipleship, and pastoral care, working closely with Pastor Maikel.
Yoel and Oreanna have a son named Lucas. In addition to his pastoral vocation, he is a medical doctor by profession, with work experience in Cuba, Venezuela, and Colombia.
Judy Noel Saunders
Associate Pastor
jsaunders@saintmatthewsumc.org
Judy Noel Saunders is a native of Kentucky, and is licensed as a local pastor in the United Methodist Church since 2017. She is a graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary, receiving her Master of Divinity in May, 2026. Judy is a wife to Brad; a mom to Nathan, Jaden, and Lily; and loves spending time with her family. She has been serving on the worship team for River City for the last three years and is looking forward to leading River City through this next season.
Harrison Zoercher
Director of Discipleship & Missions
hzoercher@stmumc.org
Harrison began his ministry at St. Matthews as organist in 1996. Following a lengthy career in the telecommunications industry, he became Communications Coordinator for the Kentucky Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2002, and the Director of Communications and Emerging Ministries for SMUMC in 2004. Harrison has served on the United Methodist General Conference and Southeast Jurisdicational Conference Communications Teams, Kentucky Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, the Executive Committee of the Louisville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and the Board of Directors of Loucon Training & Retreat Center, Wesley House, the Louisville Chrysalis Community, and St. Matthews Area Ministries.
Shannon Seidt
Director of Children's Ministries
sseidt@stmumc.org
Shannon is a lifelong Louisvillian. She received her Bachelor’s from MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois, where she triple-majored in Religion, French and Philosophy. She received her MBA at Bellarmine University and has done additional postgraduate work at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Bellarmine. Throughout her life, Shannon has felt God’s call into ordained ministry, and has followed God’s leading into inner-city, prison, and youth and children’s ministries. Now at St. Matthews, God has led her to serve the children of the church and community and their families. She and her husband, Chris, have two wonderful children, Mason and Caleigh. On the side, Shannon loves clowning, foreign language study, singing, and spending time with the family in the great outdoors.
Aaron Weaver
Director of Music Ministries
Aaron Weaver received his Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting at the University of Kentucky, as well as his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. He taught as a high school choir director in Jefferson County Public Schools (Waggener and Pleasure Ridge Park High Schools) for 12 years, and is currently the Explore Program Administrator at Crosby Middle School. Aaron has extensive church music experience, having served a number of church communities in various musical and leadership capacities. For the past nine years Aaron has served as a member of the music ministry team at St. Matthews United Methodist Church, directing the youth choir and the youth handbell ensembles.
Aaron and his wife, Meghan, are the parents of three children, Keely, Keegan, and Kipton.
Sandy Hottell
Administrator & Financial Secretary
shottell@stmumc.org
Sandra Hottell (Sandy) joined the staff of SMUMC in December 2020. Sandy has 30 years of accounting experience in a variety of different industries, and also serves at Board Treasurer/Bookkeeper for Brandon’s House Counseling Center in New Albany, Indiana. A lifelong Indiana resident, Sandy currently lives in Jeffersonville. In her spare time, Sandy enjoys reading biographies and true crime books. She is a U of L Cardinals fan and loves the Green Bay Packers.
​Allyson McCormick
Nursery Director
As director of our beautiful nursery, Allyson McCormick provides a smiling face and welcoming presence to children on Sunday mornings, Wednesday evenings, and during various other special events. Allyson is a graduate of Seneca High School and the University of Louisville. She has two children, Luke and Zoe.
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