Chris Michael is a proud graduate of the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia in 1988 with a BA in English. He earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1991 at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky and earned a Master of Theology Degree at Columbia Seminary in Decatur, Georgia in 1998.

Chris has served as pastor of churches in Fortsonia, Georgia, Narrows, Virginia, Cherry Log, Georgia, and Valdosta, Georgia before coming to Owensboro, Kentucky in 2017 as the pastor of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

He is the husband of Laura and the father of 3 daughters and 2 step-sons who live all over the place except here. 

Dr. Phillip Mitchell has served as Minister of Music at First Christian Church since November 2025. He has worked in church music for approximately thirteen years, serving congregations in Florida, Georgia, and Kentucky. He directs the Chancel Choir and oversees the church’s music program.

Phillip is also a songwriter, composer, and college professor. He has written four original church musicals and three Christmas cantatas, including The Road to Christmas, written with his wife, Arden. His songwriting has earned numerous awards, including first place in the UK Songwriting Contest, and he releases original music as Jefferson Hyll. Phillip holds a PhD in English from Newcastle University in England and has taught at the college level for more than twenty years.

Meaghan has served as the Youth Director at First Christian Church since August 2022. She graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2018 and went on to earn her Master’s in Education from Western Kentucky University in 2022 and her Rank I in 2025. She is also a fifth-grade teacher at Sutton Elementary School. Meaghan and her husband, Christian, have a daughter, Murray. In her free time, she enjoys playing mahjong and spending time with family and friends. Having grown up at FCC herself, Meaghan especially loves building relationships with the youth, watching them grow, and helping create the same meaningful youth ministry experience that she enjoyed growing up.

Riley Payne serves as the FCC Elementary Youth Director. She is also a 2nd grade teacher and passionate about helping children grow in their faith. She has been a church member since she was born. She and her husband, Luke, have one daughter, Mary Glenn.

Sarah Maglinger began serving as pianist at First Christian in November of 2026. She also works as a local music educator. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion, with an emphasis in Music Ministry, from Kingswood University in Canada and has taught piano in Daviess County since 2011. She enjoys helping students grow in skill, confidence, and musical expression.

She is married to Art Maglinger, and they have three children. Outside of music, she enjoys spending time with her family, their dog, Max, and cat, Cheddar, and training in jiu-jitsu.

Stacy has served as the Executive Assistant for the church since September 2025 and has been a member of First Christian Church for over ten years. She is a graduate from Western Kentucky University, earning her BA in 1995 and her Master’s in Education from there in 1999. She spent over twenty-seven years teaching history at Apollo High School and Owensboro High School before happily retiring in 2024.

She and her husband, Chris, have been married since 1996, and they have three adult daughters and one son-in-law. Stacy loves spending free time with her family and friends, outdoor walks, watching sports, and being creative at home.