Randy Spaulding / Pastor
Randy was born in Kokomo, Indiana. His education includes: Ball State University, BS: Music, 1983; University of South Florida, Master of Music, 1998; Yale Divinity School, Master of Divinity, 2014. He has served congregations in Indiana, Florida, Connecticut and Colorado. He was ordained for ministry by Mountain States Mennonite Conference on February 17, 2019. He is also an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister and serves as a Community Minister with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder. Randy previously served as an oncology and sickle-cell chaplain at Yale-New Haven Hospital (New Haven, CT). He currently serves in leadership with Inclusive Mennonite Pastors and the Queer Leadership Coalition of Mennonite Church USA.
Pastor Randy has had a life-long love of music and has taught piano and voice throughout his life. He served as the Project Editor for the Mennonite hymnal supplements, Sing the Journey and Sing the Story and has led music and worship workshops around the U.S.
Randy and his husband, Gary Stephens, live in Denver, CO and are the companions to Pride, their happy chocolate lab. They enjoy their many nieces and nephews and previously served as foster parents to two young boys. Randy is also an avid quilter, and has made many for friends and family, and donated many to Mennonite Central Committee.
He is honored to be journeying with his new First Mennonite family, sharing the Good News of peace, love, inclusion and justice in the Denver community and beyond!
Paul Johnson / Facility Manager
Paul is the youngest of four sons of Arthur and Dorothy Johnson. He grew up in the Lutheran Church and attended a year of school at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran School in Englewood after his family moved here in 1985. Paul grew up also in New Jersey and Montana. Starting as a catering chef out of high school he then worked as a hotel sales manager for events and owned a wedding planning and event business in Charlotte NC. In 2012 God started redirecting Paul’s path to eventually return home to take care of his elderly parents until their passing in 2017 and 2018. Paul’s experience from 2010, 2011, and 2012 with an evangelical church in Glen Haven cooking for Pastor Glen Richards inspired him to be re-baptized as an adult. After his parents’ passing, while heading back to camp, Paul received a response from Glenn Balzer, less than 24 hours after the closing of his parents’ estate, about the FMC Facility Manager position… guiding Paul in God’s direction forward. Paul’s motto is “God has us in His hands.” Paul joined the FMC staff as Facility Manager in September 2019.
Rachel Barnes / Faith Formation Administrator
Rachel Barnes has been a dedicated member of the FMC community since around 2000. She also works part-time as an ESL teacher with Denver Public Schools and loves serving with FMC’s children and youth programs. Rachel and her husband, Chris, are the proud parents of two children, Aidan and Ella.
Kari Flett / Office Administrator
Kari is a Colorado native, born and raised in Boulder. She graduated from Carthage College in 2020 with a degree in Music Theatre and Public Relations. Her recent acting credits include Sister Act (Sister Mary Patrick), Flora the Red Menace (Esther), The Addams Family (Ancestor/Ensemble), and Pomme d’api (Gustave).
While performing is Kari’s first passion, her heart truly lies in sharing her love and knowledge of theatre with the next generation of young artists. She has been teaching students ages 5–18 for over a decade and loves watching her students grow in confidence, creativity, and their love of the performing arts. Want to know what show(s) she’s working on right now? Just ask—Kari is always happy to talk theatre!
When she’s not performing or teaching, Kari loves all the little details, organization, and spreadsheets that help keep things running smoothly behind the scenes. She is honored and excited to be part of the FMC team!
Jerel Fast / Direct Assistance Coordinator
Jerel Fast has been the coordinator of the Direct Assistance Program for the last few years, helping folks get rent and utility assistance during hard times. Formerly a high school science teacher, he enjoys rock climbing, board games, and spending time with his family. He is proud of FMC's unique program for neighborhood service and outreach.