Meet Our Staff | Bridgewater United Methodist Church

Mary Dadisman

Senior Pastor

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

I'm excited to be appointed as the pastor of Bridgewater UMC. I'm looking forward to getting to know the people of Bridgewater. I can't wait to see what God is already doing here and where God will be leading us!

I'm from Harrisonburg. and graduated from JMU. I received my degree in Sociology with minors in History and Women's Studies. I was active in the Wesley Foundation (UM Campus ministry) and the Marching Royal Dukes. After college, I was commissioned by the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) as a young adult US-2 missionary. My mission was working with youth in Southern California.

After serving 2 1/2 years, I returned to Harrisonburg. I worked in customer service, volunteered in my church, took mission trips to Russia and South Africa, and started a 'contemporary' worship service. I also took a few classes at Eastern Mennonite Seminary.

After about ten years, I responded to God's call to pastoral ministry (which was always there) and moved to Chicago to attend seminary at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. After spending three years studying on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan, I returned home to Virginia.

I have served the Virginia Annual Conference as the Associate Pastor of Haygood UMC in Virginia Beach and the Pastor of Kenwood UMC in North Dinwiddie. In 2017, I was ordained an elder by Bishop Sharma Lewis. Most recently, I have served as the pastor of Carson UMC in Dinwiddie.

I love serving God in ministry with others, especially outreach and mission. For fun, I like to play music and sing. My favorite music is Broadway musicals and movie soundtracks. I like working on crafts, reading novels, going to plays and movies. I enjoy kayaking, hiking, sitting in a mountain stream, and contemplating God's incredible handiwork. I like to travel and recently had the opportunity to go to Israel and Palestine and see the Holy Land sites. My favorite sites on the trip were the Pool of Bethsaida, Capernaum, Magdala, and the Dead Sea (but who can choose, they were all amazing!). I live with a "genuine United Methodist itinerating" cat named Peek.

"The joy of the Lord is my strength!" Nehemiah 8:10

Whitney Reusser

Children's Ministry Coordinator

Email: childrensministry@bridgewaterumc.com

Whitney was born and raised in Bridgewater and has attended Bridgewater United Methodist Church all her life. She is a graduate of Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA with a bachelor's in Religion and a Certificate of Christian Leadership. Having been surrounded by children her entire life, Whitney is experienced and excited about childcare and children’s development!

In her free time, Whitney enjoys cooking and baking, reading, and spending time with her family, her husband Logan, and their dog, Pete!

Joan Kenney

Director of Music and Sanctuary Choir Director

Email: joankenney@yahoo.com

For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands, I sing for joy! - Psalm 92:4

Joan Kenney has served Bridgewater United Methodist Church as the Sanctuary Choir since 1979. She works with church and guest musicians to glorify God through music in services. She enjoys working with all ages and encourages interested people to contact her.

Joan graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree and spent her career teaching elementary music in Augusta and Rockingham County Public Schools. She lives in Bridgewater with her husband, Dennis, and enjoys spending time with her family especially her 4 grandchildren, Melanie, Robert, Haley, and Eileen.

Drew Davis

Organist and Bookkeeper

Email: Bookkeeper@BridgewaterUMC.com

Drew Davis, originally from Berwyn, PA, has been organist/pianist at Bridgewater United Methodist Church since 1986 and was employed by the Information Technology department at James Madison University from 1988 until his retirement in 2020. Drew studied organ under William Evans, Dr. Robert Elmore, Richard Alexander, and briefly with John Weaver at the Curtis Institute of Music. He has performed in Philadelphia, New York City, as well as locally. He enjoys playing all types of music, but his favorites are classical organ repertoire from Bach and French composers.

Ramona Evans

Handbell Choir Director

Email: Office@BridgewaterUMC.com

Ramona Shirkey Evans is a graduate of Turner Ashby High School and Bridgewater College. She has been a church musician most of her life. She enjoys playing the piano, organ, and handbells. She currently serves as handbell director at Bridgewater UMC, Dayton UMC, and Montezuma COB.

Ramona lives in Montezuma with her husband Phil where they have poultry houses and operate her home place Clear Spring Homestead B&B. She enjoys spending time with her 2 daughters and grandchildren.

Edward Stoops

Custodian

Email: Office@BridgewaterUMC.com

Edward Stoops has served Bridgewater United Methodist Church as the Custodian since 2004. He is also employed as the custodian at the Harrisonburg District UMC office and works during tax season at an accounting firm as an Administrative Assistant. He was born in Pittsburgh, PA and raised in Alexandria, VA and moved to the Shenandoah Valley in 1979.

His calling for ministry lead him to graduate from Rhema Bible Training College in Tulsa, OK in 1989. His employment history has given him experience working with computers, audio equipment, sewing machines, cleaning, organizing, and custodial and grounds work.

Edward likes to play different types of games: cards, board and computer games. He enjoys craft projects such as quilting, needle point and paper crafts using his Cricut cutter. He also likes going to the beach.

Joey Capuano

Digital Content Creator

Joey Capuano lives in Bridgewater with his family (his human and furry family, as is seen here through his picture here of his dog, Beckham!) He loves the outdoors, spending time with his family and friends, and performing and listening to music.

He has been involved in Church Religious Education and Music Ministry programs for more than ten years.

He graduated from James Madison University in 2019 with a degree in Modern Foreign Languages (with a concentration in Spanish and a secondary language in Italian) and minors in Music and Business Spanish. He then earned his Virginia teacher certification through the University of Virginia College at Wise and is currently teaching as an English Language Learning teacher at Montevideo Middle School in Rockingham County.

Joey is highly passionate about Ministry work and Advocacy causes for all people. He has much experience in working with the Immigrant and Refugee / Asylee communities in providing educational and community opportunities and promoting multicultural understanding and respect, and loves this role.

He is so happy to be a member of the Bridgewater United Methodist Church community and looks forward to our future as a congregation in bringing His Word to all people!

Molly Wright

Children's Church & Nursery

Hi! I’m Molly Wright and I am a local resident here in Bridgewater. I have been attending Bridgewater UMC since I was born and I am so excited to support the church and interact with our kids! I graduated from MTC’s Culinary program in 2021 and Turner Ashby High School in 2022. I am passionate about cooking, baking, and making sweet treats! I also am passionate about children, which is why I’m so excited to join the nursery team!

Gracen Kelley

Children's Church & Nursery

My name is Gracen Kelley. I am from Caroline County, VA. I have lived in Caroline my entire life. When I am home, I attend Wrights Chape

l United Methodist Church. That is the church that I grew up in. I am a Freshman at Bridgewater College studying Elementary Education. Both of my parents are teachers so that influenced my dream of being a first or second-grade teacher. I also swim here at Bridgewater! I have been swimming since I was 12 years old. I am so excited to be a part of Bridgewater United Methodist Church!

Noel Harrison

Children's Church & Nursery

Hello, I am Noel Harrison. I am from Northern Virginia and I go to Bridgewater College. I am majoring in Health and Exercise Science to become a Pediatric Occupational Therapist and I am the Captain of the Color guard at BC. I love kids and I have worked with children for many years, and many ages. I'm even a Substitute at my own elementary school back home! I am very excited to continue working with the children in the church to share the good works of God!