Medea Saunders
Pastor
I grew up in Des Moines, IA, and rural Russell, IA, and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1990. I was baptized and confirmed at Union Park United Methodist Church, where my Grandma Ruth was a member. After High School. I attended Simpson for one year, and then studied Biology and Russian at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, NE. I attended Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, for Seminary. While in GA, I served a small country church for a year as a Student Pastor.
I met my husband, Scott, at my ten year reunion. We have been married 25 years this April. We have two children, Ben and Aenea, and three grand-children. Our family are animal lovers, and so we have cats, a dog and a lizard, too. We live in Beaverdale, near to both of our parents, and also Scott’s sister and her husband. My older brother, Jason, passed away in 2021.
My hobbies are my family, gardening flowers, singing, church, and my pets. I can often be found sitting on the deck with my dog leaning on me, just watching the yard together.
I have served in a variety of ministry settings and churches, including: Simpson College Assistant Chaplain, Drake University Wesley Foundation Director, Fort Dodge First Associate, Story City, Prairie City and Pleasant Hill Charge, Ivy Centennial in Altoona, and Center Chapel in Indianola. I spent 7+ years as a Hospice Chaplain for UnityPoint at Home in Des Moines, and recently finished a Chaplain Residency at Methodist Hospital. I have been active in Wesley Woods Camp since I was eleven years old. I have served on various Conference Boards, General Church Boards, and was an alternate delegate to Jurisdictional Conference in 2024.
Barb Chambers
Organist
Barb enjoys a unique history with the EUMC as she was both baptized and married at EUMC. Barb has been married for over 50 years and has been blessed with four daughters and twelve grandchildren. Barb and her husband Ross lived in three different states before returning to Iowa in 1981. During this time, Barb had the pleasure of serving as youth choir director and chancel choir director. Upon returning to Iowa, Barb has served EUMC in several roles including Sunday School Music Programs, Chancel Choir Director (17 years), and worship accompanist.
Council of Ministries
Leadership Council
A One Board leadership council that discusses all the workings of the church both within our church and outreach to the community. This group covers everything that was previously discussed by Ad Council. The Council of Ministries one board approach was voted and agreed upon by the congregation and began meeting in March 2020.
Meets each month after morning service (check the calendar). These folks are the people to contact with any questions or concerns.
Jeanne Amis
(2025)
Jeanne Amis was born and raised in Kansas. She has been an Iowa resident since 1987 and joined Emmanuel United Methodist Church in 1997. Jeanne enjoys various activities in the church including singing, participating in Bell Choir, and the Bible studies as well as the church chat group.
Jeanne and her husband, Jeff Vincent, have 5 children and 10 grandchildren between them. Jeanne and Jeff enjoy spending time with family as well as various activities including camping, traveling, and playing pickle ball.
What Jeanne likes most about Emmanuel is the feeling of community – of being cared for and loved. She also likes how EUMC strives to be a better church and meet the needs of the community.
Jana Browns
(2026)
Hello! My family and I moved to Granger in 2017. I grew up in Tingley, a small town in southwest Iowa. I later moved to Des Moines to attend college at AIB. During my spare time I like to play competitive volleyball or pickleball. I love coffee, puzzles, walking, reading, gardening, and learning new things! We also enjoy cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes. I’m glad to be part of a growing church and community.
Merle Hall
(2025)
Our family moved to Granger in the fall of 1982, and we started attending Emmanuel sometime shortly after they sawed the roof off of the old church and just as the then-current pastor was leaving. I’ve done a wide variety of things – designed graphics, written articles, attended Annual Conference, Ad Council president a time or two, Men’s Club president a time or two, helped trim trees and numerous other things I’m sure I’ve forgotten.
Marsha grew up in Abilene, Texas, and we have been married forty-six years. We have three sons: Austin, a bread baker in NYC; Evan, a data programming consultant in Minneapolis; and Aaron, also a bread baker, in Mount Vernon, Iowa.
Valerie Kuehl
Chair (2025)
I was born and raised in Granger, Iowa. I work as a Global Director, Client Success for TELUS International which allows me to travel across the world and meet a lot of interesting people and get to know different cultures.
I currently reside on an acreage outside of Woodward with my husband, Robert whom I have been married to for 33 years. We have two great kids- Austin, who works for the family business and has coached varsity Football for Woodward-Granger for ~10 years. Our daughter, Miranda is the Operations Director for Global Wellness Clinic in Madrid.
I have been a member of Emmanuel United Methodist Church since I was very young. The thing that resonates most with me about EUMC, is there is always a since of belonging, love and kindness.
Wesley Maddock
(2025)
Wesley moved to Granger in 2017 from Arkansas with his wife Maddison and two daughters Adeline and Isabelle. He is active in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and works as a Mechanic for the U.S. Postal Service When not working he enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, bowling, and watching football.
Gwen Martin
(2027)
Gwendolyn Martin was raised in the Granger Emmanuel United Methodist Church from the start. She now lives in Granger with her husband, Kyle, and two children, Nolan and Elzada. She is passionate about sharing the love of Christ with all of God’s children through missions and education at EUMC.
Gwen works for CHARACTER COUNTS! at the Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University and is involved with the Woodward-Granger PTO, Showtime Dance and Tumbling Studio, and loves all things Disney. She’s so grateful for everyone at church who has helped raise her in the faith and who is continuing to foster the love of God in my babies, now.
Jil Proctor
(2026)
I’m Jil, I am currently the treasurer for the church. I have been involved at EUMC for over 30 years. I enjoy working outside in the yard, spending time with my grandkids and knitting prayer shawls.