Leadership & Staff
Pastor Roxie McNelly
Senior Pastor
Our senior pastor, Rev. Roxie McNelly, came to us in October of 2016 from central Missouri where she was Senior Pastor of First Christian Church of Centralia for four years. A graduate of Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, with a Masters of Divinity, Pastor Roxie is new to the community of Martinsville, but is not new to Indiana. Having grown up just west of Indianapolis she and her husband, Jim, raised their two sons in Avon, IN. Pastor Roxie has a passion for worship and spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. Her intention is to live in the joy of knowing Jesus and to encourage others in developing their relationship with Christ. Pastor Roxie and her husband are happy to be “back home again in Indiana” and closer to their family, including their two granddaughters.
Jenny Blakley
Administrative Assistant
Jenny (Mayo) Blakley is a current resident of Martinsville and has been since age 11. Her interests and hobbies include reading, gardening and landscaping. She says, “My husband, Mike, and I are always taking our two children, Colton 11 and Chassity 9, on camping trips. We do a lot of hiking, fishing, swimming and boating. When the weather is good, we can almost always be found outside.”
Jenny comes from a long career in the business field with a special interest in Human Resources. She spent several years serving as a banker. Prior to her move to First Christian Church, she served as the Director of Human Resources and the Business Office Manager for a local home health agency. She states, “It is a blessing to be able to work within the community I live and do work that is so meaningful to me. Everyone in the congregation at First Christian Church has welcomed me with open arms and I am proud take part in it all.”
Rev. Linda Presley
Director – Children, Youth, and Families Ministry
Pastor Linda has enjoyed working with children since she was in high school. While she was in college and seminary she worked with middle and high school students and their families. She received her Master of Divinity degree from Brite Divinity school with an emphasis in Pastor Care & Religious Education. She was ordained in the Greenville Christian Church by the Southwest Region. Born in Portland, Oregon she has served churches in Texas, Michigan, California, Indiana, and Oregon. She and her husband David have worked together in 4 different congregations as Co-Pastors and Associates over their 45 years of marriage. They have two children Jon & Christina and 3 grandchildren Savannah, Mya and Simon.
While serving as the Associate Pastor here at First Christian Church 23 years ago she worked with the youth and adults of the church to start The Haven Youth Center. Upon moving back to Martinsville five years ago she took up the position of part time Director of The Haven. Linda is also serving as our Children, Youth, and Families Ministry director.