Trinity Archives

C U R R E N T    P R O F E S S I O N A L   S T A F F

Our Senior Pastor

Rev. Wade Griffith    2007 - 

Our new senior pastor, Wade Griffith, was born in Decatur, AL in 1974.  He graduated Decatur High School and did his undergraduate work at Birmingham-Southern College.  Upon graduation, he enrolled at Wake Forest University School of Law in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  While in law school, Wade received a calling into ministry.  After completing his first year at Wake, he left law school and moved back to Birmingham where he became the youth director at Avondale UMC.  One year later, he began seminary at Vanderbilt University and was appointed pastor at Chapel Hill UMC in Decatur, AL.  He served as pastor of Chapel Hill UMC throughout his four years of seminary.

After graduating seminary, he was appointed as associate pastor of Latham UMC in Huntsville, AL.  His responsibilities at Latham included leading young adult ministries, evangelism and missions teams.  While at Latham, Wade and a team of laity began a ministry in Chracaseca, Nicaragua that continues to this day.  In fact, right now there is a team from Latham in Chracaseca, Nicaragua, continuing a construction, education and eye-care/vision ministry.  Wade was also responsible for leading SpiritLink, the contemporary worship service at Latham, and supervising the worship leader and youth director.

Two and half years ago, Wade was moved to Trinity UMC in Homewood, AL, to become the associate pastor for evangelism and young adult ministries.  Shortly after arriving at Trinity Homewood, he met Julia Millsaps.  They were married in March of 2006 and have two dogs, Kendall and Mani.  Wade is an eagle scout and enjoys running, landscaping, backpacking, Law and Order (the original series) and reading.

Pastor Wade was appointed to be the senior pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church in Tuscaloosa at the 2007 Annual Conference.

Rev. Michelle Hunter Hindman     2006 - 

Rev. Michelle Hunter Hindman is a native of Tuscaloosa and lives here with her awesome son Drew. 

She is a probationary deacon, which means that she serves God and God's people through Word and Service.  These responsibilities include spiritual formation (being formed in the image of Christ for the service of others) and worship planning.  She is actively involved with Camp Sumatanga, having led the Mom and Me camps (overnight camping for moms and their 4-8 year olds) for several years. 

Rev. Michelle is a graduate of Memphis Theological Seminary and the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.  She loves to spend time with her son, camp, cook, and read.

Rev. Ken Smith   1983 -

Ken Smith grew up in Holt and  received a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Alabama in 1972  and a Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School in 1973. 

He has held previous appointments as Associate Pastor, Tuscaloosa  First U.M.C, , Pastor, Southside U.M.C. Gadsden, and is presently Campus Minister, Wesley Foundation, University of Alabama.

Rev. Melody Christolear  2001 -

Melody Traylor Christolear grew up in Anniston and Birmingham and received her undergraduate degree from Birmingham Southern College and earned her Masters of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology; Emory University. Melody was ordained Deacon in 1989 and was ordained Elder in 1993.

Melody has served appointments in Sunny Level UMC, Waterloo UMC - Wright's Chapel UMC, Roebuck Drive UMC and First UMC in Tuscaloosa as Associate Pastor. Presently, Melody als serves as Director of Discovery Ministries, a non-profit ministry helping local churches lead youth to Christ.