Ministerial Staff

SENIOR PASTOR
Larry Bryars (Larry@shalimar-umc.org)
 Larry and Vicki (Elementary School Teacher) have been married for over twenty six years. They have three sons, Paul, Nicholas, and John.

Larry is a native of Stockton, AL. He received his BS degree from the University of South Alabama, Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary, and Doctorate of Ministry from The Theological School of Drew University. He has served as an associate pastor in Bay Minette First and Church Street in Selma. As a senior pastor, he spent fourteen years in the Epworth UMC in Phenix City and four years in the Aldersgate UMC in Montgomery. Prior to coming to Shalimar UMC, Larry served three years as the District Superintendent of the Montgomery-Prattville District.

Larry has served on many boards and agencies of the Alabama West Florida Conference. Presently, he serves as chair of the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and is a trustee of Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL.   He has been an instructor in the Course of Study for Local Pastors, and was the co-founder of the Huntingdon- Birmingham Southern Course of Study School. He is also past adjunct staff of Candler School of Theology in the Teaching Parish program.

Larry has had the honor of representing the Alabama-West Florida Conference as a member of the delegation to the past four General and Jurisdictional Conferences.  He serves as a member of the “Rules and Order” committee for the Southeast Jurisdictional Conference.

ASSOCIATE PASTOR
David Hoppenjan (David@shalimar-umc.org)
As one of 5 children, I grew up on a farm in Shullsburg, a small town found deep in the southwest pocket of Wisconsin. I graduated in 1987 from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with a B.S. in Agriculture Education and a business emphasis. 

After college, I moved to the Birmingham, AL area where I met my wife, Jennie, where she worked on her Masters of Education at the University of Montevallo. Jennie is from Alexander City, AL and works in the financial industry as a remote employee for Ronald Blue & Co., LLC. We have been married for 18 years and have two sons, Andy and Michael. Andy, who just turned 14, is in the 8^th grade.  He enjoys reading and being part of the Meigs Middle School band and play­ing football. Michael is 12 and in the 7^th grade at Meigs Middle School.  He loves playing, talking about, and watching basketball along with most other sports. Last, but not least, we are the proud “people” for our 2 ½ year old Lab-Boxer mix dog who takes up lots of our attention whenever she thinks we need a diversion.

MINISTER OF MUSIC
Jeff Keeman (Jeff@shalimar-umc.org)

Reverend Jeff Keeman has been serving Shalimar UMC as Minister of Music since September 2003. He and his wife Renee were married in 1983. Renee serves Shalimar UMC as church pianist, directs the youth choir, plays in a handbell ensemble and teaches music fulltime at a local public elementary school.   

God has also blessed Jeff and Renee with 3 precious children, Felicia (23), a Florida State University graduate; Suzette (20), a Junior music major at Florida State University; and Joshua (16), a HS Junior who in addition to playing in his HS band, plays trombone in the Shalimar UMC orchestra, sings in the youth choir and serves on the youth leadership council. 

Jeff has a Bachelors Degree in Church Music and Voice from William Carey College; a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from The University of West Florida and a Masters Degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a concentration in Christian Education and Music. Jeff, has been serving local churches as Minister of Music since June 1981 and currently supervises a vast music ministry at Shalimar UMC. He plans and directs the music for 3 morning worship services and personally directs the Chancel Choir, 9:30am Contemporary Praise Team, Church Orchestra and Adult Handbell Choir and provides oversight and direction for other choirs and ensembles found in the music ministry website. 

 Jeff’s main desire is to use all the musical resources available to him for the purpose of glorifying God, edifying through music the membership of Shalimar UMC and the community it serves. Music enrollment is ALWAYS OPEN