About Us
Welcome to Port Byron First United Methodist Church.
Port Byron First Methodist Church was founded in 1836. What difference might that make to you? It matters because the church has consistently been involved in and ministering to the community of Port Byron from nearly the town’s beginning. The congregation is community-minded by being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to believers and to those who have not met Jesus, yet. The ministries that you will learn about on our website speak to the dedication that the congregation has in demonstrating the agape love that Jesus taught us to show one another.
The life of our church is guided by two statements:
-
United Methodist Church Mission
- The mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Port Byron First UMC Mission - The mission of the Port Byron First United Methodist Church is to center the congregation with God and Jesus Christ, to develop authentic relationships in a faithful community and communion of grace, and to honor God and all of His creation.
Join us in our mission and ministry to love and serve God in the Port Byron, Illinois community and the world.
Staff Pictures and Information
Church email: portbyronfirstumc@gmail.com
Church phone: 309-848-4050
Lead Pastor
Rev. Roberta A. Robbins, Ph.D.
I’m Pastor Roberta Robbins, lead pastor of Port Byron First UMC. My call to ministry began at the nudging of my late husband, Rev. Jeff Robbins. Jeff needed some help with serving three churches. He looked at me and said, “You need to get some training…” So, I did. That was in 2009. My call to serve the Lord had been pretty quiet up until then. Most of my professional experience had been as a university professor. The Communication discipline has been and continues to be very important to me. Family communication was a favorite course to teach. I continue to write about family communication, money, and spiritual reconciliation. My interests include music, playing the piano, reading, exercising, and spending time with my adult children, grandchildren, and yes, one great-grandson.
Associate Pastor:
Rev. Becky Butterfield
Hello! I’m Pastor Becky Butterfield. I serve as the Associate Pastor at Port Byron First United Methodist Church. My primary ministry focus is with children, youth, and families. I received my Master of Divinity from The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in 2015. I was ordained in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of the United Methodist Church as a deacon in 2017. Since my appointment to Port Byron First UMC is part-time, I am bi-vocational. The other half of my week I work for the Riverdale School district as a substitute teacher, high school speech coach, and assistant play director. All of the work I get to do with the children and youth in our school district feels like an extended opportunity to honor and live into my vocational ministry call to work with young people. I am married to Chad and we have three sons and a granddaughter. I love to travel, watch live theatre, read, be in nature, and share a good meal or cup of coffee with family or friends.
Administrative Assistant
Stephanie Johnson
Hi, my name is Stephanie Johnson, I prefer to be called Steph. I am the part-time Administrative Assistant at Port Byron 1st UMC. I am here to help the pastors with the bulletins, keeping records in order, making copies & anything to make their jobs easier. When I am not at work, I enjoy being home doing yard work and baking.
Church Committees
- Board of Trustees
- Church Council
- Finance Committee
- Memorial Committee
- Mission Committee
- Nominations & Leadership Development Committee
- Staff/Pastor-Parish Relations Committee
- United Women in Faith
Board of Trustees
Purpose: Trustees function as Christian stewards of property God has entrusted to the congregation. This includes supervising and maintaining both the physical property of the congregation and gifts made to the congregation so that the ministries of the congregation can be effective, and all legal requirements related to the property are satisfied.
Officers/Leaders:
Chairperson: Kevin Mahraun
Church Council
Purpose: The church council envisions, plans, implements, and annually evaluates the ministry of the congregation. The church council is made up of the chairs of all the church committees.
Officers/Leaders:
Lead Pastor: Roberta A Robbins, Ph.D.
Deacon/Associate Pastor: Rebecca Butterfield
Secretary/Administrative Assistant: Stephanie Johnson
Church Council Chairperson: Melissa Hogren
Board of Trustees Chairperson: Kevin Mahraun
Finance Committee Chairperson: Pat Griffith
Nominations and Leadership Development Vice Chair: Nikki Stuart
Staff/Pastor-Parish Relations Chairperson: Kathy Mahraun
Lay Leader: Nikki Stuart
Lay Member of Annual Conference: Kathy Mahraun
Church Treasurer: Bree Heim
Financial Secretary: Nancy Hatcher
Prayer Coordinator: Nancy Hatcher
United Women in Faith President: Nancy Hatcher
Recording Secretary: Nikki Stuart
Finance Committee
Purpose: The finance committee proposes a budget; then raises, manages, and distributes the financial resources of the congregation. These resources support and strengthen the mission and ministry of the congregation.
Officers/Leaders:
Chairperson: Pat Griffith
Financial Secretary: Nancy Hatcher
Treasurer: Bree Heim
Memorial Committee
Content in progress
Mission Committee
Purpose: The Mission Committee is to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We are a team involved in missions and encourages others to join us. The church members are encouraged to participate in providing prayer, money and/or time to help the mission team. The team facilitates between the church and the missions we are serving. We are currently working with Whispering Hills Housing to provide personal and household items. Membership is open to anyone who would like to help the team reach people for Jesus!
Donations Received
Nominations & Leader Development Committee
Purpose: The committee on nominations and leader development identifies, develops, deploys, evaluates, and monitors Christian spiritual leadership. The committee guides church leaders on matters regarding laity in leadership of the congregation.
Officers/Leaders:
Chairperson: Roberta A Robbins, Ph.D.
Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee
Essential functions of S/PPRC:
The SPRC focuses on building strong relationships between the staff and congregation and between the congregation and the district superintendent. Additionally, the SPRC ensures that the staff and congregational interests are integrated to focus on the mission of the church.
Officers/Leaders:
Chairperson: Kathy Mahraun
United Women in Faith
Purpose: United Women in Faith is a sisterhood acting in faith to tackle the hard work of the world without hesitation. Driven by God’s love and united in sisterhood, the UWF work to improve the lives of women, children, and youth. UWF women show up and get it done. Any woman can be a member who indicates her desire to belong and to participate in the global mission of the church.
Officers/Leaders:
President: Nancy Hatcher
Vice President: Pat Griffith
Treasurer: Debbie Baker
Secretary: Noreen Bailey