Rose leads all aspects of our renowned music program, which encompasses leading worship and providing music for other church activities and special events, nurturing the musical gifts of the congregation, and providing musical outreach to Garland and surrounding communities. 

A conductor, collaborative keyboardist and mezzo-soprano with special interests in sacred and operatic music, theology and vocal pedagogy, Rose holds a Masters of Music from Austin Peay University in Clarksville, Tenn., and a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance from the University of St. Thomas in Houston.  

Kamilya (kah-me-la) accompanies the Chancel Choir and Pure Joy! Youth Choir on the organ and the piano during Sunday morning worship and other special events. 

A native of Kazakhstan, Kamilya holds a Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance from the Kazakh National University of Arts, and a Master's of Music and a Performer's Diploma from the SMU Meadows School of the Arts. 

She is currently pursuing a Master's in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at SMU. 

Kamilya has attended organ master classes in Germany, and was an exchange program student at the Venice Conservatory in Italy. 

She has won awards in various national and international competitions since she began playing the piano at age 7 in her hometown of Pavlodar. 

This includes Diploma awards in 2019 at the 20th Open Festival - Competition of Organ Music Gatchina - St. Petersburg in St. Petersburg, Russia and the Second International Competition for Young Composers and Organists "Baikal Toccata" in Irkutsk, Russia. 

Josh leads our First Youth Fellowship for grades 7-12. 

A long-time member of First United Methodist Garland, Josh was heavily involved as a youth leader, a lay speaker, a Sunday School teacher, a member of the Chancel Choir and an active participant in missions and musicals long before joining the church staff. 

His passion for youth development has led him to develop a family-centered approach to ministry with teenagers. 

Influenced in his early spiritual development and growth by his grandmother Mary Medlock, Josh is studying to become a local pastor and plans to seek full ordination in The United Methodist Church. 

He brings a wide variety of professional experiences that serve him well in his role at First United Methodist Garland - from printing press operator, loss-prevention specialist, warehouse manager, courier, fry cook, assistant scheduling manager, martial arts instructor, sales trainer and service technician to his most recent position as turn manager for a multi-family management company. 

Josh also holds a 1st Degree Black Belt (Kukkiwon-certified) and a 3rd Degree Black Belt (American Martial Arts Academy) in Taekwondo. 

Yolanda coordinates our missions activities, including but not limited to support for Good Samaritans of Garland, Austin Street Center in Dallas, Project Transformation and Running 4 Clean Water. She also spearheads community outreach, including support for nearby Freeman Elementary School, and is the face of our advocacy efforts for the homeless and for racial justice. 

Mark is responsible for the church website, social media, email publications including First Week and First Reflections, electronic signage, worship bulletins, and other internal and external communications. He also produces multimedia for worship and other activities, and manages the church computer, video and building access network. 

Mark previously served for four years as Director of Communications for First United Methodist Plano. Prior to that he spent 32 years in high-tech public relations and marketing communications with Nortel Networks and Harris Corporation. 

Mark began his professional career with five years as a sports writer for The Morning Sun in Pittsburg, Kansas and The Oklahoman in Oklahoma City. He also covered high school football and other high school sports for 30 years as a freelancer for various newspapers including The Dallas Morning News. 

Mark holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing from Dallas Baptist University. He is also a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP).