Our Pastors

Paul Ryan McReynolds was born in Santa Ana, Ca. to John and Evangeline McReynolds. He was raised in the largest African American church Second Baptist Church of Santa Ana California, where his father was the Pastor for nearly 30 years. He found his passion for music at an early age as a singer and musician. He served as lead drummer for SBC for over 19 years and singer in the youth and young adult choir. He preached his first sermon on the second Sunday in November 2011. From 2008-2013 he worked as a first responder in West Hollywood Ca as an EMT working with the LA County Fire Department.

Paul left California and traveled all the way to East Texas to attend The Wiley College on a music scholarship. He was afforded the opportunity to sing with the world renowned A Cappella Choir of Wiley College under the direction of Maestro Dr. Stephen L. Hayes. He was granted the chance to record with the Sounds of Blackness recording a cover of To Be Young Gifted and Black, along with his sister Melissa. He also sang at the White House and went on tour around the country. In 2014 he was selected to sing in Tokyo and Hiroshima Japan for the IAMSCU (International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, and Universities). He served as a campus minister from 2013-2016 under the direction of Rev. Tabitha Rankin. He became United Methodist in 2015 and became a member of Ebenezer United Methodist. On November 16, 2013, he was initiated into the greatest fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. The Alpha Sigma Chapter the 39th House of Alpha. He was selected to participate in the Rho class of The
Alpha Leadership Academy in 2014. He served the Texas Council of Alpha Chapters in 2013-14 as Asst District Secretary, The Asst District Director 2015-2016. He also served on the Southwestern Regional Board 2013-2016.

Paul is a graduate of The Wiley College. Paul received a M-Div. From the ITC at The Gammon Theological Seminary. He is the grandson of Arthur McReynolds who also attended Gammon and became the first Black Elder in Chattanooga, TN. Throughout Seminary He Served Several Churches in the Atlanta Area. Fort St UMC and Conyers First UMC. Upon Graduation in May of 2020 Paul joined the Susquehanna Annual Conference and now is the Pastor of Fairbrook UMC. Pastor Paul has worked with the camping ministries and members at large for the annual conference committee. Paul currently writes for the Centre Daily Times and recently got married to the love of his life, Ariel. Ariel is an Art enrichment instructor/ Owner of Art Explorers LA. Ariel is an amazing artist who works hard and her pedagogies and style draws you in and you too realize you can be an artist. Finally, Paul is striving for ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church. He is an avid reader and loves music and spending time watching movies. His motto is Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication.​
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Rev. Dr. Renee Ford is a mother (of Wesley who is a student at Penn College), spouse (of Bob who’s also a pastor in the Susquehanna Conference), minister, musician, beagler, instructional designer, and lover of God and people.  Pastor Renee has lived in Happy Valley since 2003, serving the Houserville-Woodycrest charge in State College.  Renee is from Mooers NY, a small town in Northeastern NY state on the Canadian Border.  She has been in ministry since 1993, serving as a campus ministry intern at SUNY Plattsburgh from 1993-1995, as youth minister at a large church in Dublin OH from 1996-1998, as a circuit minister in the British Methodist Church from 1998-1999, and as a pastor in Northeastern and Central PA since 1999).  

Renee received her B.A. in Music, Philosophy & Religious Studies from SUNY Plattsburgh in 1994, Master of Divinity from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio in 1999 and also completed her Ph.D. in Workforce Education and Development in 2015 at Penn State.  Her dissertation explored factors that influence clergy leadership effectiveness.  Renee’s “day-job” is working at the Smeal College of Business at Penn State as an instructional designer. ​

Pastor Renee did not grow up in a “churched” family, but she has a heart for building church community, forming relationships and reaching out to the vast majority of people around us who love God but aren’t necessarily “churchy.”  Renee is passionate about ministering to people who are the “last, least, and lost” among us with a particular concern for individuals and families struggling with poverty. People sometimes don’t believe Renee is a pastor because she doesn’t “fit the mold”...or maybe it’s because her dad is a truck driver and she hasn’t forgotten all the words she learned growing up. Either way, she is excited to be trusted with the honor of serving the people of Grays UMC and seeing all the places God leads us on this new adventure together!

Renee has administrative oversight of the Nittany Charge, and is the primary worship planner for Grays UMC, Houserville UMC, and Woodycrest UMC. Renee brings zest, skill, passion and compassion for ministry, the charge is blessed to have her wisdom and joy.

[email protected]
814-404-6535



Pastor Paul is with us the first thru 3rd Sunday of each month and Renee Ford is with us the 4th (and 5th) Sundays.

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