Staff

Lead Pastor

Stephen Walters is the Lead Pastor of Connection Church. He was born in Atlanta, GA and raised in Gwinnett County (1999 graduate of Central Gwinnett High School). He attended the University of Georgia, graduating with a B.S. in Psychology before going to Emory University's Candler School of Theology earning a Masters of Divinity degree. While attending Prospect UMC in Lawrenceville, Stephen accepted Christ at age 14 on a choir tour. Soon after, he felt called into ministry.

Stephen has served as the Youth Minister at First UMC Dacula, Pastor of Rutledge UMC, and Minister of Evangelism at First UMC Lawrenceville. In June 2005, Stephen started feeling a desire to serve the people of Suwanee and to help bring Christ to the community. In June 2008, Stephen was appointed to start Connection Church, a new UMC in Suwanee that has the vision to connect people to Christ, connect people to each other, and connect the church to the community.

Stephen married Rebekah Walters, a Central Gwinnett and UGA alum, in 2004.

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Hospitality and Community Coordinator

Rebekah was born and raised in Atlanta, grew up in Gwinnett County, and attended Central Gwinnett High School and then the University of Georgia.

Rebekah attended church at Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula from elementary school through high school and accepted Christ at a youth Super Bowl Party in 1997. After dating and marrying Stephen, Rebekah became a regular attendee of the UMC.

Rebekah is a CPA by profession with a heart for hospitality and serving others. Rebekah is passionate about equipping others to manage their finances the way God intended by facilitating Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University and also serving as a Dave Ramsey trained financial counselor. She enjoys being outside and walking at Little Mulberry Park, planting flowers in her yard, planning and hosting, and spending time with her friends and family.

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Coordinator of Connect 4 Ministries

My name is AnnaKate Rawles and I was born in Atlanta, Georgia. I graduated from Boiling Springs High School in 2006 and began at Converse College that same year. Converse College is a small liberal women's college in Spartanburg South Carolina. I graduated from Converse with a BA in English Literature and Religion. Throughout my growing up years my mother was the children's minister at Bethel United Methodist in Spartanburg and from about the seventh grade I began working alongside of her teaching Sunday School and leading a small group for elementary school children on Wednesday nights. In high school I began as Director of the Spartanburg Methodist District Day Camp, a camp every summer for the children of the UMC district. IN college I worked as an intern at Bethel with the new children's minister and really fell in love with Children's ministry. I believe that the children are the future of Christianity and that emphasis should be on showing them the love of God as early as possible.

I am now a student at Emory's Candler School of Theology working on a master's of Divinity.

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Worship Leader

Dustin Wilson is the Worship Leader of Connection Church. He was born in Chattanooga, TN and raised in Dade County, GA. Dustin graduated from Georgia College and State University with a B.A. in Mass Communication. Dustin grew up in a christian home and accepted Christ after a moving experience at a camp at the age of 8.

Growing up, Dustin was around music all the time, singing in choirs, bands, and praise teams. Dustin served as worship director at Camp Glisson in Dahlonega, GA in the Summer of 2008. He also was worship leader for the GCSU Wesley College Ministry for two years. Dustin has a passion to see God's children experience musical worship to the fullest and meet with the Lord intimately during worship of all kinds.

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Coordinator of First Impressions

I grew up in Peoria, Illinois and most of my family still resides there. I am an Illini, Cubs and Bears fan. I love living in the South because the weather is so much better here than in Illinois. I have been married for 7 years to my wonderful husband Eric and currently 2 wonderful 4 legged furry children named Mina and Cosmo. i work in healthcare and feel blessed to be a part of the Connection church family.

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Audio Coordinator

Originally from Cedar Falls, Iowa, he took the "scenic route" to Georgia via North Carolina & Kentucky. He's been a Georgian for well over a decade, but is still a Yankee at heart (although he finally started using the term "y'all" recently).

Eric attended the University of Northern Iowa and Western Kentucky University as a Psychology & Philosophy major. He is the Chief Information Officer at TRIPinfo.com, where he handles database management, network administration & website development.

Eric and his wife Carrie met at Lawrenceville FUMC and have been married for over 7 years. They are proud "parents" to Cosmo (Boxer-mix pound puppy) and Mina (German Shepherd-mix pound puppy). A dyed in the wool Apple geek, Eric enjoys web-surfing, Xbox, attending Disciple Bible study classes and hanging out with his family and friends.

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