Our Program Staff
Mike Ricker, Senior Pastor
Mike Ricker was appointed Senior Pastor of Isle of Hope UMC in 2010. He is an elder within the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. Mike is a graduate of Georgia Southern University and the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Together with his wife Cindy, they are the founders and directors of Light for the Nations Ministry; an evangelism and missions ministry whose primary purpose is to assist local churches and pastors in fulfilling the Great Commission. Mike and Cindy have two grown children, Adam and Naomi, who are both married and have blessed them with four grandchildren. Mike is the author of various discipleship materials and the book, A Heart Aflame: Inspiration for the Journey.
Contact: mricker@iohumc.com
Jim Morrow, Associate Pastor
Jim serves as the Associate Pastor at Isle of Hope UMC. Jim is a provisional elder in the South Georgia Conference. He earned his Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary where he was honored with the OSL Hoyt Hickman Award for Outstanding Liturgical Scholarship in addition being inducted into the Leitourgia et Homiletica Honor Society; Eta Beta Rho, a Hebrew honor society; and the International Society of Theta Phi. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Theatre Education from Columbus State University. Before arriving at Isle of Hope, Jim served as the associate pastor at St. Marys United Methodist Church. He also taught high school theatre for two years. Jim and his wife, Amanda, were married in 2005. They have two children, Jackson and Dean Thomas.
Contact: jmorrow@iohumc.com
Meg Procopio, Minister of Christian Education
Meg Procopio serves as the Minister of Christian Education and oversees all education and spiritual growth opportunities at Isle of Hope UMC. Born in Eufaula, Alabama, Meg received her Bachelor of Arts in Christian Education from LaGrange College and completed her seminary work at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, Emory University’s Candler School of Theology and United Theological Seminary. Meg was certified in Christian Education by the United Methodist Church in 1994 and ordained a Full Deacon in 1997. Before joining the Isle of Hope UMC Staff in 1996, Meg served as Director of Youth & Programs at Valdosta First UMC in Valdosta, Georgia and as the First Steps Coordinator at the South Georgia Medical Center. She currently serves as a Board member on the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women in the United Methodist Church.
Contact: mprocopio@iohumc.com
Kevin Vogelsang, Director of Music
Kevin Vogelsang joined the Isle of Hope UMC Staff in 1995, after serving seven years on the faculty of Savannah’s Armstrong Atlantic State University as an Associate Professor of Music, teaching piano and music theory. Kevin has held previous positions at Northern Kentucky University and at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. From 1981 to 1985, Kevin was the Staff Accompanist at the Bay View Summer Music Festival in northern Michigan. He holds Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Contact: kvogelsang@iohumc.com
Nancy Vogelsang, Assistant Music Director
Nancy Vogelsang has been a church music director and pianist/organist since her youth in Indiana. She has served many different churches, most recently Grace United Methodist Church in Savannah. With Kevin, Nancy has held positions at Kenyon College and at the Bay View Summer Music Festival, and continues to maintain an active private piano studio. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from DePauw University in Indiana, and a Master of Accompanying degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Nancy joined the Isle of Hope UMC Staff as the Assistant Music Director in 1996.Chris Moncrief, Director of Non-traditional Worship
Contact: cmoncrief@iohumc.com
Savannah born and raised, Kim Kraft joined the Isle of Hope UMC Staff in 1997. As the Director of Nursery Ministries, Kim’s true passion lies in nurturing all of God’s children. Before joining our staff, she was a paraprofessional at Windsor Forest where she helped foster learning in young minds. With her nurturing spirit and warm smile, Kim is able to comfort even the fussiest of babies. Kim and her husband, Hal, have two children, Kyle and Emily. Julie Vann, Director of Missions & Outreach
Julie Vann joined the Isle of Hope UMC Staff as the Director of Missions-Outreach Ministries in 2000 after serving as the Chairman of the Missions-Outreach Committee for 3 years. Julie received an Associate Degree in Nursing in 1977 from Armstrong State College. She worked as a pediatric/pediatric ICU nurse and public health nurse for several years prior to starting her family. Julie and her husband Scott have two daughters and a son-in-law. Julie presently serves on the Mission on the Move Board, Connectional Ministries Outreach Committee, the Open Hands Partnership Committee, the South Georgia United Methodist Mercy and Justice Ministries, Inc. and the Savannah District Transportable Housing Committee. She has also served on the Second Servings Board and the Authority for the Homeless Board.
Contact: jvann@iohumc.com
After interning with the youth of Isle of Hope UMC in the summer of 2008, Mackay joined Isle of Hope UMC staff as Co-Director of Student Ministries in the summer of 2009. He is a graduate of Furman University and blessed to be working with the staff and youth of Isle of Hope UMC. While Mackay enjoys taking semi-long walks on the beach, reading beautiful poetry, and sipping on tall cups of cappuccino, he is really eager to see Jesus Christ inspire and transform the lives of the youth within Isle of Hope and is honored that Christ is allowing him to be apart of this new and uplifting movement!
Contact: mlee@iohumc.com
Katie Kavanaugh, Co-Director of Student Ministries
Katie moved to Isle of Hope from Hilton Head, SC and joined the staff of Isle of Hope UMC in April as Co-Director of Student Ministries. She finished at University of South Carolina in Fall 2010 and has felt called to work with youth ministry since she was in high school. Before coming to Isle of Hope, Katie volunteered/interned with the Student Ministry program at Christ Church Anglican in downtown Savannah for four years before being led to work in youth ministry full time. She also served on the praise team at Church of the Cross in Bluffton, SC. She is passionate about students being involved in and changed by their faith in Jesus. Her office is located in the Greenhouse, feel free to bring her frozen yogurt.
Contact: kkavanaugh@iohumc.com
