Meet our Staff: Meghan Garland

Meghan became the Youth and Young Adult Ministry Director at HUMC in January 2014 and continues to serve in that position. She was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota and moved to Tonawanda, NY with her parents when she was six.

She feels blessed to have such a close and supporting family. Meghan attended a Lutheran church growing up and was very active in it.  She loves music and became very involved in the music program in Middle School and High School. She went on to study cello at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, NY. She majored in Contemporary Ministry with a focus in Music Ministry but found herself drawn to Student Ministry. She was involved with the youth and young adult programs through The Father’s House Church, the church she attended while in college.

Her graduation from college coincided with the Youth Ministry position that was made available at HUMC, initially through the generosity of Stanley Hooper. Meghan applied, was hired and has been in that position for almost six years.

As the Youth and Young Adult Ministry Director, Meghan is responsible for building intentional relationships with the congregation specifically falling between the ages of 11 to about 30. Through these relationships, she guides each individual into closer relationships with God and a deeper understanding of what it means to live a Christian life. She does this through weekly gatherings during the school year and special events that occur about once a month. Meghan especially enjoys attending sporting events, music performances and art shows that the youth are involved in. She loves watching them do what they are passionate about and getting to spend time with them outside of the church. She loves their curiosity and questions which shows their interest in learning. If she doesn’t know the answer, they research and discover the answers together. She states that, “I feel truly blessed to get to work with the youth I have here at HUMC.”

Meghan also assumed the position of Contemporary Music Director in January 2016 and continues in that position. She is responsible for providing and rehearsing the more contemporary music not typically found in the hymnals. She feels that music brings people closer to God and the variety offered at HUMC appeals to individual choices. She enjoys the opportunity to introduce new songs that enhance the Message each week. “Whenever I hear a crowd of voices singing together in praise of God, it brings a big smile to my face.”

One of her favorite scriptures is 1 Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” “I love this scripture because it’s brought me a lot of comfort and given me the strength and boldness to push through difficult times and decisions. It reminds me that God can use people at any age to speak the truth of His good news.”

Thank you, Meghan, for your passion and enthusiasm in serving our church!

Meet Our Staff: Cristina Glover

“Jesus answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and the most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’”                                                                                                                              Matthew 22:37-39

Cristina Glover became the Administrative Assistant at HUMC in the Spring of 2017, and she continues to serve in that position. She was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and moved to Buffalo, NY, with her mother and older sister, Jenifer, when she was in Elementary School. Her first language is Spanish, and she is a Baptized member of Iglesias Cristiana Discipulos de Cristo in Puerto Rico. Upon arriving in the United States, her family attended various churches. These included those of the Spanish language, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and Baptist. Her family found meaning in the worship of many different congregations. Cristina and her older sister attended VBS at the Clevehill UMC every summer, close to their home.

Cristina began taking viola lessons at the age of 11. She played in the school orchestra throughout Middle and High School and still enjoys playing today. Among her many High School interests, Cristina was President of the Foreign Language Club. With the help of a School Advisor, she wrote a grant for a program called “The Friendship Circle.” This after-school program encouraged students to develop healthy emotional habits through creative writing and journaling. Students met and shared their creative poetry and writings without judgment. Cristina attended Niagara University, where she majored in English Literature. She was involved in the Yearbook Student Life Committee and sang as part of the Chapel Choir.  She had a deep fascination with World Religion and graduated only two credits short of having a minor in Religious Studies.

Cristina lives in Buffalo with her husband, Ryan, their daughter, Phoebe, and two cats named Buddy and Molson.

Before working at HUMC, Cristina worked at the Western New York Chapter of The March of Dimes Foundation as a Market Specialist. She was responsible for coordinating and executing cost-effective fundraising events to meet the foundation’s fundraising objectives. When her branch merged with Syracuse and Albany during an organizational restructuring, all of the staff were laid off. Cristina is a longtime volunteer with the Girl Scouts of Western New York, where she serves as a Troop Leader, a Service Unit Team Leader, a Leadership Experience Coach, and a Product Program Specialist. She also serves as the President of the Parent Teacher Organization at the school where her daughter attends. She helps plan fundraisers, school dances, and social events to benefit the school’s foundation.

When free time allows, Cristina enjoys traveling, leisure reading, woodworking, photography, scrap booking, baking, cake decorating, sewing quilting as well as camping and hiking. She also has recently started recreating Bob Ross’ masterpieces by following along with his “Joy of Painting” videos. Cristina values her family greatly. She calls her grandparents at least every other week and visits her parents and brother often. Her two closest friends live out of the area, but she looks forward to seeing them whenever possible.

Thank you, Cristina, for your strong commitment to your Faith, Family, and HUMC

This article originally appeared in the January 2020 Circuit Writer, updated July 2023

2019 VBS: Day 5