About Us
All ARE WELCOMED TO THE TABLE
We invite you to experience Countryside UMC at one of our Sunday worship services. You can engage with others and find a place to connect.
About Countryside
BUILD YOUR OWN MEET OUR PASTORS
For each project we establish relationships with partners who we know will help us create added value for your project. As well as bringing together public and private sectors your project.
OUR BELIEFS
For each project we establish relationships with partners who we know will help us create added value for your project. As well as bringing together the public and private.
Mission of the United Methodist Church:
“To make disciples of Jesus Christ for
the transformation of the world”
Vision of Countryside United Methodist Church:
“Called to be a Church of Blessing – Gather, Grow, Go!”
At Countryside, we are “Called to be a Church of Blessing – Gather, Grow, Go!” through the following values:
ACCEPTANCE
We respect differences in people and seek to include all in the ministries of Countryside.
JESUS-LIKE
We value the teachings of Jesus and intentionally live our lives like Him in all that we do.
RELATIONSHIPS
We desire to know and be known by God and one another.
SPIRITUAL GROWTH
We nurture the continuous growth of love and faith.
LOVE-IN-ACTION
We respond generously through mercy and justice to the needs of people in our city, nation, and world.
SAFETY
We diligently attend to the physical and emotional safety of all who gather in our church community.
INVITATION
We intentionally invite others to grow in faith and share life with us.
Our STAFF
Rev. Michael Tomson-Degreeff
Senior Pastor
Michael grew up in St. Louis, MO, and then, moved to Boston where he attended Berklee College of Music, played drums in bands and worked in restaurants. After surviving his battle testicular cancer at the age of twenty, he began searching for answers to the questions of life the way a man with his hair on fire seeks water. Michael’s spiritual journey led him to study world religions, and eventually, he came full-circle back to Christianity.
Michael (a boy from Missouri) and his wife, Steffani (a girl from Kansas), met in Boston, MA. They moved to Lawrence, KS, to attend the University of Kansas and were married at Lawrence First UMC where Michael heard the call to ordained ministry. Michael earned a Bachelor of Religious Studies from the University of Kansas and a Master of Divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology.
Michael served as the Campus Minister at KU, then as the Senior Pastor at Pleasant Hill UMC in Topeka, KS, Eudora UMC, Wamego UMC and Trinity UMC in Hutchinson, KS. Michael has a passion for revitalizing churches and nurturing spiritual leaders through mentoring and coaching.
Michael and Steffani have four young adult sons: Zac, Nic, Ben and Alex. Steffani works for TARC (Topeka Area Resource Center) as an Early Interventionist Social Worker (MSW, LSCSW). Steffani and Michael enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, hiking, cooking and going to concerts.
Rev. Jeff Potter
Associate Pastor
Jeff is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church who has also been commissioned by the UMC as an “Earthkeeper,” in mission as a caretaker of God’s creation. Jeff is married to Rev. Christine Potter, who is also an ordained elder and pastor in the United Methodist Church. Jeff and Christine are blessed with three daughters, Lilia, Kyla, and Raya. In his ministry, Jeff pulls from a background of diverse experiences from working as a zookeeper, to performing and teaching a variety of dance forms, to nearly ten years in the banking industry. Jeff’s passion for ministry is driven by the hope of new life in Christ revealed and shared amongst all of creation.
Kristen Wooten
Office and Facilities Administrator
Kristen was raised in Topeka, KS. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with a Middle School ELA emphasis from Washburn University and later earned her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Baker University. Kristen is married to Benjamin and they have two young children together: Finn and Laren. In her spare time she enjoys watching her kids play different sports and playing card games. Most often, you will find Kristen either listening to her audiobook or singing along to the song stuck in her head.
Terri Woodbury
Bookkeeper
Sharon Austin
Giving Secretary
Brenda Bauman Swank
Member Development & Missions Coordinator