On September 1, Mr. Brad Aycock will join the West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church full-time as Director of New Church Development.  

Brad currently serves as Executive Pastor at First United Methodist Church (UMC) in Sikeston, Missouri, where he has been instrumental in revitalizing that declining church into an active part of the community with a missional focus on reaching people for Christ. As Director of New Church Development for the Conference, he will work with the bishop and cabinet to strategically identify new mission fields in West Ohio and partner with existing churches in developing satellite worshipping communities. Brad will also guide new United Methodist worshipping communities to move toward becoming chartered, outwardly-focused, financially sound and fruitful centers of worship.  

"Brad comes to us after a extensive national search and a multi-layered interview process that included new church start pastors, conference leaders, the bishop and cabinet," stated Bishop Gregory V. Palmer. "He is a gifted, skilled cutting-edge leader in creating new places for new people. I am overjoyed that at last the people of the West Ohio Conference will have someone working full-time on new congregational development. We have been fortunate that Rev. Marcus Atha has been willing to do some of this work as a labor of love while serving full-time as a district superintendent.”  

Brad received his Bachelor's degree at Southeast Missouri State University and his Master of Arts in Christian Leadership at Asbury Theological Seminary. Prior to coming to First UMC Sikeston in 2010, he served as as Lay Leader, Worship Arts Director and Campus Pastor at three Missouri United Methodist Churches. He also has managed a successful consulting business since 1994. For the last three years, Brad has served as an annual guest trainer and prescription coach for West Ohio's Missional Church Consultation Initiative (MCCI), led by Rev. Sue Nilson Kibbey. 

Brad and his wife, Ann, along with their two children will be relocating to central Ohio.