Back River United Methodist Church

George Wilbanks - Leadership Council Coordinator

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I was born the youngest of 7 children in a small farming community in a place called Chatsworth, Ga. in the foothills of North Georgia.  My father was a farmer by trade.  I went to Murray County High School and at Thanksgiving time in 2007 I was inducted into the Murray County Hall of Fame (the only Wilbanks in the hall).  I served in the U S Air Force during the Korean War and was called up during the Berlin Crises and Cuban Crises during early 1960. 

After this tour I came to Baltimore.  I then worked in my brother’s business until I started my own carpet store, then began R J Carpet Distributors which I ran for 38 years.  My hometown in Georgia is 8 miles from the Carpet Capital of the world, DALTON, Ga.  At R J Carpet I joined the East Baltimore Area Chamber of Commerce.  I was a board of director for 11 years; two of those I was President.  I had a membership of about 750 members; my board totaled 18 persons.  I was only one of 3 persons to receive the “President Award”.  I sold R J Carpet after I purchased the East County Times 15 years ago.

The paper has won many awards, including 3 of the last 4 years as being number one in “General Excellence”.  I have been President of MACnet, a newspaper association for the last 2 years.  The “Mid-Atlantic Community Papers Association” covers 8 states, with circulation of over 5,000,000 weekly. We are all a free paper association.

Geri and I were honored by the Essex Day Festival as “Chairman Emeritus of Essex Day for Life”.  I headed this committee for over 17 years, with over 15,000 mid-way visitors on Sundays.

I served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for over 15 years of the Lamky, Luther, Whitehead Veterans Memorial, Inc. Committee.  This committee has over 10 memorials situated in the Holly Hills Memorial Garden.  There are over 525 veterans names listed on the monuments.

I was a Jaycees for years and received their life time membership award: JCI Senatorship Award from the Perry Hall Jaycees.

I have been a regular at Back River UMC since August 1979.  My first position at BRUMC was Evangelism Chair.  I went on becoming our District Evangelism Representative at our conference and later became the first laity to chair the BWC Evangelism.  I won the Harry Denman Award; the most important award presented the Division of Evangelism.  It is one of the two most important awards I ever received.  As the chair I got through the very first “Conference Evangelist” in our conference…Rev. Frank Wanek (He died during the night after preaching a revival service at BRUMC!)  I previously I served as Finance Chairman at BRUMC up until September 2010. At present I now serve as Leadership Council Coordinator of BRUMC.

Phyliss King - Treasurer

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I’m a widowed mother of one teenage boy named Matthew who keeps me busy and has been a wonderful blessing in my life.  I’ve lived in the Essex area since I was a teenager and was baptized here at Back River as a baby.  My mother also attended here when she was a young girl, and we both visited the church in 2006 when we were searching for a new church.  I’ve been attending regularly since then.  Currently, I serve as the church treasurer. 

I’m employed part-time with Academy Financial in Lutherville as an assistant to a financial planner.  My previous work experience was 26 years with Lincoln Financial Group where I worked full-time as a Senior Finance Manager before being job eliminated as a result of company restructuring.

I enjoy family gatherings, cooking, gardening, shopping with my Mom, video taping & photography, crafts, and making personalized gifts. 

I’m grateful that God has given me a church family that is filled with wonderful people making a Holy Impact on the World!

Ethel Poplovski - Worship Council Coordinator

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Let me begin with the purpose of our Worship Committee. Our worship statement is listed each week on our bulletins.  “COME, make time and space to encounter the living God with us today.  BE TRANSFORMED as you experience the sacred and hear the message of Jesus relevant to your life today.  BE RENEWED through songs and prayers that celebrate life in harmony with our Creator.  BE MADE WHOLE as you re-connect with a God and a community who love you just as you are.  Our hope and prayer is that as you worship, God’s awesome presence and the company of this community of faith will make a holy impact on you.” 

Our Worship Committee members review how well we are achieving the goals in our statement.  We seek their advice on improvements in our worship service and discussions on worship issues and/or concerns.  This is my second year as Chair of the Worship Committee.

I was raised in a small United Methodist Baltimore City church.  I began attending at 4 years of age.  God Blessed me with many mentors (pastors and lay persons) in my church.  I was encouraged by them to grow and live in my faith.  Following organ lessons paid for by my church, at the age of 14 I became the organist….I retired after serving for 50 years.  In addition, over the years I served the church as a Sunday School teacher, Bible School teacher, Worship Chair, and PPRC Chair.  I thank and praise God for all he has done and will continue to do for me.  This includes when the time came for me to move on from my small city church. 

Fortunately, our search for a new church didn’t take long.  We “discovered” Back River UMC by attending an Easter Sunrise service which was advertised in the local paper.  We were warmly greeted and welcomed on our first visit to the church.  Bill and I knew immediately this would be our church.   As a member of BRUMC I continue to share my talents that God has given me which include being a member of the musicians team who lead the music for Worship and my hospital visitation ministry. 

I have been married since 1961 (Bill Poplovski, Jr), have two children (Sharon Thompson and Bill Poplovski, III) and five grandchildren.  I am one of five children (a sister and three brothers).  My sister (Shirl, a BRUMC member) and I take care of our home-bound mother. We have a large, loving, extended family including many nieces and nephews and their families.  We enjoy getting together often. 

I recently was honored at a dinner for working 40 years with Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health.  I am still working full time.  God continues to provide and lead me in my journey through life. I am constantly reminded of the saying “God is Good, All the Time; All the Time, God is Good”

Mel Schultz - Music Coordinator

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I became a member of Back River UMC in 1984 and was actively involved in the leadership of the church as Finance Chairman and Ad Council Chairman.  I also participated in the Board of Trustees and choir.  Due to increased job responsibilities I relocated to Parkton, MD and transferred my church membership to Maryland Line UMC.  While at Maryland Line UMC I chaired several committees - - Evangelism, Ad Council, Adopt-A-Highway Program and Community Fair.  I was also active in the Northern Baltimore County cluster of churches and the United Methodist Men. 

In the summer of 1989 I organized the Mason Dixon Quartet from several members of our church choir.  It developed into a music ministry that took the quartet on a mission throughout Maryland, Southern, PA and Northern Virginia spreading the word of Jesus Christ through word and song.  In 1993 the quartet was awarded the Harry Denman Evangelism Award by the Baltimore Washington Conference.  The quartet still continues today after two decades but on a more relaxed schedule. 

I returned to Back River UMC in 2001 and have participated in the PPRC and Worship Committees.  I formed a gospel music group, The Joyful Noise, that offered great fellowship for anyone who liked to sing.  Currently I help to coordinate the Sunday Worship Music along with the Music Team. 

In my business career I retired as Director of Purchasing and Accounts Payable for LAFARGE North America.  During my tenure in Purchasing I served as President of the Purchasing Management Association of Maryland and was awarded the Association's highest award for outstanding dedication and effort to create a broader knowledge of the purchasing profession in Maryland.  Other organizations I have been involved in are: scouting, Essex Middle River Jaycees and Rockaway Beach VFD. 

I am married to Mary who supports me in all my endeavors and we have a daughter and two grandsons.  My hobbies are playing music, physical fitness, hiking, gardening and automobiles.

Carl Robertson - Media Production Coordinator

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Hometown:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

I was born and raised right here in Essex, Maryland.

Family:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

I am married to The Love of My Life, Susan and we have two Daughters, Mandy and Corrine.                                                                            

We also have 2 dogs –  Ginger, and Daisy which are Dachshunds, and our babies. 

I work in the Automotive field as a Repossession Account Manager for a large sub-contractor for GMAC/Ally Bank.                                   

Susan works in the medical field as a Medical Support/Billing Specialist for a Private Internal Medicine Practice.

Ministry:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

I handle all phases of our Media Ministry here at Back River UMC.                                                                                                                          

This includes our Audio, Video, & Lighting Systems, as well as PowerPoint and Recorded Music production                       

for use during our Worship Services.

I am currently a member of our Leadership Council, Worship Committee, and Board of Trustees.

I take pride in helping to make sure everyone receives the Best Worship Experience possible.

Favorite Hobbies/Activities:                                                                                                                                                                                          

Spending time with my family and friends.                                                                                                                                                                        

I enjoy Bowling – (I’m not too bad), Golf, Traveling, and going to Ocean City.                                                                                                            

I love to watch NASCAR, Ravens Football, Orioles Baseball, Professional Wrestling,                                                                           

Watching Good Movies, playing video games, eating  Buffalo Wings & Pepperoni Pizza.

Oh, and I can’t forget good seafood, especially steamed shrimp and Maryland steamed crabs.

One Little Known Fact:                                                                                                                                                                                                             

I have Bowled 2 Perfect Games  – 300 Game (12 Strikes in a Row) and a High 3 Game Series of  799                                                              

(I said I wasn’t too bad!)

I personally Invite you to come and Worship with us here at Back River United Methodist Church.

Shirley Fowble - Parsonage Coordinator

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I am married to G. Vernon Fowble since 1995.  Between the two of us we have 7 children (Vernon has 4 and I have 3 from our previous marriages).  There are 12 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.  We spend a lot of time in North Carolina, Ocean City and Garrett County with family and friends.

My parents and I moved to Essex, Maryland in the 50's from Rural Retreat, Virginia.  I enjoy quilting and sewing.  I have been the Property Manager for the family business since the 60's.

I have attended Back River United Methodist Church since 2005.  I am Vice President of our United Methodist Women (UMW) at Back River UMC and am also on the committee for the Nominations Board for the UMW.  At present I manage the Parsonage property for Back River UMC and I am also a member of the church's Trustee's Board.