Our Staff
Senior Pastor
Rev. Rachele Holmes
Rachele is excited to be at FCC and brings a variety of experiences as a chaplain with Hospice of the Bluegrass and Saint Joseph Hospital. Serving at many churches as an associate and sole pastor, chaplain at several nursing homes, a campus minister at Transylvania University and an associate regional minister in Georgia has given Rachele a breadth of experiences that aid her in the role of senior pastor. The church has been home for Rachele since she was born the daughter of a Disciples of Christ Pastor. It was these experiences with church as a young person as well as church camp, youth group, VBS, singing and playing for people in the nursing homes and singing in the adult church choir from a young age that helped shape her into the pastor she is today. She grew up in Illinois and Indiana and has lived in Kentucky since 2001 after living in Atlanta, GA following seminary.
While at Bethany College as an undergraduate, Rachele learned a lot more about the Disciples of Christ denomination as Alexander Campbell founded the college and served as its first president. She received her BA in English while minoring in Religious Studies, Psychology, Women’s Studies and Theater. After attending Bethany College she went to Lexington Theological Seminary where she received her Masters of Divinity.
Family is precious to Rachele and she is very proud of her family. Rich Holmes is Rachele’s husband and he is very supportive of her ministry and is a wonderful husband and dad (even furry pet dad). McKenzie Snellgrove is their oldest daughter who is a freshman at Centre College and is majoring in English, Creative Writing and Theatre. Emory Snellgrove is their youngest daughter who is a sophomore at Woodford County High School in Versailles, KY where they live. Music is also a big part of Rachele’s life and when she’s not doing church work she can be found at her music studio at home teaching voice or piano. Her 4 rescue dogs are spoiled rotten: Waggs is a 12 year old beagle/boxer mix, Henri is a 12 year old corgi/retriever mix, Anna is a 5 year old Beagle/greyhound mix and Bailey is a 7 month old Staffy/American Pitbull/Pug/Chihuahua mix and is the angel the didn’t know they needed! Hiking, gardening, walking, arts and crafts and jewelry making are other things that she likes to do.
Youth Ministry
Andrea Underwood
Andrea 
joined the First Christian Church staff in September, 2018. She entered into the waters of baptism and became a member of FCC at 13, where she enjoyed youth group, Sunday School and attending Camp Wakon’Da-Ho in the summer. Andrea’s extended family have been devoted members of FCC for several generations. She is a 1994 graduate from Paris High school and continues to support her Paris Greyhounds.
Prior to accepting the position at the church, her creative and energetic leadership of our summer Vacation Bible School provided high energy worship, interesting Bible lessons and outreach projects that continue to serve the community even today. She is a certified Children Worship & Wonder Storyteller and loves working with youth of all ages.
Andrea has been happily married to Mark Underwood since 1999 and has 2 beautiful daughters: Elizabeth “Grace” and “Addison” Hope. Gracie attends Paris City Schools and Addison attends Bourbon Christian Academy and they are both involved in school activities along with learning, fellowship and outreach at the church. She also has 4 four-legged babies: 1 cat: Luna Pearl, 3 dogs: Caroline, Blue and Brandi that she loves very much. Andrea husband Mark works at UK and is active in church life.
Administrative Assistant
Dianne Stubblefield
Born and raised in Paris, KY, Dianne graduated from Paris High School and attended Morehead State University. She was invited to join the staff at FCC in July, 2002. Prior to her employment at the church, she was a valued employee of the Paris City Schools. She is married to Lewis and they have one son, Jeremy and one grandson, Carter Clay (Bo) Stubblefield. Lewis and Dianne have spent most of their time in Paris and Bourbon County. The one exception was a four-year stay in Boca Raton, Florida while Louie was with IBM. Dianne’s hobbies include gardening, mowing, golf and spending time with Bo.
Choir Director
Nastosha Robinson-Tater
Nastosha attended EKU and earned a bachelor’s degree in music education. Her love of music began in the church, and she began singing and performing in church choirs/musicals/concerts when she was 6. She began teaching at Bourbon County Middle school in the fall of 2022. Nastosha and her family started attending First Christian Church after being invited by a F.C.C. choir member and not long after attending she became a great addition to our choir.
Organist
Liz Yeiser
Our organist brings forth Joyful Noise. Liz graduated from Georgetown College in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Liz began playing for church services as a teenager at First Christian Church in Lebanon, KY. She and her husband David have lived in Paris since 1992. They are the proud parents of two adult sons and two daughters. Liz and David also have one grandson and two granddaughters. Liz has been our organist for over 20 years.
Substitute Organist & Choir Director
Doris McFarland
Born in Lexington, Doris has lived in the same house in Paris since 1953. She graduated from Paris High School and is retired from Paris Independent Schools. Doris is the mother of two sons, John (deceased), and Jimmy who is a barber in Lexington. Jimmy lives with Doris and the two of them have a black pug, Bodhi. Doris is very active here at FCC with Choir, volunteers in the church office as needed and is part of the Disciple Knitters Group that meets here at FCC weekly.
Financial Officer
Charlotte Owens
Charlotte was born and raised in Louisville, KY. She attended the University of Kentucky and graduated with Bachelor & Masters degrees in Elementary Education. Charlotte taught for 20 years in the Paris Independent School System. She has also been the bookkeeper and office manager for 36 years for her husband at their thoroughbred farm (Katalpa Farm) in Bourbon County. Charlotte began has financial secretary for First Christian Church in 2003. At First Christian she has been moderator and secretary of the Board, chairman of the Christian Education Committee, an elder, a deacon and Sunday school teacher for 28 years. Charlotte is married to Lonnie Owens and has two daughters. Aaron is a pediatric dietician at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Lauren is married to Todd Martin and is an accountant in Savannah, Georgia. Charlotte enjoys walking, tennis, pickleball and cooking.
Nursery Monitor
Amanda Hagen
Amanda Hagen has been the church’s nursery attendant since 2005. She attended EKU where she received a bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Studies with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education. She currently works full time at Toyota where she has been since 2011. She is married to Ryan Hagen and they have 2 adult children Karson and Kirsten and Soon to be son in law Landon. She loves working with children and having them know that our FCC is a place for them to feel safe and unconditionally loved. Amanda Grew up here at FCC with her sisters and parents by her side attending Sunday school, VBS and youth group.
Nursery Monitor
Allison Smith
Allison Smith has been the nursery attendant at First Christian Church since 2014. She was baptized here at First Christian Church in 2020. She helps each week with youth groups. She is married to Michael Smith and was baptized here at First Christian Church in 2019 and they have two wonderful children: Andrew and Mason who are both actively involved in the ministries of the church. Andrew baptized in 2016 here at FCC, he attends Sunday School, is a Worship and Wonder Youth Greeter, participates in Youth Group, helps mow the church yard weekly, attends church camp and is a Jr. Deacon. Mason is active in Sunday School, Youth group, VBS, attends church camp and many other youth ministries of the church. Allison has worked in the school system with young children and is a bus monitor for children with special needs. She feels truly blessed to be a part of the lives of the children of First Christian Church and enjoys watching them grow.