Our Team
Rev. Melody Kidd - Pastor
Melody was born and raised in Knoxville, Tn. She was called into ministry on May 9, 1989, while finishing up her undergraduate degree at the University of Tennessee. After college, she attended and graduated from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, as well as Baptist Seminary of Richmond, VA. She is ordained through the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Over the years of ministry, Melody has served as missionary, counselor, and pastor in a variety of congregations in Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Florida. While serving these churches and communities, she was also chaplain for hospitals, military, domestic violence, and first responders. Melody currently serves as a Board-Certified Chaplain and Pastor of Emmanuel Community Church. Melody has a heart for offering a safe place for healing and reconciliation for those bruised by life.
Rev. John K. Carter, Jr
John is a Commander, U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps (Retired) endorsed by American Baptist Churches in the USA. John is a fourteen year member of Emmanuel Community Church and has been on the church's Board of Deacons for all but three of those years. In addition to his twenty-six year Navy career, he has been a pastor, and once served as Emmanuel's Interim Pastor. Rev. John led Emmanuel's Mission and Outreach team from Aug 2009 through August 2020 and now serves as Associate Pastor and Vice Moderator providing guidance, ministry and pastoral care. Rev. John is passionate about sharing the love of God and Christ Jesus through the work of the church and reaching people with the message of the Gospel.
Rev. Ruth M. W. Warren
The Rev. Ruth M. W. Warren is a retired American Baptist minister who was commissioned as a Chaplain with the U. S. Air Force Reserve. She also worked as a Hospice Chaplain in Pasco County for 20 years retiring in 2010. In retirement, Rev. Warren served for 10 years as a volunteer with Metropolitan Ministries-Pasco. Currently, this long-time member of Emmanuel Community Church is serving as an Associate Pastor and a member of the Board of Deacons.
Rev. Betty Houghton
Ordained later in life, Betty has coped with challenges that have arisen and felt God’s blessing. Her time in church has involved choirs, plays, and worship workshops. For 15 years, she led a solo music ministry including a ladies’ trio, Triple Joy. Her constant theme is expression of a joyful spirit as a child of God loved and saved by his son Jesus. Betty is currently the Musical Director of the Highland Lakes Chorus in Palm Harbor, FL.
Amy Kinnard - Music Director
Amy has proudly served Emmanuel Community Church as music director since 2009, leading the church’s choir and working to provide quality, meaningful music to the worship services. She is an educator who currently teaches music and life-skills classes for high-schoolers in Pasco eSchool. Prior to that, she taught elementary general music, chorus, xylophone ensemble, and musical theater in Pasco County Schools from 2008-2021.
Amy has a rich variety of experiences fostering a love of music in people of all ages, from toddlers to seniors. Amy’s philosophy of music is that if something is in your heart, it’s meant to be sung or played.
Kevin Prina - Accompanist
Jayne Couture - Moderator
Jayne is proud to serve Emmanuel Community Church after over 30 years as a member. In addition to her responsibilities with the church, she is the Co-Founder and Director of Resources for La Femme Institute, a non-profit organization which supports women and girls in reimagining their futures by offering educational resources in technology and the arts, promoting self-expression, and providing a community centered on inclusivity. As moderator, Jayne aims to grow Emmanuel Community Church and share its message and values by facilitating resources to make the church the best possible version of itself.