Rev. Rachel Winter, Pastor
Rachel grew up in Birmingham, where she was a member of Second Presbyterian Church and was active in the youth group at Southminster Presbyterian Church. She was part of the youth council for the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley and also served as a counselor for summer camp several summers during college. She attended Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature. She got her Master of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia.
During her ministry, Rachel has served as an Associate Pastor at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Alabama and the Associate Pastor/Campus Minister at First Presbyterian Church in Auburn, Alabama. She also most recently served several interim roles as campus minister, children’s minister, and youth minister at First Presbyterian Church in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Rachel also currently serves on the Commission on Ministry for our presbytery, as well as the teaching elder for our presbytery to the Synod of Living Waters. She has also played many other meaningful roles for our presbytery and denomination—she has served on the presbytery’s Executive Council, Personnel Committee, as a summer camp director, as a co-director for the Montreat Women’s Conference, several Montreat College Conference planning teams, where she had one of the honors of her life in meeting her hero, Congressman John Lewis.
Rachel loves to read, go to movies, listen to podcasts and music, go to Auburn games (most of the time), and hang out with her dog, Rosie. Most of her family lives in Birmingham, and she is the proudest aunt on the planet to her niece, Jenna, and nephew, Blake. Ask her anytime and she’ll be happy to talk about them! She is so excited and deeply thankful about this new adventure.
Janet Roberta, Office Manager
Born Janet Dawn Ferguson in Birmingham on Father’s Day, I was named Janet for my mother’s paternal grandmother who was born in Dreghorn, Ayrshire, Scotland and settled in Wylam and later Ensley, Alabama in the early 1900s. Mom intended to give me the middle name of Lee (after her maternal grandmother) but when I was born at the break of day, my father changed it to Dawn. My name is special because it was given to me by my parents. I hope to always live up to that.
I added Roberta to my name in 1992 when I was blessed to marry the other half of my soul, Andrew. We live in Helena and share our home with our Plott Hound, Stella (aka “the Stellinator”).
Prior to joining the Presbyterian church, I experienced the joy of our risen Savior in a variety of denominational settings which has taught me to appreciate the creativity and diversity with which the Lord has pursued a relationship with me…tenacity tempered with gentleness. The Lord meets us where we are and never gives up on us. I came to Oakmont Chapel as the office manager in January 2022 having served in that position at Chapel in the Pines for 17 years prior to their merger with Oakmont in October 2018 allowing me to continue and maintain connectivity with both church families. During that time, I was a member of the Administrative Personnel Association (APA) achieving Level III certification and serving in various leadership positions while making connections with other leaders and administrators across the country. Being a church employee has given me the opportunity to experience a variety of situations from a unique perspective, and I am grateful for the growth and the continued awareness of God’s sovereignty and providence in our lives.
I love the Lord with all my heart, but only because He loved me first. I stay in constant awe of His great love for me expressed through nature, family, and friends, but most of all through the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. God’s love and grace is truly amazing. Every day is Easter!
~ Ephesians 3:17-19; 1Peter 1:3
Jonathon Brown, Pianist and Co-Choir Director
Jonathon Brown’s musical training and participation in church choirs began when he was a very young child. From that time, he received instruction that ultimately led to degrees in music education and performance. While working on his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Louisiana State University, he met his wife, Naomi, who was also a doctoral piano student. They married and moved back to Birmingham. Jonathon and Naomi have each been active as teachers, performers, and church musicians.
Since 2007, Jonathon has served as Oakmont Chapel’s organist/pianist. He enjoys working with the choir, and various singers and instrumentalists to present a testimony in songs, hymns, and anthems for each Sunday service. Jonathon feels privileged to guide the chime choir through music made special by both the unique sounds of these instruments and the dedication of each member. He also looks forward each Sunday to being part of the worship service, which helps prepare the minds and hearts of the congregation for the pastor’s message. Jonathon deeply believes that through praise, prayer, and reflection we are all encouraged to rely on the Lord’s guidance, as we support each other and seek answers to some of life’s most perplexing questions.
Pam Winstead, Choir Director
Growing up in the northeast, she attended the Kent Place Preparatory School where the arts were celebrated and charted the course for her future in music. Pam received a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Alabama. Upon moving to Gulf Shores after college, she began teaching both private lessons and music education, directing choruses in Gulf Shores Middle and High schools. During her time on the Alabama coast, she founded the original Gulf Coast Arts Council, created the Children’s Art Village at the National Shrimp Festival, and established the Hettie Tutta Murchison Scholarship Program which enables children and teens to take private lessons in the fine arts, who otherwise would not have the opportunity to do so. Mrs. Winstead served the First Presbyterian Church of Gulf Shores as Minister of Music for. 37 years, also stepping into the role of Church Life Director, coordinating programs such as. Homework Haven Tutoring, Summer Fine Arts Camps, Wednesday Night Dinner and programs, as well as health and wellness classes for the church and the community. A cradle Presbyterian, she became an Elder and served many terms on Session. Pam recently moved to Birmingham and teaches private voice and piano lessons with Mason Music. She was married to the later Richard C. Winstead, Jr. and has two sons, Cain and Peyton. Pam has expressed her delight in coming to Oakmont Chapel Presbyterian, saying, “I look forward to the privilege of serving the Oakmont Chapel Congregation and its choir. My constant prayer has always been that our music will touch souls and uplift spirits – all to the Glory of God.
Tanya Shook, Nursery