FF Leadership

Dr. Daymond Talkington - Senior Pastor

Where did you grow up?
I was born in Memphis Tennessee, but we moved around a lot. My father was a Hospital Corpsman in the Navy. We were based in different places through his career…places like Jacksonville, North Carolina and Key West, Florida to name a few. Through those years Springfield, Illinois was kind of home base, and when dad left the military we returned to the Springfield area.

Why do you believe you were called to your ministry?
I gave my life to Jesus Christ at Lake Springfield Christian Assembly when I was in sixth grade and really started seeking God. I started going to Bible studies each week and was reading my Bible daily. I shattered my femur the following year and consequently was unable to attend my seventh grade year. I was assigned a tutor, who was also a Lutheran pastor, which had a tremendous impact on my spiritual life. It was in my eighth grade year that God fully captured my heart and I started to feel the Holy Spirit drawing me toward ministry. I surrendered myself to that call and began preparing myself for ministry.

What is the most important lesson you ever learned?
Through my teen years and early adult years, some of the twists and turns my life would take were odd and perplexing, yet, at the same time, precious and energizing. What I learned was that God is always faithful and can be trusted. Most things do not work out according to my timetable, but God’s timetable and plan are far superior to mine!

What is something that most people don't know about you?
I did Elvis impersonations concerts when I was in college. “Thank you. Thank you very much.”

Why Faith Fellowship?
I first started into full-time ministry when I was twenty. God placed on my heart a dream of a church that would leverage its talents and resources to reach people for Jesus Christ, a church that would speak to culture in a way that would allow people to connect. I figured out early on that my friends who were far from God, and there were a lot of them, absolutely weren’t connecting with the church. I could connect with them, but when I’d bring them to church, I realized everything was geared for those who already believe…. In fact, you had to have a faith base to even understand most of what was going on. I remember praying in those early years, “God if you want me to, I’ll start a church that will do things differently. I’d love to lead a church that strips it all down and meets people where they are. Because if a church were to do that, it could reach and change lives and mark eternity. So God I’m ready to lead that church when you say ‘go,’” For the next twenty-two years God strengthened my leadership and speaking skills and then started pressing me. It was a season of turbulence and disillusionment when the Holy Spirit began ministering and reminding me of the dream that had faded to a degree. Then God said, “Now lead the church that you promised me you’d lead,” and Faith Fellowship was born and the rest is history.

What's in your iPod right now?
The Afters, Kevin Max, Blue Tree, Brandon Heath, Jeremy Riddle, Tenth Avenue North

What do you do with your free time?
I love to spend time with my four grand-kids. I regularly set aside time for playing basketball. I also enjoy cooking, creating new recipes and exploring food from various cultures. Other hobbies would include scuba diving and deep-sea fishing.

Favorite movies?
A Knight’s Tale, Shawshank Redemption, Spiderman, Ironman

TV Shows?
Blue Bloods, Suits, The Good Wife

What is your favorite sport? Favorite Team?
Football….can you say Pittsburgh Steelers! Football is my favorite sport to watch, but I love to play basketball.

David Blackburn - Pastor

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Where did you grow up?
Illinois: Lincoln, Granite City & Carlinville

Why do you beleive you were called to your ministry?
God's gracious leading and direction in my life eventually brought me to the place of surrender to His will for pastoral ministry.

What is the most important lesson you ever learned?
"Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so."

What is something most people don't know about you?
I was the All American boy of Granite City in 1958.

Why Faith Fellowship?
God

What's in your iPod right now?
Andy Stanley Leadership, The Beach Boys, James MacDonald "Walk in the Word", Stuff You Should Know, The Kinks, Tech Stuff, The Turtles, Joyce Meyers Radio, The Beatles

What do you like to do in your free time?
I like to read, go to the movies, yard work which includes growing grapes, hanging out with my wonderful wife

What is your favorite sport? favorite team?
Baseball has become too slow for me and now I'd rather watch football. I was a Dallas Cowboys fan when Landry was the coach but today I usually back the underdog when teams play. That must mean I've been a Ram's fan the past few years.

Ann Cirillo - Drama and Tech Teams

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Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Alton, IL. I moved away as a young adult for a few years but God led me back to Alton.

Why do you believe you were called to your ministry?
I believe that more than being called to the ministry God has offered it to me as a gift to be turned around and offered back to Him. God gives us our truest passions AND He is such an awesome God that he gives us a way to sing, to dance, to play, to speak, to write, to share our passions all for His glory which brings us joy. He is so cool!!!

What is the most important lesson you ever learned?
Nothing comes from us or belongs to us. All things were and are His. God blesses us abundantly without hesitation and with absolute and unbounded love . Knowing that all things are a blessing from God, gifts, makes it is easier to share the things we have in much the same way they were given--without hesitation and with absolute and unbounded love.

What is something that most people don't know about you?
I am one of ten (yep! 10) children. The Telegraph once did an article about my Dad in which stated that he always wanted eight children. OOPS! They mis-counted by two. Much to our joy!

Why Faith Fellowship?
The Truth is spoken. We were drawn to Faith Fellowship because we were looking for the focus to be God’s Truth and the application of God’s Truth in everyday life.

What's in your iPod right now?
Broadway show tracks, a compilation of Christian artists, Dean Martin, Michael Buble, and more

What do you do with your free time?
Well, Labor Day, a free day, I played golf with my kids (way cool!), cleaned the window sills and went for a long bike ride.

Favorite movie(s)?, TV Show(s), Musical(s)?
Anything Food Network, Amadeus, Lord of the Rings, Les Miserable, the musicals with my Alton High Students (my heart is attached to each one)

What is your favorite sport? Favorite Team?
I have become hooked on biking (Thanks, Wiley!) and love to play most sports. When I watch sports, I enjoy golf, football and tennis. My favorite team is not the Steelers. Go Rams!

Anne Davis - Volunteer Coordinator

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Where did you grow up?
I am a second generation Altonian. Both of my parents were born in Alton and have never left.

Why do you believe you were called to your ministry?
I love to put people's talents and gifts to service in the church. It is very gratifying when I am able to fill a need in one of the ministries with someone who has the right passion and talents to serve.

What is the most important lesson you ever learned?
There are no excuses - when God calls, you do whatever it takes to get the job done.

What is something that most people don't know about you?
Growing up, I was the youngest and only girl surrounded by 2 older brothers, a cousin and an uncle. I learned many lessons from those guys that have served me well - both good and bad!

Why Faith Fellowship?
Because there is a real need to reach people for God in this community. I cannot imagine serving any where else.

What's in your iPod right now?
"Fiddler on the Roof, Jr." I am directing this play for one of the middle school's in Alton.

What do you do with your free time?
Read, work puzzles and Sudoku on my iPad, play with my grandkids, ride my bicycle with my husband, Wiley

Favorite TV Show(s)?
The Good Wife, The Biggest Loser, Friday Night Lights

Cindy Talkington - Administrative Assistant

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Where did you grow up?
Southern Illinois. My dad was a pastor in the United Methodist Church, so we moved around. I spent 8 years in Harrisburg, IL and graduated from HS there.

Why do you believe you were called to your ministry?
I really don't know... it was God's idea, not mine, but I know that his plans are always better than mine, and I'm thankful!

What is the most important lesson you ever learned?
People are more important than my "to do" list!

What is something that most people don't know about you?
I was adopted.

Why Faith Fellowship?
Since my husband is the pastor, it's rather awkward to attend elsewhere! :-) I can't imagine a more loving and supportive congregation anywhere! I love it!

What's in your iPod right now?
my workout tunes -- Chris Tomlin, Michael Jackson & much much more!

What do you do with your free time?
Spend time with my grandkids. Read. Watch TV. Shop & eat.

Favorite movie(s) or TV Show(s)?
Ever After, Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation and Hitch

What is your favorite sport?
Favorite Team? Football is the least boring... I guess that makes it my favorite..?

Thomas Pullen - Music and Audio Teams

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Where did you grow up?
I have lived in Alton (OK, now Godfrey) all my life. I am not entirely sure I have ever 'grown up'. ;)

Why do you believe you were called to your ministry?
Music is one of my languages. I believe that I can use that God-given gift to help prepare people to hear the Message, to take people along in Worship, and to give people a chance to bond in the act of playing and singing together....that makes me one lucky dude.

What is the most important lesson you ever learned?
If you don't allow yourself to fail, you will never learn your limits. If you don't make some mistakes, you are not trying hard enough. Once, while listening to "The Little Drummer Boy", the verse "I played my best for Him... then He smiled at me" just hit me. It is not "the best" it is "MY best". That is what is required. You are not in competition with anyone else. If you do YOUR best, HE smiles.

What is something that most people don't know about you?
I jokingly asked Jamie to marry me the first time I met her in High School. I thought it was a pretty good line. We always kept in touch after High School but really never considered dating. After college, we started hanging out and then started dating. Nineteen years of marriage later, I still love hanging out with her.

Why Faith Fellowship?
Being here for the beginning of FF was an amazing experience. I wouldn't trade a minute of it. I have seen people step up and lead and do amazing work. As exciting as the beginning was, seeing new people catching the spark all the time keeps it all that much more exciting. I think it really is important to take that "leap of faith" and just say "God, here I am. Use me!"

What's in your iPod right now?
Currently 2816 songs and growing. Anybody playing rock and roll these days who does not say The Beatles is lying. Bob Dylan taught me that music can say something. The Clash and The Ramones showed me how to ROCK. Rich Mullins and Charlie Hall showed me that Christian songwriting is best when it is honest. Tom Petty (and especially those Heartbreakers) and Bruce Springsteen (WITH the E Street Band)...'nuff said! All the pre-"alt-country" bands of the 80s taught me to embrace my inner Johnny Cash. Finally U2 showed me that it is the sum of the parts, not the individuals that make the band. Four guys who don't know the meaning of of the word can't, CAN be the best band in the world.

What do you do with your free time?
Is there really such a thing? Time isn't free....it's priceless. If you aren't using it, you are losing it. I love helping with my son Jacob's Little League Team or sitting around with my daughter Sarah making the stupidest puns EVER. I also like writing code for websites late at night when the house is quiet and the phone is not ringing. It relaxes me.

Favorite movie(s)?
Casablanca, Shawn of the Dead, Star Wars (A New Hope), The Matrix, Office Space, Lord of the Rings, and The Commitments

TV Show(s)?
Chuck, CHAOS, Austin City Limits, House, Dirty Jobs, Pawn Stars, and Billy the Exterminator.

What is your favorite sport?
Baseball

Favorite Team?
St. Louis Cardinals!!! I bleed Cardinal Red!

Wiley Davis - Executive Administrator

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Where did you grow up?
I was born in Atlanta, Georgia. My family moved to Godfrey when I was 7 years old. So I guess you could say that I grew up riding my bike all over Godfrey.

Why do you believe you were called to your ministry?
I have served in leadership roles in several different churches in the Alton/Godfrey community dealing with finances, personnel, property and facilities. Little did I realize that God was preparing me to help start a new church in this community. My experience in business has allowed me to use my administrative gifts, my practical knowledge of finance and my resources in the community to further the work that is being done here at Faith Fellowship.

What is the most important lesson you ever learned?
The most important lesson I have learned is to treat other people the way you want to be treated.

What is something that most people don't know about you?
The first car I drove was my mother's 1961 white Corvair that had a hole in the floorboard - very convenient for disposing of things. In spite of this, I have been in love with cars ever since!

Why Faith Fellowship?
God put me at the right place at the right time to be part of this church.

What's in your iPod right now?
Jeremy Camp, Mercy Me, Casting Crowns, Diana Krall, Nat King Cole, The Beach Boys

What do you do with your free time?
Wash cars, mow the lawn, play golf, ride bicycles

Favorite movie(s)?, TV Show(s)?
The American President, Cars, The Good Wife, Tour de France

What is your favorite sport?
Golf