Meet Our Staff

My name is Rev. Curtiss Cain and I am blessed to serve as the Pastor here at Salem UMC. I received my bachelor’s degree in Church Ministry with a Minor in Education from Warner University and a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. Over the years I have served my God as the Director of Youth Ministries for the First United Methodist Church of Lake Wales FL. for some five and a half years, Pastor of the Alturas United Methodist Church in Bartow FL. for a year and Pastor of the Sun Ray United Methodist Church in Frostproof, FL. for four years before joining this church family in 2016. I have also been blessed to serve as a hospital chaplain, volunteer chaplain in Juvenile Corrections and in a variety of other ministries.

I am here because I'm passionate about helping others know the boundless, endless love of Christ I have found, the same forgiving, accepting love that is available to them. I love helping people both explore their faith in a very real every day sense that applies to their life and helping them see how God is trying to walk with them in their life. I have a heart for helping people understand the deep things about the scriptures using words everyone can understand, and it is through all this I hope for others to see how God is inviting them into a relationship and inviting them to deepen their walk with Christ.

Hi, I am the Coffee House Service Worship Leader, which means I play the guitar and lead the congregation in songs and help in the prayer time. I started this position in 2008. Before being at Salem United Methodist Church I spent most of my life playing and singing music. I have played guitar for about 35 years and have played in a variety of venues such as prisons, restaurants and nightclubs. My education in music has been mostly self-taught. I have a bachelor’s degree in theology and I am a licensed minister through the Word of Faith Church. My passion in leading worship is one I take very seriously. I feel as a worship leader my job is to invite people into the throne room of God, where the minister who brings the Word can be His voice and messenger. My hope for what I do in the worship service here at Salem is to help lead people to a better understanding of God and into God’s family.

Hello! My name is Evan Nelson and I am the church choir director at Salem United Methodist Church. I am originally from Albany, Georgia and I have been involved with music my entire life. I finished my undergraduate degree in music and theatre at Florida State University and I recently finished my Master of Music in Voice Performance at Binghamton University of Binghamton, NY. My performance resume includes experiences in operas, musicals, concerts, and sacred works. The reason I love music is because I feel that it is one of the few artistic mediums that we are able to share as a community but also it is something that can help us express our feelings and emotions in a unique way. As your choir director, my goal is to enhance the service with musical selections and to inspire all of us to share the love of Jesus. I feel that music can add so much to the service and that when it is coordinated with the rest of the goals of the worship team, we can create an environment that is not only welcoming but also empowering. I also will try my hardest to make the choir a fun, amicable environment that is filled with music and fellowship.

My name is Yu Chien Chen and I have been playing piano here at the Salem United Methodist Church for over 30 years. I received a Bachelor's Degree from Shanghai Conservatory of Music in Piano Performance, a Masters Degree in Music from Eastern Illinois University and a Doctorate in Music from Florida State University. My experience includes teaching at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music for a couple of years, work as a collaborator pianist, appearances at national competitions, conferences and music festivals. In addition to helping lead worship music during the traditional service at Salem UMC I also work in affiliation with FSU’s music school. My hope is, my playing will let people enjoy the peaceable purity of church music.

Rachel joins Salem UMC as Nursery Ministries Coordinator with experience in volunteer work at the Gretna Day Camp, Big Bend Walk to Emmaus, Nursery Ministry at Salem UMC and other experiences babysitting. Rachel is also a multi-year honor roll student; she has received two awards for dance and is an active member of her schools sign language club. 

I began serving as Salem UMC Office Administrator in July 2008.  I have several years of management experience in a variety of industries such as banking, medical and manufacturing.  I enjoy being involved in a wide range of activities in the church office.

My husband John and I moved to Havana in 1999.  When we started coming to Salem we realized how many of our neighbors also attended here.  We love the small-town atmosphere where neighbors are more like family.

As the primary contact person for Salem UMC, I am especially blessed by the opportunity to develop new friendships, personally and for the church.  It is rewarding to support good stewardship of Salem’s resources through my work activities, which in turn, helps support our mission of sharing His love and making new disciples of Jesus Christ.