LEADERS & STAFF

Welcome to First Church Dayton. We are a thriving community of faith seeking to share with our neighbors and the world the hope we have in Christ Jesus. Throughout every week we have opportunities to explore the scriptures, examine our personal relationship with God, encourage one another and reach out to others. Won’t you join us on your journey of faith?

Layne Pennington
Pastor

I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and lived there for almost ten years and then moved to the Pennington Gap, Virginia area. Pennington Gap is in Lee County and bordered by both Eastern Tennessee and Eastern Kentucky. I then attended school at Keokee and between between my junior and senior year enlisted in the Marine Corps. During my senior year I gave my life to the Lord and while stationed at Twenty-Nine Palms sensed the call to ministry. I entered the ministry shortly after being discharged. These are the following appointments I have been blessed to serve as pastor with the church families.

Served McClure UMC for five years while attending University of Virginia (Wise).
Served Woodway Circuit (four churches) for five years while attending Asbury Seminary.
Served Hillsville Circuit (three churches) for seven years and one church became a station church (Fancy Gap) and served there for another four years.
Served Jonesville First UMC for seventeen years.

I am blessed to have two adult daughters and we love to travel. The oldest daughter lives in Mississippi and the youngest lives here in Virginia. We have traveled to forty two states and hope one day to visit all fifty. I enjoy hiking in the mountains, reading books, and a feeble attempt at both fishing and hacking at a golf ball.

I am very excited to serve as pastor and join with the church family at Dayton UMC.

Elissa Wilcox
Administrative Assistant

Joey Hanagan
Youth Director

Samantha Crisp
Little Learners Director

I am a wife, mother of 3, an active member of my church, and most importantly a sinner saved by grace through the blood of Jesus.

I have been in Education since 2004 with experience teaching every age level from infants to adults. I graduated with my Associate of Science degree from Cleveland State Community College in May of 2004. I started my career in 2004 as a Christian school teacher at Calvary Baptist while I went on to complete my Bachelors of Science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in Human Ecology with an emphasis on PreK-4th grade education. Upon leaving Calvary Baptist, I took a position with Chattanooga State Child Development Center. Since then, I have been blessed to serve my community in different aspects gaining experience with people from all cultures and backgrounds. Most recently, I served as the Director of a non-profit child care center in downtown Chattanooga with the Chambliss Center for Children. I love children and I am passionate about Early Childhood education. The first five years are foundational to a great educational future and I am excited to join the Little Learners family to provide quality, Christian early education for our students.