Leadership at the Living Waters District
Rev. James H. (Jay) Carey, Jr. – District Superintendent
Rev. James H. (Jay) Carey, Jr. was ordained and appointed to Bethia UMC in July 1998. Prior to coming to Bethia he served as Assistant Pastor at Discovery UMC in Richmond, VA for five years while attending seminary at The Divinity School at Duke University in Durham, NC (M.Div.). Before entering the ministry, Jay graduated from Longwood College (BSBA) and worked as a sales rep in the pharmaceutical and corrugated box industries. Rev. Carey has been married to Ann for 35 years, and they have three children and two sons-in-law, Kathleen Roberts (Zach), Daniel, and Charlsley Haggerty (Matt).
Over the years, Rev. Carey has also served as Chair of the James River (formerly Petersburg) District Committee on Ordained Ministry; the James River District Finance Committee; the VA Conference Board of Ordained Ministry (2012-2020); VA Conference Board of Discipleship and chair of the Division of Evangelism from 2008-2010. He served on the Mid-Sized Church Task Force, a special project of the VA Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, in 2008.
Rev. Carey also served as a member of the International Emmaus Advisory Committee, a division of the Upper Room, and the General Board of Discipleship in Nashville, TN, and is the past Richmond Emmaus Community Spiritual Director and past Richmond Chrysalis Community Spiritual Director. Rev. Carey received the Harry Denman Evangelism Award for Clergy in the VA Conference in 2003. His spiritual gifts include encouragement, faith, leadership, and teaching. His StrengthsFinder gifts are positivity, developer, includer, adaptability, and harmony.
Jay’s interests and hobbies include reading, golf, watching sports (especially Nationals Baseball and Duke Basketball), sitting in a rocking chair on the back porch, and spending time with family and friends. Jay was appointed Staunton District Superintendent in July 2020 and then reappointed as the Farmville and James River District Superintendent in July 2021.
Rev. Tim Beck – Director of Church Vision and Vitality
My dad thinks he’s funny when he jokes around with restaurant waitstaff, but most of the time they don’t understand; so they just look at him with confusion and pity. My mom doesn’t have a doctor’s degree, but seems to think she can diagnose every ailment under the sun. That being said (as their offspring), I don’t take myself too seriously, and I don’t pretend to have all the answers. I do hope to ask some pretty neat questions that can lead to some pretty interesting insights.
As a Pastor with more than 20 years of experience in the local church, I have failed more than I have succeeded, felt battered, beaten, and bruised more times than I can count, and yet by God’s grace…persistence abounds. It is my hope that each of our churches will discover God’s vision for their ministry and mission in the world, add significantly to their faith community, and deepen in their discipleship. For those of you who know Simon Sinek, my “Why” in ministry is to invest in people and inspire hearts so that the love of God and one another will continue to change the world. Yeah, yeah, that’s one heck of a lofty goal I know, but by utilizing this as a blueprint in ministry, God has equipped me to be effectively fruitful.
When I’m not engaged in local church ministry, I love spending time with my family. My wife Jennifer and I have been married for 21 years this year, and have two children, Carsten (16) and Ava (9). I like date nights, playing ball, dressing up and having tea parties with stuffed animals, playing golf, working out, and hunting.
Leticia (Tish) Borden – Executive Assistant and Office Manager
Leticia (Tish) is our Executive Assistant and Office Manager and has worked in the Living Waters District Office since 2013.
Tish is a graduate of Old Dominion University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. She is a member of Main Street United Methodist Church in Suffolk, VA, where she teaches Sunday School and participates in the church’s handbell choir. She serves on the VA Annual Conference Minutes Committee.
Terri Riggs – Communications Coordinator
Terri is our Communications Coordinator and joined our District team in August 2022. She attended The College of William of Mary and has much experience with communications as she has been maintaining the Facebook page and website of one of our local churches since 2018.
Some of Terri’s duties include the creation of our new district website (www.livingwatersdistrict.org), creating and maintaining the new district Facebook page (www.facebook.com/LivingWatersDistrict), newsletter publications and clergy directory. She is also instrumental in organizing District Events with our Director of Vision and Vitality, Rev. Tim Beck.
Terri is a member of Wakefield UMC where she currently serves as the church’s Office Manager, Outreach Chair and Nurturing Ministry Coordinator. She is a member of the United Women in Faith, serves as a District Delegate at Annual Conference and is active in numerous church ministries and community activities. Terri lives in Prince George her husband, Reverend Glenn Riggs and sons, Chase (14), Jacob (13) and Grayson (9). She enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and friends while fishing or visiting amusement parks.
Thomas Wynn – District Youth
Hello Living Waters District! My name is Thomas Wynn, Jr. and I am serving the
North Brunswick Charge as Pastor of Antioch UMC and Lebanon UMC. I have been
married for 30 years to my amazing wife Toni and we have two children, Trey and
Skye. It is my sincere pleasure and honor to serve as the Youth Coordinator of this
great district. I am a native of Dinwiddie County and have been blessed to serve
the youth of Southside Virginia and around the state for over 30 years. In those
years I have served as a youth minister, pastor, speaker, high school teacher and
basketball coach. This is a full circle moment for me. Years ago I had the privilege
of being the main speaker at Methodist Madness youth retreats that were
sponsored by the Virginia Conference. These retreats allowed me to knit hearts
with youth, youth leaders, churches and districts around the state. Most
importantly, they gave me a true passion and love for serving the youth within
the Virginia Conference. It is indeed a wonderful blessing and gift from God to
serve the youth of the Living Waters District in this capacity. It is my prayer and
commitment that the youth of the Living Waters District will grow in their
individual and corporate relationships with Jesus and truly become His hands, feet
and voice in their communities.
Phyllis Goin – Office Support
Thelma “Peanut” Watts – Office Support