Chris’ primary focus is to engage members of the congregation and visitors to begin or deepen their connections to the ministry of St. James UMC.   As a part of that effort, he organizes the tracking and engaging of visitors and new members; connects people in the church with ministry opportunities; provides staff support to Sunday School classes, TGIW, and small groups; provides staff support for Sunday worship and the special events of the church; and participates in the communications processes for the church.  All that he does at St. James, he tries to do with a spirit of service and goodwill.  He enjoys the staff and takes advantage of times when he can inject some levity into their work.

 

Chris was born in New Orleans, the ninth of nine children.  He grew up in Covington, a small town near NOLA, then attended and graduated from Louisiana State University (2019 National Champions in football!), where he majored in History (B.A., 1979).  GO TIGERS!  He received his master’s from the University of North Carolina as a Waddell Fellow in History (M.A., 1983), and became addicted to Tar Heel basketball.  He then embarked on a career in newspaper and textbook publishing in Louisiana, North Carolina, and New York.  Before coming to St. James, he ran his own publishing consulting business, working with textbook publishers on publications in all content areas and helping individuals publish memoirs, family histories, and children’s books.

 

He is married to Lynne Langley Garcia, who was born and raised in Rocky Mount and attended ECU.  Through her influence and the kindly assistance of good friends, he has become a fan of ECU athletics.  So, his loyalties are split except in one area—the NFL.  He has been a Saints fan since New Orleans got the franchise in 1967.  He suffered through many years of ineptitude until the magical Super Bowl run in the 2009 season.

 

Together he and Lynne have seven children.  Lynne’s daughter, Kristen Welborn Letchworth, attends St. James UMC with her husband Spencer and children Langley, Olivia, and Bryce.  Other grandchildren are Ella Grace and John Henry Welborn, the children of Kristen’s twin brother, Travis Welborn, and his wife Alicia Gainey Welborn; and Eliza Leigh, Ember Brook, and Lacey Kate Strickland, the daughters of Lynne’s daughter, Katie Welborn Strickland, and Brooks Strickland.  Chris’ four daughters are Cece Garcia, Ellen Garcia, Abbie Wendehorst, and Caroline Garcia, who live in Los Angeles, Raleigh, Charlotte, and Asheville, respectively.  Cece and her husband, Brian Barnes, have an infant son, Felix Luc Garcia Barnes.  Abbie and her husband, Nic Wendehorst, are expecting a baby in October. Besides the time with their children and grandchildren, Lynne and Chris enjoy dining with friends and hanging out at the beach.