Pastor
Rev. Mike Ulasewich
Rev. Mike Ulasewich’s personal mission is to encourage and nurture others to a deeper faith in Christ through preaching, teaching, coaching, and pastoral presence. Pastor Mike graduated with his MDiv from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 2005. He also has an M.A. and a B.A. in literature from the University of Florida, where he focused on Southern literature. He served as solo pastor of The First Presbyterian Church of Apopka, Florida, from 2006 to 2014 and was a Resident CPE Chaplain at Tampa General Hospital before that. Most recently, he served as an English teacher at Lake Minneola High School, near Clermont, Florida. Pastor Mike has been married to his wife, Selena, since 1999–two years after they met while they were both in the University of Florida marching band. They have three children: Rebekah, Glendon, and Lena. Pastor Mike enjoys reading and listening to music. He also enjoys being outside. He is a runner and cyclist and dreams of one day completing an Ironman Triathlon. He enjoys traveling and nature–particularly witnessing God’s magnificent creation. He has visited 39 of our nation’s 59 national parks and hopes to one day have visited all of them.
Family Ministry Staff
Family Ministry Leader
Youth Ministry Coordinator
Jennifer and Emily form our Family Ministry Staff Team.
Jennifer has more than a decade of experience in homeschooling support and educational-program coordination. For many years, she has been dedicated to serving the church through various volunteer roles while raising her family within this faith community. First Presbyterian Church has provided invaluable experiences and spiritual connections that have been important to her family. Jennifer looks forward to building upon the strong foundation laid by her predecessors to continue to strengthen and grow the Family Ministry program at FPC. Proverbs 25:2 is one of her favorite Bible verses: “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.”
Emily has been serving at First Presbyterian Church since her college days at Hendrix. Her favorite thing about working with youth is watching them grow in their faith and service to our community and beyond. Emily loves church potlucks, youth lock-ins, and retreats! Emily has a master’s in special education and is a public school teacher.
Director of Music
Kayla White
Kayla directs the First Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir, plays the piano, and plans the song service for worship each week. Since 2014, Kayla has been the Choral Director at Conway Junior High, where she also chairs the Fine Arts Department. In addition to holding a B.A. in piano performance, a B.M. in music education, an M.M. in music theory, and an Ed.S. from the University of Central Arkansas, Kayla earned a seminary degree in Old Testament studies from Denver Seminary. Her thesis was an in-depth study of the rights afforded to women in the Ancient Near East, specifically women unable to bear children. While she would tell you now that she is very rusty, she can read a few dead languages, including Biblical Hebrew, Greek, and Akkadian.
Organist
Earl Johnson
Earl is an Associate Professor of Music at Central Baptist College in Conway, where he teaches music theory, ear training, hymnology, women’s chorus, and piano. In 2011, he directed CBC’s first hymn service, which is now an annual tradition featuring theological themes or individual hymn writers.
Earl earned his D.M.A. in Church Music and Worship from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, while serving as a graduate assistant for Dr. Maurice Hinson and teaching music theory and class piano. He also received a M.A. in Music from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, and a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Trinity Bible College.
In addition to teaching, Earl has held church music positions in Oregon, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Kentucky, and Arkansas. His other interests include gardening, walking, and watching classic movies with his wife and two daughters.
Office Administrator
Cindy Groce
Cindy was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and her father was a Methodist minister. She lived in various areas of Arkansas before graduating high school and getting married. After becoming widowed in January 2021, Cindy relocated to Conway from southwest Arkansas to be near her son, daughter-in-law, and three youngest grandchildren. In addition to her son and his family, she also has a married adult daughter, five grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, three great-granddaughters, and three step-great-grandsons. She received a certificate as a Certified Ministry Assistant in 1996 and has more than 30 years of experience as a church administrative assistant and office manager. One of Cindy’s favorite verses is one that was shared with her when she began serving in her first position as a church secretary: “Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
Director of Communications Ministries
Jamie Sides
Jamie is the director of communications ministries at First Presbyterian Church. She joined the FPC staff in February 2024 to help coordinate and encourage the rhythms of the church through administrative support as the church administrator; in November 2025, she transitioned to focusing on facilitating connection and outreach through church publications and marketing. She and her husband are parents to two boys and moved to Conway after serving as missionaries in the Czech Republic for 10 years. She has a degree in English literature and missions from Harding University and loves having a job that combines both of those worlds.
Bookkeeper
Kim Palmer
Kim has more than 30 years of experience in accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, tax filing, and financial statements, including account reconciliations. She also has five years of experience working with a nonprofit agency and managing financial statements with federal and state billing and yearly audits. She is our part-time bookkeeper here at First Presbyterian Church, and she also serves as the administrator for the Presbytery of Arkansas. Kim is mom to an adult daughter and four cats.
First Presbyterian Church Education Ministries Preschool and Summer Day Camp Director
Stephanie Black
Conway Cradle Care Director
McKinley Hess