About Us
Our History
First Presbyterian Church of Kannapolis was established on June 27, 1909. Our commitment to spread the gospel and serve the Kannapolis community has never been stronger.
Evangelical Presbyterians
ECO is a Presbyterian denomination that exists to serve the local church. We invite followers of Jesus who share a Reformed, Presbyterian heritage to reclaim a sense of covenanted biblical community. The name ECO is not an acronym. It reinforces our passion for strengthening the ecosystems of local churches. We believe the Church is a living organism that needs life-giving resources to help it grow, thrive, and multiply. ECO’s name also draws from the Greek term oikos, meaning “household,” used in the Bible to reference the network of relationships that nurture an individual.
ECO is committed to cultivating a healthy, diverse, resource-rich ecosystem where pastors and congregations can flourish. Just as earthly ecosystems draw richness from the right kind of diversity, ECO is committed to unleashing the ministry gifts of women, men, young leaders, and every ethnicity.
Visit the ECO Website for more information.
Covenant
- Connecting leaders in accountable relationships
- Encouraging collaboration
- Ministering out of God’s unrelenting grace and covenant with His people
Order
- Committing to a shared way of life
- Uniting around a shared theological core/li>
- Nurturing gospel-centered leaders
Evangelical
- Advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ
- Planting new missional communities
- Serving our communities and God’s world in Jesus’ name
Presbyterians
- Standing within our Reformed and confessional heritage
- Affirming the life of the mind
- Embracing the value of representative government
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
Eddie Spencer
Pastor
eddie@firstpresb.org
God blessed me with parents who lived out their faith in Christ. Reading the gospels as a young man, by God’s grace, I experienced a spiritual affection for Christ and an aspiration to serve Him.
Early in my journey with God, there was an inclination toward global missions. Growing up in a small Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) church in Statesville, N.C. it was common for missionaries to share their heart for global missions. After college graduation, while serving as a youth director and pastoral assistant at Back Creek A.R.P church, God nurture His call in me to serve Him as a local church pastor.
David Hamilton
Music Director
davidhamilton@firstpresb.org
David Hamilton has served First Presbyterian Church Kannapolis since 2014. He and his high school sweetheart Amy are blessed with four children; Banagher, Linden, Violet, and Amias. David has a passion for Christ and using his gifts in music ministry to draw people into deeper experiences with God. David and Amy formerly served First Presbyterian as interim youth workers from 2002-2003. He loves the people of this church and desires to make Christ known by making stronger and more disciples of Christ.
David is a native of Kannapolis, NC. He earned his high school diploma from The North Carolina School of the Arts, a Bachelor of Music from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a Masters of Music from The Boston Conservatory in vocal performance and opera. As an operatic performer he has performed roles with Sarasota Opera, Opera Carolina, Anchorage Opera, Mercury Opera Rochester, Boston Opera Collaborative, Greensboro Opera, Bronx Opera, The Wildwood Park for the Performing Arts (Little Rock), The Israel Vocal Arts Institute (Tel-Aviv), Centro Studi Italiani, The University of Miami at Salzburg, and Tacoma Opera. Among his favorite operatic roles are Lennie in Of Mice and Men, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Peter Grimes in Peter Grimes, and Riccardo in Un Ballo in Maschera. His repertoire includes 15 operatic roles, more than 400 art songs, and a dozen or so symphonic works spanning music from the 17th-21st centuries. His art song projects include Songs from World War I, Songs for Tenor & Clarinet, Die Schöne Müllerin, Shakespeare Songs, Songs by the Mighty Handful, Women Composers in Song, Opera Composers in Song, Songs by Goethe and Pushkin, A Celebration of American Art Songs, Dichterliebe, and Boston Art Songs.
He currently serves as Professor of Voice at Catawba College, Music Director at First Presbyterian Church Kannapolis, and Choral Director at Erwin Middle School. His voice students have won vocal competitions at The National Association of Teachers of Singing conference, and can be seen in such diverse venues as American Idol, The Old Courthouse Theatre, Latin Music Festival of Charlotte, and Opera Carolina. His awards include NATS Finger Lake District First Place, MTNA Vocal Competition First Place, and The Metropolitan Opera Regional Auditions Ron and Charlotte Payne Award. He is a member in good standing of Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society, and The National Association of Teachers of Singing. He has served numerous churches and parishes across the country as a staff singer.
Michelle Walker
Director of Ministry
michellewalker@firstpresb.org
In October of 2018, Michelle left her 15-year career as an Assistant District Attorney to follow God’s call into service for Him and spend more time with her family. Michelle loves connecting with the children and youth of First Presbyterian and encouraging them to grow in their faith. Having previously served as Children’s Choir Director at Mt. Zion United Church of Christ, she also enjoys leading our youth in special musical productions throughout the year. As an active member and former chair of the Missions Team, she encourages children of all ages to use their gifts in service to our Lord.
Michelle graduated from Catawba College in 2000, summa cum laude, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Management and Pre-Law Studies. She received her Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from Wake Forest University School of Law in 2003. She is married to Ryan and they are proud parents of twin boys, Landon and Noah.
Michelle loves traveling and having fun with her family, especially at the beach or Walt Disney World! She has a passion for music, all things Hawai’i, and packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. She also enjoys helping Ryan in the garden, shopping, and good food (Melting Pot, anyone?). Michelle is grateful to be on staff at First Presbyterian, and excited to see how God leads our church in the months and years to come!
Terri Pruett
Bookkeeper / Worship Technology
terripruett@firstpresb.org
Terri has been with First Pres since August of 2014. She has always loved the accounting part of her jobs. She has a passion for accounting for non-profit organizations and is currently involved with two other non-profit organizations helping them with their accounting needs. Previously, she worked in her family’s textile business, then went on to work at various construction companies in their accounting departments before going to work for a large church in Mooresville for 11 years as their Financial Administrator.
Over the years, Terri has been involved in local community youth programs as a cheerleading coach and coordinator with the local youth football league, a Girl Scout leader, and a Girl Scout Leader Trainer and Outdoor Trainer on the council level. She has also been very involved in the churches she has attended as a leader in the women’s organizations, assisting with the youth groups, a Sunday School teacher, on the Steering Committee of a building campaign, on the leadership team of a new church plant, and she served as videographer for that new church plant.
Terri has recently expanded her duties at First Pres to fill a new need for the changing times of the church – live streaming. On Sunday mornings, you will find her in the balcony sound booth working behind the scenes with a team of volunteers making the live streams happen.
Terri is married to Bruce and has two grown daughters and two beautiful grandchildren. She enjoys technology, chess, photography, reading, desktop publishing, music and crafts.
Patricia Hartsell
Administrative Assistant
patriciahartsell@firstpresb.org
Patricia has been with First Pres since September 2021.
Kay Brewer Yates
Organist
Kay was born and raised in Kannapolis, attending A.L. Brown High School and receiving a double major in Music Education and Church Music from Pfeiffer College, Misenheimer, NC. While at Pfeiffer, she was a member of various choral groups, including the Chapel Choir, Symphonic Choir, Chamber Singers and the touring Concert Choir. These activities provided many travel experiences, within the US as well as two overseas tours, visiting England, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Kay has a lifetime love for music, beginning as a child growing up in West Point Baptist Church, Kannapolis. She started piano lessons at age 8, and began playing the organ for the church when she was 15. She has served as organist for several local churches. Kay has taught both private piano and voice lessons. She also taught as an elementary Music Specialist for Cabarrus County Schools for 25 years.
Kay is president of the auditioned 70-voice Piedmont Choral Society, based in Concord at Forest Hill UMC. This group presents a number of programs throughout the year, including an annual “Old Fashioned Hymn Sing”, a series of all patriotic music concerts and two formal concerts, in May and in December. Formal concerts are accompanied by a professional orchestra ranging in size from 5 to 25, and feature classic choral masterworks and beloved seasonal favorites. Kay began her position as organist at First Presbyterian in June 2014.
Irene Davis
Nursery Director
Irene Davis has been serving and caring for little ones at First Presbyterian for around 5 years! A native of Argentina, Irene was raised in Paraguay before coming to the United States in 1990. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Catawba College, and worked for 12 years at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School (now North Kannapolis Elementary). Irene speaks three languages – Spanish, Guarani and English – and has served as a Case Coordinator for the Children’s Developmental Services Agency in Charlotte since 2015. She loves spending time with daughter Emily and a four-legged child named Merlin. When she’s not working, Irene enjoys gardening, exploring the mountains, and relaxing at the beach.