Leonard Sweet

Having begun her career as an educator, Paula Champion-Jones is well versed in educational theory. Having spent a lifetime in church, she know how poorly prepared the average minister is to teach and is aware of the dismal results of the teaching methods most often employed. As a United Methodist pastor, she has effectively employed brain-based learning methods in three churches. While working on a DMin degree at George Fox Seminary, she thoroughly researched the subject under the mentorship of Leonard Sweet. Paula Champion-Jones began her career as an elementary teacher. While taking time off to raise children, she became involved in her church’s education ministry, eventually pursuing a Master of Divinity in Biblical Studies through New Orleans Baptist Seminary. Upon graduation in 1993, she was the recipient of the American Bible Society Award for Scholarly Achievement in Biblical Studies. In 2000, she responded to the call to pastor and returned to school for a second MDiv in Methodist Studies from Memphis Theological Seminary. Since 2002, she has served as a pastor in the United Methodist Church. During this time, she has focused on creative worship. In May of 2014 she completed her DMin at George Fox Seminary where she was presented with The Distinguished Dissertation Award. Her passion is making God more accessible to others during worship. Paula lives with her husband of 42 years, Joseph Jones, in Hoover, Alabama. They have three adult daughters and three grandchildren. She is an avid reader, an amateur artist, and an enthusiastic flower gardener and storyteller.