Roxanne Myers
The music leader of St. Andrew's since 2006, Roxanne Myers has been a member of the Episcopal Church since kindergarten. She resides in DeQuincy with her husband and daughter and teaches music at Moss Bluff Middle School. Roxanne joined the Vestry in 2007 and serves on the Worship and Formation Committee.

Amanda Early
An animal lover and art enthusiast, Amanda Early joined the Vestry in 2008. She brings to her position a passion for social justice. Amanda serves on the Membership and Community Committee

Somer George
Somer George is a cradle Episcopalian and has been a member of St. Andrew's for five years. She returned to St. Andrew's last year after spending three years in Houston. Somer George joined the Vestry in 2008, and serves on the Ministry and Outreach Committee

Jerry Forsyth
A life-long resident of the Lake Charles area, Jerry Forsyth was raised an Episcopalian. His father attended the Church of Good Shepherd in Lake Charles. Jerry is married to Donella, and they have three sons Zack (22), David (20), and Joe (12.) Jerry works for Calcasieu Parish, and his wife is a special education consultant for CPSB. Jerry is an avid fisherman and hunter and is an excellent cook. Jerry joined the Vestry in 2008 and serves on the Property and Grounds Committee

Sabrina Spears
A member of St. Andrew's since 2002, Sabrina Spears currently serves as secretary and bookkeeper, and has attended the last two Diocesan Conventions. She has two daughters, Brianne D. Lozier (married to Aaron Lozier) and Kristi Verret, both of Lafayette. She has two grandsons, Poete Eden, age 6, and Lennon Scott, 8 months. Her parents are Jerry and Louella Verret. Louella is also a member of St. Andrew's church. Sabrina joined the Vestry in 2007 and serves on the Worship and Formation Committee.

Vicar: The Rev. Dr. Mitzi George

Having been raised as a military brat, my roots are dispersed over many miles and states. I was born in North Carolina, the fourth daughter of seven children (five living) to a father who was a Marine Corps Drill Instructor most of my life. With five daughters, he pretty much raised us like soldiers. We were all born in different parts of the country, my parents included. Therefore, we really didn't have one place to call home. As our travels returned us to North Carolina many times, it sort of became our home state. I am just fortunate to be the one who was actually born there.

I graduated from high school in Morehead City, NC and attended college a couple of years before moving here to Louisiana, where my mother had already taken residence. I finished my undergraduate studies at McNeese State University in 1982, with a bachelor's degree in fine arts and art education. While pursuing that degree, I met my husband Kevin. We've lived here in the Lake Charles area ever since. I began teaching right out of college. It was my teaching experience at St. Louis High School and my ministry as a youth director that led me to seek my second degree, which is a master's in pastoral studies and theology from Loyola University in New Orleans. I chose this degree to become a better youth director and teacher. I had been working as the diocesan youth director and the Lake Charles Convocation youth director for several years, as well as the director of Camp Ben, which provides summer camping experiences for disadvantaged youth from around the state.

Toward the end of my studies at Loyola University, I began discerning a call to the deaconates and, in January 1995, I was ordained a deacon in the Episcopal Church. Several years later, while working on both my master's degree in educational leadership and a specialist degree in administration and supervision, Bishop Hargrove asked me if I would consider assisting St. Andrew's for a short time while it looked for a priest. At that time I had been at St. Michael's for 20 years, where I had served as a youth director, Eucharistic minister, Sunday school teacher, and deacon. When the Bishop first approached me, I thought he was crazy and told him so. He took that well! But, he still insisted I could do some good here, so I did as he asked.

About a year later, he and Archdeacon John Maloney asked if I would consider becoming a priest. Initially, I objected, because I believed my family would never go for that. They asked me to phone my family right there on the spot. Boy, was I wrong; my family was very excited and even encouraged and supported me in going back to school for yet a fifth college degree. This time I went to Sewanee to pursue a doctorate in ministry, which I received in 2004.

Bishop Hargrove ordained me into the priesthood in 2001, as I already had a master's degree in theology from Loyola. The doctorate is not necessary, but is preferred, and I did not want others in the diocese to think he had allowed me to take the "easy" way.

There are times when I still question the priesthood, but I have loved the journey toward whatever it is I have been, and am being, called to do. Education is a way of life for me, both as a teacher and life-long student. I still wonder what educational pursuits await me in the coming years. Surely there is more!

As far as ministry goes, I suppose I will always feel inadequate to do this thing we call priesthood. How can anyone feel otherwise? It is such an overwhelming task and responsibility, and yet I am humbled and honored to have been called.

As a vicar of a small church, I have gained an incredible amount of wisdom from those with whom I work. The church always functions as a whole, and when the congregation brings its gifts to the table and works alongside the clergy, great things happen. Over the past seven years, I have seen St. Andrew's transformed from a little church in survival mode to a community that is excited about the future. Both the physical plant and the dedication of the membership have flourished. It is so wonderful to see the progress we have made.

Our life of faith is always a work in progress. That progression is made one faith-filled step at a time. All the while, we know that it is God who calls us each into relationship, and it is God who sustains us. Much of the journey is a mystery, but that is what defines faith: "evidence of things not seen."