Rev. Bob Sweet was born and raised in Kingsport, Tennessee where he grew up in the United Methodist Church. He graduated from high school in 1971.

He earned a BS degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1975. After graduation it was off to Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida for naval flight training. He earned his “Wings of Gold” as a Navy Pilot in 1976 and began what would become a career in the Navy. He retired from the naval service in 1994.

In January 1995, he enrolled in seminary at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, and graduated magna cum laude in 1997 earning a Master of Divinity degree.

After graduation he was appointed as the associate pastor of the Destin United Methodist Church where he served for two years.

In 1999 he was ordained an elder in the Alabama West Florida Conference and was appointed to the Bethel United Methodist Church in Ozark, Alabama.

Rev. Sweet has been very active within our conference, having served as assistant dean to the Cooperative School of Mission in 2001 and dean of the school in 2002. He served as the spiritual director of the Blue Lake Emmaus Community in 2002.

Bob has been married to Rhoda for 29 years. They have three children: Nicole Aldridge (and husband Shane), Heather Sweet, and Robert Sweet III; and one granddaughter, Savannah. Bob enjoys reading, college football (especially Tennessee football), and the great outdoors.

Rhoda was born in Panama and spent her early childhood living in Central America, including Costa Rica and Nicaragua. She graduated from High Scool in 1975 from McLean High School in McLean Virginia, a suburb of Washington D.C. She is the youngest of 5 girls and still enjoys a close relationship with all of her sisters.

Rhoda attended Clemson University but was wooed away by a Navy pilot named Bob and they were married in 1976. They have 3 grown children; Nicole Sweet Aldridge, Heather and Robert, and a precious granddaughter named Savannah.

Rhoda began working in youth ministry as a volunteer in 1990 in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she fell in love with the Jr. High students she was ministering to. She later became the Director of Youth Ministries at St. Mark UMC in Pensacola, FL and served both the Jr. and Sr. High of the church from 1993 to 1996. Her philosophy of youth ministry is simple, be in a relationship with the Lord yourself and model that life for the youth. She is actively involved in the life of the youth she serves and believes that the relationships she builds with them is essential in raising strong young Christians who will have the foundation they need to continue their walk with the Lord into adulthood.

Rhoda is excited about the potential and the limitless possibilities that are open to the youth ministry program at Providence UMC. As we begin the building of our permanent home across the street from Spanish Fort High School we can clearly see the mission God has set before us, to be a beacon for the youth in our community who are hungry for meaning and purpose in their lives. With God's help, our youth ministry program will be an integral part of making new disciples for Jesus Christ.