Linda Ruding is the Parish Visitor at FUMC. She is married to George, who is a manager for Raymond James Financial, and has a son, Tripp, who is a senior at the University of Florida this year.

Linda was born in Chillicothe, Ohio and moved to Florida when she was 10. Following high school, she attended college in Gainesville for three years. She then moved to Vero Beach in 1977 where she began a career in the financial arena with E. F. Hutton. After seventeen years in financial services, she felt God leading her into a vocation within the church. She became the Parish Visitor in 1994 and has endeared herself to the church family ever since.

Linda has a great love for people and for ministering to individuals in crisis. She believes that God has led her to this very special ministry of visiting the sick, the elderly and the hurting. She also believes God has called her to play an important role in reaching out to non-members. Not surprisingly, she finds great joy in following up on new visitors each week and heading up orientation classes for new members.

Among her passions are her love for the church, Bible studies, reading, walking and eating.