About Us

staff

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Nathan Hodge (@nathanhodge) has been a pastor in the United Methodist Church since 1995, and has been at First Methodist Hallsville since 2009. He grew up in East Texas, and went to school at Stephen F. Austin State University (BA), Southern Methodist University (MDiv) and Texas Christian University (DMin). Nathan is active in the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church on various committees and boards, and is a part of the inaugural class of the conference's Advancing Pastoral Leadership program. Nathan is married to Amy Hodge, who serves as Campus Minister for the Wesley Foundation at Kilgore College, and has three sons: Andrew, Ian and Charles.

Shinia Kelsey was born in Waco, Texas, the only child of Alton “Tucker” and Annabelle Vasser, and grew up in Hallsville. She is married to Bob Kelsey, her perfect match. After two rounds of college, the first completing an accounting degree and the second completing a paralegal degree, God revealed what her life’s work and passion would be. She was appointed to her home church at First Methodist Hallsville in October of 2006. She received her Bachelors in Religious Studies in May of 2012 from Wiley College and will begin her seminary education in the fall. She says, “I am blessed to be able to live out my passion for Jesus Christ and His Gospel here in this community.”

Daniel Edson graduated from The University of Texas at Tyler in 2007, and has been the Youth Ministries Director at FUMC Hallsville since 2008. He is passionate about seeing people become fully alive and becoming who God created them to be by living a life that is centered on the Gospel. As his Twitter (@voiceofthunder) bio states, he likes to think of himself as a Creative: Artist – Thinker – Visionary – Designer – Follower of the Way. Daniel enjoys all things sports related as well as creating music, predominantly hip-hop. He has recently married his beautiful wife, Kameron.

Danyelle Meyer joined our staff in 2012 and truly enjoys her work in Children's Ministries. She is married to John and has three boys. She has previously worked as a Pre-K teacher at a nearby church. She says, "I love God and thank him everyday for the beautiful world that he has made for us, and all the things he provides for us. I hope to be able to live my life to the fullest everyday!"

Chris Crawford, B.M.Ed., M.A., has been Director of Music Ministries since 2006 and a member of FUMC Hallsville since 1994. He directs the Chancel Choir and Handbells and plays guitar with the Praise Band. A retired band director, Chris continues to work with the band students of HISD. As a United Methodist certified lay speaker he has preached to East Texas congregations for the past 30 years. Chris enjoys photography, flying R/C airplanes and reading. He and his wife, Susan, have one child, Jesse.

Johnnie McPherson was raised in the little town of Morgan Mill, Texas. Graduating from Huckabay High School, she attended Tarleton State University for two years. Her major was accounting. Johnnie is married and has 2 children, 6 grandchildren and one on the way. She has worked in Church Finances for 17 years. She came to the East Texas area in 2004, and has been at First Methodist Hallsville for seven years. She loves her work as the Financial Officer of the church.

Darlene Suttle grew up in Central Oklahoma, and, as a young couple, she and her husband moved to East Texas where they operated a dairy farm for 20 years. After working as a volunteer, she was employed by First Methodist Hallsville as secretary and has experienced the growth of the church through all of the building programs in its present location. Darlene has been active in the women’s organization of the United Methodist Church, serving in leadership positions in the district, conference and jurisdictional levels. She served as a delegate to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1992. She has three daughters, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, and lives with her husband, Willis, on a farm outside of Hallsville.

Susan Crawford has a Bachelor of Music degree from Southwestern University and a Master of Arts from Stephen F. Austin State University. She has accompanied the choir and played for services at First Methodist Hallsville since 1994. Susan has taught in public and private schools for 34 years, teaching third grade, fourth grade, pre-kindergarten, elementary music and secondary choir. She is presently teaching cultural arts at the Chrisman School in Longview.

Sheila Carlisle is a lifetime resident of Hallsville. Graduating from Hallsville High School she attended Kilgore College majoring in Child Development. Sheila is married and has 3 children and 4 grandchildren. Sheila has worked in a preschool – daycare setting for 28 years having taught then directed at First Friends for the last 13 years. "God gives us these precious little people to love, teach and share Christ with. What an honor it is to get to share a part of my day with each one of them."

Pat Thompson has served at First Methodist Hallsville for 8 years as Facilities Coordinator, and takes care of cleaning the church facilities and setting up for special events, and works with the trustees to keep the church in good repair. Pat attends church at St. Luke's UMC in Kilgore. Pat is also very active in the East Texas Emmaus Community.