First United Methodist Church
DeSoto, Texas
310 Roaring Springs Drive
DeSoto, Texas 75115
972-223-6118
Every Sunday:
9:00 A.M. Sunday School
10:20 A.M. Worship
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Our Staff
FUMC Staff, from left: Office Administrator Shannah Head, Assistant Music Director Kristi Hassell, Senior Pastor Rev. Mel Caraway, Children's Minister Rev. Tamara Bullard, Youth Minister Brian Dierolf, Custodian Dee Campbell. Not Pictured: Music Director Michael King and Organist Sheree Bayless.
Senior Pastor - Rev. Mel Caraway
Rev.
Mel Caraway became pastor of FUMC DeSoto in June 2007. Mel previously
served as Pastor, Buckingham UMC, Garland. He’s very familiar with the
DeSoto-Lancaster area, having been pastor at Lancaster UMC before moving
to Garland.
A native of New Orleans, Mel entered the ministry after careers in higher education and marketing/consulting. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1969 with a B.A. in History and Political Science and received a M.A. in History in 1971 from USM. He moved to Nashville, TN where he pursued a Ph.D. in African Colonial History and Modern British History at Vanderbilt University, finishing all the requirements but the dissertation
He spent the next nine years working in higher education Administration at Vanderbilt University, Lamar University, and West Georgia College, where his last position was as Director of the Student Center and Director of Student Activities. Marketing and consulting work spanned the years of 1983-88, and he moved to Dallas in 1984.
During that time his volunteer work in humanitarian and social justice arenas expanded. He served as a Volunteer in Mission to Kenya in February 1987 and had extensive volunteer work in the area of low income housing in Dallas, especially West Dallas, 1985-1988. He worked in many areas of Habitat for Humanity, serving as Director of Dallas Habitat for Humanity in 1987 and becoming the first paid staff member for the Dallas affiliate. He also served on the Board of Directors, Grayson County Habitat, 1993-1995 and worked with Rockwall Habitat, 1995-1997.
While attending Perkins School of Theology from 1988-1992, he served Northaven UMC as an intern and on the staff from1989-1990. His pastoral appointments have included: Assistant Pastor at Sachse UMC, 1991-1992; Pastor, FUMC, Tom Bean, 1992-1995; Pastor, FUMC, Royse City, 1995-1997; Pastor, Saint Jo & Forestburg UMCs, 1997-2002; Pastor, FUMC, Lancaster, 2002-2006; Pastor, Buckingham UMC, Garland, 2006-2007.
Mel was Chair of North Texas Conference Commission on Religion and Race, 1993-2001; served as chair, North Texas Conference Church and Society Task Force, 2002-2006 and has been a member of Task Force, 2002-present; and conducts workshops throughout the Annual Conference on the Social Principles.
Mel is married to Robin M. Caraway.
He has one son, Christopher Hayes Caraway. Chris, his wife, Sabrina, and their children, Judah Hayes (7) and Joy Liora (5), and Jacob (born 4/16/09) live in Georgia.
Director of Music - Michael King
Michael
King has served as Director of Music since September 2006, and directs
our Chancel Choir, Bells of Praise, Youth Choir and coordinates the
other musical programs in the church. After completing studies in music
education and conducting at the University of North Texas and
Westminster Choir College, Michael went on to serve on the music faculty
of the St. Mark's School of Texas and is the Founder and Artistic
Director of the Southwest
Children's Chorus, a group he has led in performing in more than 30
states and 7 countries.
He has served on the boards of the Texas Music Teachers Association and Music Teachers National Association and is also an active freelance keyboardist who plays with numerous organizations including the Dallas Summer Musicals.
Assistant Director of Music - Kristi Hassell
Kristi
Hassell serves as the Assistant Director of Music at FUMC DeSoto. She is
a soprano vocalist, private voice teacher and performs with Resounding
Harmony in Dallas, directed by Dr. Tim Seelig. She serves as the
Assistant Director of the Southwest Children's Chorus and has been
involved in choral music most of her life as a soloist, choir member,
handbell player, and pianist. Kristi has been a teacher for 26 years and
has a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Texas in
Arlington. She taught Kindermusik for 12 years, is a member of
Chorister's Guild and is working on United Methodist Certification in
Church Music. Kristi loves singing, reading, gardening, crafting, and
cooking and is active in the community with Girl Scouts and
Special Olympics.
She lives in Red Oak with her husband and daughter.
Minister to Children and their Families - Rev. Tamara Bullard
Tamara
earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M at Commerce. She
majored in Business Administration. She also earned her Masters of
Theological studies degree from Southern Methodist University. She was
ordained a deacon in the North Texas Conference in 2004.
Previously she served on staff at Highland Park UMC for 10 years. Prior to that, she served as an associate youth director in St. Luke’s UMC in Houston.
She and her husband, Scott, live in Midlothian. They have two children, Barr and Lacey.
Minister to Youth and their Families - Brian Dierolf
Brian
joined the staff as Minister to Youth and their Families in March 2008.
He obtained his Bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Religious
Studies from the University of North Texas. He is currently enrolled at
Brite Divinity School seeking a Masters of Divinity while focusing on
pastoral counseling.
His previous ministry experiences include; Minister’s Assistant at the Denton Wesley Foundation, youth minister for Methodist churches in Pilot Point, Aubrey and Decatur, as well as Director of Children’s Religious Education. Brian and his wife Lauren live in Lewisville.
Office Administrator - Shannah Head
