Acton United Methodist Church

Rev. Dawne McAlpin (dawne@actonumc.org)
Minister of Missions

Rev. Dawne McAlpin has served on the staff at AUMC since 1988 and currently serves as Minister of Missions and Adult Ministries.  She is an ordained Deacon with a passion to “connect the church to the world.”  In addition to the coordination of obvious ministries in this area, she supervises Stephen Ministry and a variety of Singles ministries, leads a weekly social justice “munch and lunch” group, coordinates the “Saintly Sightseers” monthly tour and fellowship group. Dawne received her Bachelor’s Degree in History and Government from Tarleton State University and a Master’s in Theological Studies from Texas Christian University.  She has three beautiful daughters:  Amanda teaches and coaches basketball in a Keller High School, Maggie is a graduate student at Brite Divinity School, and Mallory is a student at Cornerstone Christian Academy.       

Joseph Nader (joseph@actonumc.org)
Minister of Evangelism

Joseph and his wife, Mary Kathryn, have recently graduated from Asbury Seminary where they spent the first four years of their marriage. Joseph is looking forward to working with the Evangelism and the Young Adult ministries of Acton UMC, and he is excited to be a part of the church family.

Suzanne Cate (suzanne@actonumc.org) - Minister of Music
Rev. Suzanne Cate, Minister of Music and Worship, is an ordained deacon in full connection.  Her music degrees are from Texas Tech University and the University of Colorado.  She finished her foundational seminary courses at Perkins School of Theology.  Rev. Cate is married to Michael Cate, a middle school science teacher.  They have two grown children, Robin and Gabriel, a beautiful daughter-in-law, Allison,  and the smartest granddaughter in the world, Soren Elliot Cate!  Rev. Cate also directs the Granbury Civic Chorus.

Dr. Don Kelley (don@actonumc.org) - Visitation Pastor

Dr. Don Kelley is our part-time Minister of Visitation. He is a retired
United Methodist Minister as well being retired from a major electric utility. He has degrees in Business, Theology and Psycology along with considerable community involvment. He brings long experience into his ministry with those in the hospital, the breaved, homebound, retirement centers and the like. He also teaches and assists in leading worship.
He is married to Idis and they have four grown children and three grandchildren.

Katie Slaten (katie@actonumc.org) - Assistant Youth Director

Katie is a student at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth. She is on track to become an ordained minister in the Central Texas Conference. Katie plays guitar and loves to sing. In high school, Katie was the conference youth president.

Jessica Thompson (jessica@actonumc.org) - Children's Director

Jessica has been on the Acton UMC team for four years. She is married to her high school sweetie, Blake. They have a dog named Ping. Jessica loves to clean her office, take care of kids, and wear bright colors. Jessica has worked to build a children's ministry that goes beyond Sunday morning with after school activities and retreats.

Walter Wilson (walter@actonumc.org) - Organist

Walter leads us in song each Sunday with his expertise on the organ. He loves to learn about all of the details and sounds possible (he's an engineer you know). He and his wife, Echo, are a blessing to this church.

Echo Wilson (echo@actonumc.org) - Pianist

Echo is married to our organist Walter. They live in Fort Worth where she teaches music during the week. Echo plays piano for Sunday morning services, weddings, funerals, and other musical groups in the church.

Kendall Grober (kendall@actonumc.org) - Office Administrator

Kendall is the brain of our church. She is married to Darrell, a local fireman and barber, and has a daughter Mallory. Kendall likes to knit and sew in her spare time and was the 2004 Central Texas Conference administrator of the year.

Anderia Lopez (anderia@actonumc.org) - Business Administrator

Anderia lives in Lake Worth with her husband Luis. She has two dogs, Charlie and Frye, and one cat that is on his 7th life (just ask her).

Linda Hatfield (linda@actonumc.org) - Music Secretary

Linda Hatfield, Music Secretary, has been a member of AUMC since 1990. She has been active in the choirs since joining AUMC and keeps the music library and program going at the direction of Rev. Suzanne Cate. Linda also is director of the Kids’ Choir Program and teaches the Alleluia Choir. Linda & her husband, Don, live in Gemstone Estates.

Custodian

Gabriele Heading came to the United States in 1975 from Germany. She has a daughter, Christina, who is currently working her way through college to become a radiology technician.

We just recently celebrated Gabrielle's tenth year with Acton UMC. She was presented with a Top Ten List of things about Gabrielle.

10. She always has a smile.
9. She always does her best, no matter what.
8. She is the best dressed custodian in Texas.
7. She is a great mother to her daughter and little doggie.
6. She throws away food before Alan can eat it.
5. She never has a single complaint...two or three, but never one.
4. Did we mention she was a snappy dresser?
3. She has been to more weddings and funerals in Hood County than anyone else, other than they guys at Wiley's.
2. She isn't always searching for a husband, and if she caught one accidentally, would probably throw him back.
1. She is our own Superhero!

David Scott (church@actonuc.org) - Custodian

David is a father of three, grandfather of ten, and will soon be a great grandfather in 2007. He has been on staff at Acton UMC for two years. Before coming to Acton, David worked thirty years witih Delta in ground support duties.

David has many duties around the church. Our favorite is as the maker of the coffee. He is the first one to church on Sunday mornings to make sure we are ready to worship. You will see David changing air filters, lights, and setting up for our events. He is always looking for a volunteer when it comes time for toilet cleaning.

Barb Robertson joined AUMC's staff as Praise Team Leader in September of 2007. Along with husband Fred (bassist, vocalist, and songwriter), Barb had been leading worship in and around the Houston area for some 11 years before moving to Cleburne, Texas. The couple, who have been married and making music together for 32 years, gave their musical gifts and talents to the Lord when they rededicated their lives to Christ in 1983. Since then, they have recorded two albums of Fred's original Christian music under their publishing company/band name, GODSONG.

"Worship leading is not only a personal worship experience of passion and joy for me," says Barb, "but I believe the Lord has called me to serve Him in this way. I have tried to run and hide a few times when the going got tough...but He keeps finding me and throwing me back up there!" Barb says the heart and spirit both of AUMC's congregation and leadership are a perfect fit for her, and she is very gratified and excited to be part of this church. The Robertsons have three beautiful grown daughters - Cherie Anderson, married to Lance, currently living in Grapevine, TX (but planning to move soon to Hawaii); Cheyenne Joy, an attorney who lives in Grapevine, TX; and Carly Grace, a Marketing Researcher living in Arlington, TX.

Youth Director

Kevin is from Lubbock and graduated from Texas Tech. He has worked with youth in the Lubbock, Dallas, and Houston areas over the past ten years and most recently as Youth Director for First Methodist Church in Gainesville. His wife Kathy is from Arlington and earned her teaching certificate at the University of Texas at Austin. Kathy currently teaches science at Strickland Middle School in Denton. They met while Kathy was a Youth Director at Foundry UMC in Houston and Kevin was the Community Relations Director for JUMMP (Junior High United Methodist Mission Project). They have been married just over a year and are very excited about coming to AUMC.