OUR TEAM
Our staff and leaders are here to walk alongside you. Get to know the people who help make McAlester First a place to belong.
Rev. Dr. Stephen T. Hale
Senior Pastor
Rev. Dr. Stephen T. Hale and his wife, Rev. Michele Shahan-Hale, arrived in June 2024. Rev. Michele serves Dow and Edgewood UMCs.
His educational background includes a Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Development in 2005 from Seabury Theological/Seabury Institute, Evanston, IL; a Master of Divinity in 1998 from Phillips Theological Seminary, Tulsa, OK; a Master of Health Administration in 1986 from the University of Washington, Seattle, WA; a Bachelor of Arts in Health Services Administration in 1983 from St. Mary’s College; an Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts in 1976 from Spokane Community College, Spokane, WA; a Diploma in Respiratory Therapy in 1972 from the College of California Medical Affiliates, Oakland, CA; and a Certificate of Completion in Emergency Medical Services and Paramedicine in 2021 from Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma City, OK.
He started his ministry career in 1993 in the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church, serving as Full-Time Licensed Local Pastor at New Horizon United Methodist Church, Woodward, OK, where the congregation grew from 45 to 105 members over three years. In 1998 he served as Senior Pastor at New Hope UMC and Redemption Ministries, Enid, OK, starting as a Probationary Elder and finishing as an Ordained Elder in Full Connection, where the congregation grew from 70 to 135 members over five years.
Over the next ten years he served as Senior Minister at St. Paul’s UMC, Lawton, OK; in the Eastern Abaco Region of the Bahamas Methodist Church; at FUMC Lindsay, OK; and as Executive Associate Minister for Evangelism, Mission and Modern Worship at Chapel Hill UMC, Oklahoma City, OK. In each of these appointments the congregations experienced meaningful growth. His last appointment before retiring in August 2022 was as Senior Pastor of the FUMCs of Laverne and Rosston, OK, from 2016 to May 2022. After a couple of months of retirement he began serving as an Intentional Interim Minister as an Elder in Full Connection at FUMC Greenwood, MS, where attendance grew from 55 to 80. In June 2023 he accepted a quarter-time appointment at Colbert UMC, Colbert, OK, where he served until being appointed to McAlester FUMC.
Stephen was born in Norman, OK, on July 4th. His father worked as a pipeline engineer, which meant the family relocated frequently. Stephen attended public schools and graduated from Concord High School in California.
He has lived and worked in the USA, Canada, Mexico, and the Bahamas, and has learned to adapt to many cross-cultural situations. He loves to teach scuba diving, ride his Harley Davidson motorcycle, and fish from his boat, and he used to fly single engine airplanes. He is passionate about mission work, having served and led in the Bahamas, Belize, Mexico, Chile, Bolivia, and many places in the United States. His love of the Walk to Emmaus has led him to serve as Spiritual Director for eight walks. He has also served as Community Spiritual Director for Pioneer Country Emmaus, Pioneer Country Chrysalis, Kairos Prison Ministry of Oklahoma, and NW Oklahoma Emmaus. He facilitates Grief Share, a grief healing ministry, and Divorce Care, a divorce healing ministry, here at McAlester FUMC.
Stephen’s heart is with Jesus in ministering to the least, the lost, and the broken.
Rev. Amy Mitchell
Associate Pastor, Family Ministries and Missions
Rev. Amy Mitchell has been an active member of First United Methodist Church since 2001 and earned her Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2020. She oversees family ministries at FUMC and has served as Director of Children’s Ministries and Director of Youth Programs since 2023.
She also holds a Master of Science in Literacy, Leadership, and Education, and is certified in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, and as a Reading and Literacy Specialist for kindergarten through twelfth grade. Her other degrees are a Bachelor of Letters and a Juris Doctor.
Amy has three sons, Carson, Nathaniel, and Tristan, who attend the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, and McAlester High School.
She teaches fourth grade at McAlester Public Schools and is active in supporting her community. She is vice chair of the McAlester City Parks Board and a committee member for Boy Scout Troop 404. She’s also active in two Bible study groups and PEO, a women’s philanthropic organization.
Amy enjoys spending time outdoors, being with her family and her dogs, horticulture, community service, reading, and travel.
Camry Kuykendall
Administrative Assistant; A/V Content Creator; Nursery Director & Tweens Director
Camry Kuykendall has lived in McAlester for over five years with her husband, Matt, and their three wonderful children. She enjoys working with children of all ages and looks forward to helping your children grow in their faith.
Camry serves as the Administrative Assistant to our serving pastors and coordinates all office and congregational business needs. She is on site daily to help facilitate any office tasks.
Casey Lemons
Nursery Assistant Director
Casey Lemons was born in Ada, Oklahoma, and lived there until 2013. She currently lives in Coalgate, Oklahoma. She worked at Braum’s Ice Cream and Dairy for 10 years and currently works from home for LegalShield, based out of Ada, where she started on May 24, 1999. She has been married to Mike Lemons since October 7, 1994.
Casey and Mike have two adult children, Camry and Brandon, and three grandchildren.
Casey also serves as the assistant for the church nursery on Sundays. She enjoys spending time with family and being outdoors, fishing, sitting around the campfire, and sitting by the springs in Sulphur.
Neva Mitchell
Tweens Assistant Director
Neva Mitchell’s hometown is Cherokee, Oklahoma, where her family has lived for five generations. She’s married to Allan Mitchell, whom she met at Southern Nazarene University while pursuing a Bachelor of Biology degree. Some years later she earned a Master of Special Education degree. She taught for 30 years, in large schools like Putnam City in Oklahoma City and rural consolidated schools like Timberlake.
Neva has participated in church services since she was twelve years old. She now serves as a Sunday School teacher, assistant tween director, and lay servant.
Neva and Allan have two children and a daughter-in-law, six grandchildren and a grandson-in-law, and a great-granddaughter. She enjoys reading, gardening, travel, art, and many other things. She loves God and lives to do His will.
Janice Jobey
Children’s Programming Assistant Director
Janice (Jan) Jobey has an extensive background in teaching and working with individuals of all ages and with special needs, in both public and private arenas. She has earned two master’s degrees, one in Human Development and Family Studies and one in Curriculum and Instruction. She worked as a provider for ten years for the Sooner Start program for children with special needs and their families.
Jan has also been an early childhood college instructor and represented community college instructors for Oklahoma’s task force for early childhood professional development, course equivalency projects, and other committees and boards working toward positive outcomes for teachers of young children. Her commitment to working with Head Start programs and tribal Head Start programs is broad and varied.
Jan is the author and illustrator of several young children’s books and curricula promoting overall development, along with children’s worship curriculum. She has also created adult education modules and teacher performance rubrics.
Her own early childhood experiences with speech and hearing challenges have provided the passion for her work. Jan is the mother of four children and seven granddaughters, who inspire her work.
Geneva Edwards
Traditional Music Director
Geneva Edwards was raised in Hartshorne, Oklahoma, and attended school there from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Her three adult children live in Missouri and Oregon. After college she lived in Missouri until 2020, when she returned to the Durant area. She now lives in McAlester.
Music is her passion. She has taught many different subjects and grade levels throughout her career. She was the music teacher for three years at Hugo Elementary, then moved back into the regular classroom to teach 2nd grade at Will Rogers. She is currently the music teacher at Hartshorne School.
Cara Bland
Church Treasurer
Cara has served as the church treasurer for over 25 years. She oversees all church financial transactions, including budget planning, reporting, and record keeping, and is a graduate of East Central University.
Kyle Pratt
Facilities Repair & Maintenance/Custodian
Kyle is the father of two young children and is a working partner in a light repair and custodial company. He has been caring for our facilities and helping keep the buildings clean since 2025.
Angela Clayton
Primary Custodian
Angela has grown children and is a working partner in a light repair and custodial company. She has been caring for our facilities and helping keep the buildings clean since 2025.
Yvonne Ellington
Custodian and Nursery Substitute
Yvonne has two children and has been caring for our facilities and helping keep the buildings clean since 2025.
Kira
Nursery Substitute
Kira has worked with all ages of children and enjoys playing with them.
Thomas Burnside
Facilities Repair & Maintenance/Custodian
Thomas has been caring for our facilities and helping keep the buildings clean since 2025.
Ministry Teams
These teams keep Sunday mornings running, week in and week out.
A/V and Tech
Tim Isenberg, Steve Creech
Worship
Debbie McCauley, Melissa Byrum, Lori Few, Sarah Williams, Camry Kuykendall