Elk City United Methodist Church

Scott is Elk City UMC’s Senior Pastor. He was appointed to Elk City UMC in 2019 and has been in pastoral ministry for over 20 years. He has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from The University of Oklahoma and a Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. He was ordained an elder in The United Methodist Church in 2006. Scott loves serving with the congregation of Elk City UMC because he believes they share the values of Love God and Love Neighbor. When he is not at church, you will find him spending time with his wife, Jen, or watching sports (most likely OU football or WWE). Scott has a heart for missions, especially youth missions and for sharing his faith. His guiding Scripture is Matthew 28:19-20, The Great Commission, which leads to his deepest prayer and hope that all persons come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. He believes that until this is the case, there is Kingdom building work to be done.

Rev. Kaela Burdge is our Pastor of Discipleship at Elk City UMC, and the Hub churches (Erick UMC and Chapel Hill UMC). Kaela was appointed to Elk City in the summer of 2022, and her primary focus is to help people grow in their relationship with God and become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. She is responsible for overseeing the spiritual growth and development of the congregation, designing and implementing programs that foster spiritual growth, and providing guidance and support to individuals as they navigate their faith journey. Currently, she’s feeling God tugging at her heart to find better ways to navigate authentic digital evangelism and discipleship in the 21st century. Kaela was ordained as a Full Elder in connection in 2019 and has had the privilege of serving some wonderful churches all across Oklahoma. One thing that Kaela loves about working at Elk City UMC is how focused the whole church is on making disciples and building God's Kingdom. Kaela has a heart for campus ministry where she heard her call to ministry, and she has a heart for camp and retreat ministry and has worked on staff at Cross Point UMC Camp at Lake Texoma and has been a camp counselor for every age group at Cross Point, Egan, and Canyon. Kaela values hard work and connection, and she sees a true value in intergenerational ministry: that when all people are included in Christ's ministry, lives are changed. In Kaela’s spare time, she loves hanging out with friends, meeting new people, playing her guitar, playing/watching sports (especially OU Sooners and Dallas Stars Hockey), camping and hiking, and spending time with her husband Alan and their children: Elisha, Thomas, Samuel, and their dogs, Socks and Luke. Kaela loves reading Scripture and finds it to be the deepest and easiest way for her to connect with God. Her favorite Old Testament book is Ecclesiastes, and her favorite New Testament book is Galatians. Kaela's biggest hope and dream is for the world to focus on Jesus Christ being Lord of their lives, and worshipping together despite our differences.

Associate Pastor Terry Jordan was appointed in 2022 after serving for two years as a staff member who specialized in pastoral care here in the Elk City church following his appointment to Granite Methodist Church from 2012 to 2020. “Coming back to our home church and being appointed as an associate was a dream come true!” During his 34 years with United Parcel Service, Terry’s calling to the ministry became very apparent under the mentorship and example of the pastors here during that time. As associate pastor he continues to focus on the needs of our church family while also attending to daily activities related to ministerial duties. He enjoys being able to connect and be in ministry with the youth and watching families in the church grow up. Youth mission trips are a staple of the Jordan family summer! Another huge blessing has been being a part of the inception of the Western Oklahoma HUB that has been instrumental in keeping smaller area churches open and is considered by the conference as a model to be used across the conference. Community connection is very important to Terry and he enjoys working with the local Ministerial Alliance in volunteer projects throughout the year. When he isn’t working you will probably find Terry at the local golf course enjoying the fresh air and fellowship with friends and neighbors. Terry has never met a stranger and this lends to his talents in God’s beautiful creation. He cites Matthew 27: 50-51 as a favorite scripture and prays he can “be an effective, loving servant of Christ to all I meet.”

Traci is Elk City UMC’s Administrative Assistant and Director of Media Technology. Her job areas cover a lot of different ground...she describes it as making sure the church has reach…that it’s seen and heard here, near and far. She has been Facebooking church events, troubleshooting audio/visual, producing in-house and online videos, etc. for the church since 2014. She became the Administrative Assistant in 2024. She enjoys the creativity her role affords and working with a team of people who love God and love people. She values genuineness, service to others and attention to detail. She believes a smile, word of encouragement and a good hug can change lives. Some of her most favorite people in the world are her youth kids and their families…and her boys – husband, Kent, and sons, Jack and Rex. All of her best time is spent with them. Her mission work with the youth never fails to move her and teach her new things, but Dallas in the summer of 2015 changed her heart in a beautiful way. That was the summer she understood without a shadow of a doubt what agape love looks like on this earth. Her favorite Bible verse comes from 2 Timothy 1:7 -- For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self discipline. And the Book of James gets a lot of her attention!

Sherry has been Elk City UMC’s Treasurer since 2015. She’s been working with numbers since she was a teenager and has always wanted to serve the church. Since her job at Elk City UMC includes both, this is the perfect fit! Her duties include keeping the church’s financial data posted, making sure the church is in compliance with various tax agencies and helping with benevolence needs and other accounting duties that arise. She’s part of the “front office crew” and will be one of the first smiling faces you see if dropping by the church during the week. Honesty, loyalty and a heart for service are important to her. Sherry enjoys helping with Walk to Emmaus and when she’s not at church, she’s with her family whom she loves to spend time with. Her favorite Bible verse comes from Job 8:21, He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. Her biggest hope is for her family…especially her grandchildren…that they live happy lives and never doubt her love or the Father’s for them.

Karen is Elk City UMC’s Financial Secretary. She has been making deposits and recording church giving since 2013. She values loving people and enjoys her work at the church as it gives her many opportunities to spread love with the people who come and go. She encounters many throughout the week as her office is a “high traffic area” of the church. When not at the church, she enjoys being with her family and football. Karen loves working with the United Methodist Women and supporting the many ministry projects ongoing at Elk City UMC. Her favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 40:31, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Her biggest prayer is to know that her children and extended family are living their lives for the Lord.

Dwain and Sharon Hodges are Elk City UMC’s custodians, joining the staff right in the middle of a pandemic in 2020. That brought a unique set of challenges as cleaning the church took on a new importance. The couple can be found at church most days cleaning and disinfecting after each church event, keeping things in working order and fixing issues that arise on church grounds. Dwain and Sharon simply describe themselves as caretakers for God’s work. They enjoy cleaning God’s house for people to worship in a safe and tidy environment. The couple is enjoying the freedom retirement has afforded them to do the work God has called them to. When not at church, they love to watch movies together and also enjoy classic cars. Their favorite mission is supporting the church in all its kingdom work. Dwain and Sharon’s favorite Bible passage is 2 Kings, Chapter 6, and their biggest prayer is for peace and unity worldwide.  

Dennis Ferguson joined Elk City UMC’s staff in September 2017. He works in maintenance and jokingly refers to himself as “The Chairman” as his primary duties are to set up chairs and tables for any and all functions at Elk City UMC. That keeps him pretty busy as there’s always something going on at church! Dennis married his wife, Jennifer, in 2007 and together they have four dogs “who are our kids and spoiled worse than any kid would be!” When he’s not working at the church, he’s working at Walmart. Dennis enjoys yard work, watching tv and movies and traveling when he gets the opportunity. Hebrews 10:36 is one of his favorite Bible verses: “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”

Kent and Traci are the Senior High Youth Leaders at Elk City UMC. It’s funny how that came about - ask them sometime! It's been a great example of God's will vs. ours and being obedient! The role includes some teaching, preaching, mentoring, counseling, championing, etc. Throw in some parenting with unconditional love and lots of grace, and you have youth ministry! They would describe working with youth as taking a ride on a spiritual roller coaster. Both believe God put them in this place for this season with these people. They value building relationships with their church kids, not just at church but outside of it as well. Their favorite week of the year is Mission Trip during the summer for two reasons: 1.) Quality time with the kids with few distractions, and 2.) Serving others over self never fails to light a fire in all of them. The couple is grateful for the ways youth ministry stretches them emotionally and spiritually. They value openness, leadership, service, compassion and character and strive to model that for their church kids. Their biggest prayer is for their youth to not just know about God, but KNOW Him…His heart and His love and His power. They have two boys of their own, Jack and Rex, who make themselves just as comfortable at church as they do at home…which makes their parents so happy. Kent’s favorite Scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Traci’s favorite Scripture as a youth leader is James 3:1 because it reminds her that her actions and speech should always align with her faith…and that’s what she wants her kids to see.

Alan began leading Elk City UMC’s 4th, 5th and 6th graders as Hwy 456 Director in 2024. He is a Bible study leader, Sunday school teacher and event planner for this big, boisterous, fun group of tweens and seeing them grow closer to God is the best part of his job! Alan says faith, family and respect are the values that drive him. When he’s not teaching tweens at church or teens at ECHS where he is a 9th grade science teacher, he loves spending time with his wife, Rev. Kaela; daughter, Elisha; and twin sons, Thomas and Samuel. He also enjoys playing games. One of his favorite outreach events to volunteer for is Vacation Bible School. He’s been known to put his acting skills to the test, whether in human or VBS puppet form. “Putting a smile on the children's and other volunteers’ faces while watching them grow in their faith is an amazing experience,” he said. Alan’s favorite Bible verses come from Isaiah: Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:7-9. His hope and prayer are that every kid who comes to Hwy 456 feels the love and mercy of Christ and finds a place where they belong.

Lindsay’s position leading the littles began in 2024 when she became Children’s Director for the GLOW Kids program at Elk City UMC after years volunteering in the children’s ministry. In her role, she teaches children about God and guides them to become disciples of Christ. She enjoys seeing the kids, week after week and year after year, growing in their knowledge and love for Christ. “It’s amazing to watch their little brains absorb what we teach them like little sponges,” she said. “The pride that children have when they joyfully retell a Bible story that they have learned is such an incredible thing to witness.  My favorite thing is when our children invite and bring a friend to church with them.” Lindsay believes in kindness and empathy, as we never know what someone is dealing with. Just to extend a helping hand or simply try to understand what someone else's life might be like would change the world. When she’s not working, she is most likely spending time with her husband and 3 busy kids. She enjoys chasing them all over the state watching them play basketball, softball, baseball and soccer.  When she gets a small break from sports, you can her at a good concert or anywhere out in the sunshine, preferably the beach!  Lindsay’s favorite volunteer role is with CASA. “CASA does so much for children in foster care to help support each child's healing and growth,” she said. “Working with vulnerable children and being able to be their voice in court is such an important thing. It’s an incredible gift to be loved by these children while fighting for them to have the things they need and deserve.” Lindsay’s favorite Scripture is Colossians 3:23-24, Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Her biggest hope in this world is for every child to be safe, to feel loved and to know that there is a big God who loves them endlessly. 

Lauren has been Elk City UMC’s Children’s Music Director since 2018, and became the Children's Co-Director in 2024. In her role, she selects and teaches music on Wednesday nights for our kids, ages 2 through 4th grade, and directs the Kids Choir as they often perform special music for the congregation. She also helps choose curriculum for the GLOW Kids program and is in charge of Sunday School and Children's Moment on Sundays. She says she’s happy to be able to give back to the church that helped raise her by sharing her gifts in the children’s ministry. The values that driver her are family, faith, compassion, kindness and steadfastness. Lauren enjoys reading, gardening, traveling with her family, walking and working with her students at Elk City High School, where she is a counselor. Her favorite mission to support is HELP Inc., both personally and through her full-time job at ECHS. Her favorite Bible verses come from Jeremiah 17:7-8, But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Lauren hopes that she’s able to live a life that demonstrates compassion, kindness and patience both for her own children and the children with whom she works. She wants to demonstrate the love of God in every area of her life.

Patsy is Elk City UMC’s Nursery Director and Custodian and has worked in those areas of the church since the mid 1980’s. She describes her role in the nursery as caring and protecting children in a safe, loving environment. The littles love Miss Patsy! She’s had a direct hand in helping nurture our church kids and gets to watch as they learn and grow in their faith here. Many of “her kids” are now adults with children of their own and now they, too, get to spend time with Miss Patsy in the church nursery! As Custodian, she can be found cleaning every inch of the church and helping fix issues that pop up within the building. Patsy loves working with people who enjoy working together to help others. When she’s not at church, she enjoys volunteering at the UMC Thrift Shop. She also enjoys walking in her free time. She loves to start her mornings early, reading her Bible and the Upper Room devotional. She especially enjoys the quietness of a morning. Her prayers are many, especially for the hungry, homeless, lonely abused and ill. She also hopes and prays for world peace and unity, and for all people here on earth and in heaven.

Maxine has been watching, feeding, changing, rocking, reading and playing with our littlest disciples in the Nursery on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings for over 40 years at Elk City UMC! She loves working with kids of all ages. “They love you and you love them, and you get to watch them learn and grow over the years.” She enjoys being at church, being a good steward for Jesus and working with her partner in crime, Patsy, who’s been her teammate from the start. Maxine values being on time, helping anyone she can and being a good mentor to the kids. When she’s not at church, she loves to read, sew and watch some good tv. Maxine is passionate about and has volunteered countless years to Elk City’s Christmas Baskets ministry, which boxes and delivers food to families needing a little help around Christmastime. Her favorite Scripture is Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Maxine says her biggest hope, dream and prayer is to live a good life and to be able to retire one day and travel with her sister.

Justin has been Elk City UMC’s Chancel Choir Director since 2008, leading the musicians during the church’s weekly Celebration service. “Prep work” for the traditional service includes Wednesday night choir rehearsals. Together, the choir works on weekly anthems and special seasonal music. The Chancel Choir performs a Christmas Cantata each year as well as special anthems for the Easter season. Justin refers to his work with the choir a “labor of love” as he thoroughly enjoys the weekly fellowship and fun interactions amongst the close group, whom he calls “a family within a family.” His love of music and working with individuals in a choir setting is his life’s work. He’s been involved with church music in some leadership form since attending Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where he graduated with both a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and a Master’s Degree in Music (vocal emphasis). He’s also the co-director of the award-winning Elk City Schools Junior and Senior High Choir programs. In his spare time he can be found on the golf course, in a deer blind, traveling or just spending time at home with his family. Justin is married to the love of his life, Jo, and together they have four children, Anna Mueller and her husband, Michael; Jonah White; Drew Ediger; and Hannah White. His favorite verse is Phillippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” 

Rhonda currently serves as Director of Music for the New Day service. Organizing musicians, singers, and choosing praise music that enhances the sermons has been a challenge she’s enjoyed since accepting the role in September of 2024. She loves being able to continue to have a creative outlet for her own musical gifts while also having the opportunity to serve her lifelong church! Her biggest belief is that she wakes up every morning with the ability to “Choose Happy” and encourages everyone to do the same! Hugs and laughs are shared freely and as much as possible. Rhonda’s husband, Terry, serves as one of the two Associate Pastors and they are overjoyed that their only child, Trinity, recently gave them a son-in-law! They love spending time and eating out with Trinity and Caleb Dilocker as often as possible! In her spare time, Rhonda is a Realtor with Re/Max All American Realty and has fun seeing all the houses she can in the area. Working alongside the youth directors are also a passion and she enjoys mission trips every summer with them! Even though Trinity aged out of the trips, Rhonda says she never will! Another passion is working with rescue animals and helping her favorite local rescue as she is able. One of her favorite Bible verses is Proverbs 16:3 - "Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established." Her biggest hope and prayer for all is that everyone finds peace in their lives and spends time spreading it to all they meet.

Allison joined Elk City UMC’s staff in 2021 as the English Hand Bell Choir Director. “I direct the Bell Choir or, as they would laughingly call themselves, the Ding-A-Lings!” In her position, Allison selects music, conducts regular practices, readies her choir for performances and sees to the upkeep of the bells and related equipment. She says the choir loves bringing the joy of worship into their performances, and she feels very fortunate to be leading such a dedicated group and finds their friendship and love of God very uplifting. “I love being a part of this unique and talented group of ringers!” She also loves that the congregation is appreciative and supportive of the bell choir and sees this as a positive influence for future bell ringers at Elk City UMC. Allison believes, first and foremost, that music is meaningful in some way to everyone who experiences it. She also believes it is a gift from God and should be cherished as such. She finds fulfillment in sharing her gifts with the church and feels called to inspire others through music, whether playing, listening or finding spiritual connection. “If one person feels the joy of God's love through sound, I am happy! I just want EVERYONE to feel that specialness!” Allison’s greatest joy is spending time with her three grandchildren and moved to Elk City specifically for that reason. She’s thankful for new friends made and the opportunity to nurture new relationships. She also loves to travel and hopes to spend more time doing so, once she retires. Allison is a huge advocate for Project Transformation. She would like it to be utilized more often and hopes it becomes wider known. “Not only does it help and change the lives of children, it also makes a serious impact on the lives of the college-age counselors that drive it!” Allison’s favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:8-9: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Her hopes, dreams and prayers are all the same: she wants her grandchildren and all of mankind to live in a world that is more accepting of those who are different, to know that every person has value, to believe that love should be unconditional and to know that God's grace is always with them.