Asbury United Methodist Church - Corpus Christi

Alan was born in Honolulu as the son of an Air Force officer. He grew up all over the United States. After graduating from Southwest Texas State University in 1975, Alan has taught choir in the public schools, owned a Christian bookstore and sold life insurance. His ministry experience includes youth, music and Christian Education. Alan graduated from Scarritt Graduate School in 1985 with a Masters in Christian Education. Soon thereafter he was consecrated as a Diaconal Minister by the Southwest Texas Conference. In 1997 he entered the pastoral ministry and finished his theological education at Perkins Seminary through the course of study program. Alan was ordained in 2002 and has served at Point Comfort, Lolita and LaVernia.

Alan met his wife Susan in college at Southwest Texas and has been married for 32 years. Alan and Susan have three grown daughters. They are both committed Christians with a strong relationship to Jesus Christ.

Rev. Trudy Sparks Paul--Associate Pastor

Trudy Sparks Paul was appointed to Asbury United Methodist Church during the Annual Conference of 2002. She continues to attend Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Her main focus and ministry at Asbury is Pastoral Care. She received training in Pastoral Care at Christus Spohn Hospital Memorial Trauma Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. She was a student and Chaplain from 1998 until 2001 at Christus Sphon. Her ministry includes visitation to hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living and the homebound. She is a Stephen Leader and, along with two other leaders, trains and supervises the Stephen Ministers at Asbury.

Valerie Caldwell--Director of Lay Ministry

Valerie was born in Baltimore, Maryland and raised in Bellaire, Texas.

She received her Bach. of Science Degree in Health, Phys. Education and Recreation from Texas Woman' s University. Valerie has taught high school health and physical education in the Dallas, Fort Worth and Northeast (San Antonio) Independent School Districts.

She is married to Paul and has three grown children: Katie, John (married to Casey) and Betsy.

Lisa King-Helsel--Director of Music

Lisa was born and raised in Corpus Christi. She is certified and has a degree in court reporting and was active in the field for ten years. Having been involved in church music all her life, she subsequently decided to make it her vocation, serving at Island in the Son UMC and then finding a home at Asbury. Her mission is to help bring the congregation to the throne of God through a blend of all types of music.

Lisa is married to Mark, and they have two children, Anessa and Amanda.

Beth Gray--Director of Children's Ministry

Beth Gray was born and raised in Orange, Texas and moved to Portland,Texas her sophmore year of high school. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Baylor University in 1980. She then attended South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas and graduated with a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1983. She served as the Clerk of the Court for the Thirteenth Supreme Judicial District of Texas for six years. Beth joined the Asbury staff in October 1999. Her mission is to help kids know Jesus Christ and help them grow in Him. Beth is married to George, and they have two children, Angela and Christina .

Jennifer Staiger--Director of Asbury Creative Learning Center

Jennifer Staiger was born in Corpus Christi and lived in Austin and Plano before returning to Corpus Christi in fourth grade. She received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from McMurry University in Abilene, TX. She has worked at Church preschools in Abilene and Corpus Christi. Jennifer joined Asbury as a Summer Latchkey Teacher in June 1995. After completing her degree, Jennifer returned to Asbury as a teacher before becoming Director of Asbury Creative Learning Center in February 1998. Her mission is to provide young children with high quality early care and educational experiences and to help kids know Jesus Christ.