"Serve the Lord with gladness!" Psalm 100:2

Rev. Dylan Ward, Senior Pastor 

Rev. Ward was appointed to St. Paul UMC in July 2024.  Dylan began ministry while a senior in college in 2012. After graduating from Northeastern State University in 2013, he attended Phillips Theological Seminary, earning his Master of Divinity in 2017. He was ordained an Elder in 2019. Before coming to St. Paul, he served the United Methodist churches of Woodall, Braggs, Adair, Foyil, Inola, and Wesley—El Reno.  

Joanne Nilsson, Administrative Assistant

Joanne received her Associate of Science in Business Administration from Bacone College. She has over 35 years of experience working in the church office and the administrative field. She and her husband, Mark, have two grown children and six grandchildren.   

Lynnette Lewis, Business Administrator

Lynnette manages the church’s financial records, and oversees the church building maintenance and repairs. She received an Associate degree in Medical Office Management and Medical Transcription. Her experience includes managing medical offices, bakery, property and real estate. She and her husband, Cameron, have four children and four grandchildren.

Ineta Bebb, Director of Music Ministries

 Ineta oversees the choir programs and the maintenance of the church’s organs, pianos, and handbells. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education and her Masters in Vocal Performance at Kansas University. She’s served as the Director of Music Ministries at St. Paul since 1982. Prior to that, she taught music at university and public schools. She and her husband Martin have two grown children, Stephanie and Michael, who each have their own families. 

Barbara Kent, 

Director of Children & Youth Ministries

Barbara coordinates our Children's and youth Ministries, which include Sunday School, a mid-week Youth Bible Study, summer camps, VBS, and so much more. She grew up in Alaska with her two brothers and one sister and moved to Oklahoma at the age of 23. She has lived in Muskogee for more than 14 years with her two children and has a deep connection to our community and its residents.

Beth Dunn, Early Childhood Coordinator  

Beth cares for our littlest ones at St. Paul in the Nursery & preschool department. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from NSU and has been at St. Paul since 2013.

Margaret Wagner, Director of The Learning Tree

Margaret received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction at NSU. She has 34 years of teaching experience with Muskogee Public Schools. Her husband, Steve, is deceased. They have two daughters, Lynne and Laura, and five grandchildren, Kate, Jack, Stephen, Poppy, and Wagner.

Deanna Jackson, Teacher, The Learning Tree 

Deanna was born and raised in Muskogee. She loves Jesus, her family, music, and coffee, and she also likes to find great bargains! Deanna and her husband, Mark, have been married for 33 years. They have 3 wonderful adult kids, 1 daughter-in-love, and 2 beautiful grandkids! Their church home is Boulevard Christian. This will be her 15th year at Learning Tree.

Kim Brownell, Teacher, The Learning Tree

 Kim Brownell received a degree in business management from the University of Oklahoma. She has taught at Learning Tree for 26 years. Before starting at Learning Tree, she was the director of the Mother's Day Out program and children's handbell director at 1st Presbyterian Church. She and her husband Mark have three grown children: Kali Anderson (Jacob), Seth, and Cade (Leah). They have two grandchildren, Maxine and Joseph.  

Melissia Harrison, Custodian

Melissia and her husband, Doug, have been married for 12 years. They have two adult children and seven grandchildren. Melissia graduated from Checotah High School and lives in Muskogee. She has worked as a custodian at Cherokee Nation Housing Authority and as a dietitian at Country Gardens Assisted Living.