The Staff of AUMC
Email us with questions, comment and concerns. To email staff members, you can use their email link below or use the person's
first name@arapaho-umc.org
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Rev. Jack Soper - Senior Pastor
Tel: 972-231-1005
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Email Jack
Jack was born in Boston, Massachusetts and is the grandson of a Methodist circuit rider preacher in Newfoundland, Canada. He graduated from Texas Wesleyan University with a B.A. in Philosophy and Psychology. Jack has a varied background in church leadership with special emphasis on pastoral care, biblical studies and social action. He was ordained in the United Methodist Church in 1973 after attending Boston University School of Theology, where he earned a ThM. in Biblical Research. He is the organizing Pastor of Holy Covenant UMC in Carrollton, Texas where he served for eighteen years before being appointed to Arapaho UMC in 1992.
Jack's passion for biblical theology is shared with the congregation in many ways: through inspired and powerful preaching, in-depth Bible study and leadership in the area of social justice ministry. He co-wrote a study on Capital Punishment and the church for use by congregations across the nation. His career has been shaped by involvement with refugees from El Salvador and Africa and by a dedication to sound biblical interpretation. Jack is known for his teaching expertise and has taught courses in Bible, Christian Ethics and Mission for the SMU Course of Study Program for ministers. Jack's involvement with church unity has included eight years as chairperson of the Commission of Church and Society for the Texas Conference of Churches, a statewide ecumenical organization.
Jack is married to Marti Soper and they have four children: Erica, Beth, Katie and Nick.
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Tel: 972-231-1005
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Email Chris
Chris is a fourth-generation Dallasite and first-generation United Methodist who did his undergraduate degree at the University of Notre Dame (Go Irish!) in Government/International Relations and Russian. After graduating from Notre Dame, he served four years as a Supply Corps Officer in the United States Navy, after which he worked for four years as a management consultant. While working at the consulting firm, he met his wife, Whitney. After leaving consulting, Chris worked for four years at Blockbuster (the video folks) as General Manager at the distribution center in McKinney, Texas.
Chris and Whitney began service at Arapaho as volunteer Youth Counselors in 2001. Chris joined our staff as Youth Minister in June 2004. From June 2006 to May 2007, he did his internship at Arapaho.
Chris received his Master of Divinity Degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in May 2007, graduating summa cum laude. In June 2007, Chris became a Probationary Elder in the United Methodist Church and was appointed to Arapaho, where he is doing his residency. Chris serves both as Arapaho's Associate Pastor and Youth Minister. In addition to his youth duties, he teaches adult education and Sunday School classes, provides pastoral care and counseling, and preaches from time to time.
Chris and Whitney have a son, Max, who was born into the Arapaho community in November 2006.
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Tel: 972-231-1005
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Email Marcia
Marcia recently completed the United Methodist Certification in Religious Studies Program in June of 2007. This is a five-year summer program with each year focusing on a particular area of ministry: Bible, Theology, Teaching and Learning, Leadership Development and United Methodist Doctrine and Polity.
After several years of volunteer involvement, Marcia left her job in the corporate arena to pursue her passion for Christian education and formation. She has been employed at Arapaho United Methodist Church since June of 2001.
Marcia oversees all areas of the Christian Education program. Her goal in ministry is to invite persons from all walks-of-life into a more personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. A safe and sacred space is provided where individuals, young and old, are welcome to explore and deepen their faith through a variety of educational programs and resources designed to bring about a personal encounter with God that is transformative.
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Tel: 972-231-1005
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Email Sheryl
Sheryl was born in Tyler, Texas and grew up in Dallas. Her father is a retired minister in the Disciples of Christ church and her mother is a piano teacher and avid singer in the church. She has three brothers and grew up with lots of dogs. Growing up, music was in her life all the time. Her love for the organ began in high school, and continued through her college years at TCU and Boston University, where she earned Bachelor of Music and Masters of Sacred Music respectively. While doing her graduate work at Boston University School of Theology, she was organist at a church where Rev. Harry Soper, Pastor Jack's father's cousin, was pastor. She also has a Doctorate of Musical Arts in organ from Rutgers -- the State University.
She met her husband Eric in Boston. They moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado where Sheryl had her first major job as organist and associate director of music at First United Methodist Church. She was able to study organ in Germany for 3-4 weeks during that time. Most recently she served as an organist at First United Methodist Church, Plano. Sheryl is currently an associate faculty member in the Music Department at Collin College and teach piano and organ privately. Sheryl also serves as Dean of the Dallas Chapter of American Guild of Organists.
She and Eric have two sons: Jeff, in the Graduate Philosophy program at NYU, and Marc, a juinoir at Plano East High School. Her husband is a Business Analyst at Capital One Auto Finance Corporation
Her hobbies include gardening, reading, and travel. She loves to play games and be with people. She really enjoys helping people discover their gifts and talents and to use them to share their faith. She and Eric were drawn by the beauty of Arapaho Church and are very impressed with our scope of missions -- including our Pumpkin Patch, which she and Marc have visited in the past.
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Tel: 972-231-1005
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Email Judy
Judy handles the administrative needs of our church from bulk mailings and maintaining the data base records to introducing potential members to our church home. This career is an answer to her prayers to be serving God's children through the various activities, meetings and communication that this position allows.
Favorite hobbies include walking, biking and cleaning. Her older brother lives in Lewisville and a younger sister in Arkansas. Family is most important in her life and that includes her Arapaho UMC family.
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Tel: 972-231-1005
extension 15
Email Sharon
Sharon grew up in Dallas and earned a B.A from Southern Methodist University. She has been the director of the Day School and Mother's Day Out since 1989 after teaching in the school for 8 years.
In addition to being a part of the church staff, Sharon has been a member of AUMC for 30+ years, active in her adult Sunday School class and various volunteer positions.
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Les Walters - Treasurer
Tel: 972-231-1005
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Email Les
Les graduated from The University of Tulsa in 1962 with a BS in Geology. He received a Ph.D. in geochemistry from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1968. After graduate school his positions included Research Scientist for Marathon Oil Company, Professor of Geology at Bowling Green State University, and Principal Research Geochemist at ARCO. Since 1992, he worked as an environmental scientist for PSM International and then as President of TwoWells Consulting, Inc. Les became Treasurer of Arapaho UMC in 2002 and Schreiber Memorial UMC at the end of April 2006.
Les and Lynn were married in 1968 in LaGrange Illinois and moved to Plano in 1981. They have two children, Kristin and David. Kristin graduated in May 2006 from The University of Tulsa receiving a MBA and JD and is Director of Compliance and Vice President for AXIA Investment Management (a subsidiary of the Bank of Oklahoma). Kristin married to Carsten Mueller in June 2008 and is living in Tulsa, Oklahoma. David, a graduate of Southern Methodist University, lives in New York City and works as a day-trader in the stock market. David married Nora Kahn in September 2007. Les can be reached at home at (972) 596-7926 or by e-mail at twowells@tx.rr.com.
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Tel: 972-231-1005
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Email Martha
Martha joined our staff in 1995 after retiring from 24 years of teaching in the RISD. She is a long-time member of Arapaho.
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Antonio Ponce - Custodian
Tel: 972-231-1005
Antonio has kept our church and day school in superb working order since 1990.