Staff Mission: Our Christian Mission

Changing our world for Christ, one life at a time.

 

Meet Our Staff

 
 
Dr. David Bachelor, Senior Pastor
I was ordained in York, England in 1997. I served five rural churches in the county of Somerset. Since returning to the U.S. I have served churches in New Mexico, Colorado and south Texas.
My wife Glenda and I have been married 37 years. We have three adult children. We are now “those people” who spoil their pets and treat them like children.
God has also called me to be a chaplain in the Navy Reserves. As a chaplain I have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. After Afghanistan I started Warrior Wash Ministry based on my dissertation. Warrior Wash is a retreat ministry providing a Christian solution to posttraumatic stress. Warrior Wash is also a resource for churches to start veterans’ ministries.
I am the author of four books: Death-Shadow: Christianity and Posttraumatic Stress; Sacraments of War: The Sword and the Warrior Wash; Day Eight: Walking after the Warrior Wash; and MMXX: A Year Like No Other.
 
 
 
 
Bethany Suarez, Director of Children’s Ministries
Bethany loves intergenerational ministry and believes it is important for a community of believers to benefit from old learning from young and young learning from old.  God gave her a vision for The Lord’s Supper, a weekly meal in which there is something for all ages and for all ages to fellowship under Christ.  It is with this vision and a life-long love of service learning that she develops and plans opportunities for the children and families of the church.
 
Bethany has previously worked disaster relief through the Red Cross, served one year in Americorps NCCC, taught high school English, and was a stay-at-home mother.  In her spare time she listens to music, cooks & bakes, watches movies, volunteers, and gets teenagers to their various activities.  She is married to JJ, the facilitator of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Uvalde and criminal justice instructor, has two teens, Aidan and Willa, and has one miniature schnauzer named Bow.
 
 
 
 
Travis Johnson, Director of Youth Ministries
Travis was born and raised in Lubbock, TX. Before coming to Uvalde, he served on the staff at three churches in Lubbock and Fort Worth, in the youth and worship ministries. Travis has a deep love for all things Star Wars, and enjoys baking, skateboarding, and playing guitar in his free time! Travis is a firm believer that youth are NOT the church of tomorrow, but they are the church of today. He fell in love with Jesus in middle school, felt the call to ministry in high school, and has a passion for helping pre-teens and teenagers fall in love with Jesus for themselves, and teaching them to share the Gospel.
 
 
 
 
Kimberly Ruiz, Administrative Assistant
I was born and raised in Uvalde, Texas. I graduated high school in 2017 and moved to Austin where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Sciences from the University of Texas in 2020. I got married in September of 2020 to my husband, Diego. I taught kindergarten at St. Philip’s Episcopal School for two years, and loved it. In 2022, I had my first daughter and got to stay home with her. My husband is the Staff Associate for Uvalde Young Life and we spend a lot of our evenings hanging out with youth and pointing them back to the Gospel.
 
My favorite Scripture is John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” On my free time, I love to go shopping with my daughter and going on walks with my family on sunny days. I am so excited to be here and I look forward to serving you all!
 
Her email is: office@uvaldemethodist.org
 
 
 
Paula Colhour, Program Staff Assistant
Paula spent most of her childhood between Matamoros Tamaulipas Mexico and Central Mexico. At the age of eleven she had her first job in Matamoros as a housekeeper for a family. She continued that job through the sixth grade and then continued her housekeeping job in San Luis Potosi.
 
Between raising her two newborn nephews until the ages of six and seven, she managed to continue secondary school. Later, she would continue her studies in San Benito, TX after arriving in Texas in the 1980s in order to learn English at the San Benito Adult Learning Center.
 
After moving to Uvalde in the 1990s, she took her GED. After encouragement from an employer, Paula  attended SWTXJC graduating with an Associates of Office Systems Technology in 2006 and then in 2008 she graduated with an Associates of Art & Science. She then began to work on her Bachelors at Sul Ross Rio Grande College.
 
One of her greatest joys was coming to work at Uvalde Methodist Church where, for the first time, she was able to experience God’s Love through its members. It was like landing in heaven.
 
 
 
 
Jason Schlichting, Church Organist & Pianist
Jason has been a passionate musician all his life, and in 2011, joined the staff of Uvalde Methodist Church. This lifelong musician first started playing piano when he was five years of age, and since his move to Uvalde, has been an active music minister for the last fifteen years.
 
Jason also loves teaching and provides accompaniment for the Uvalde High School Independent School District as well as teaching private lessons. He is a student at Sul Ross State University working on his Bachelor’s in Business. 
 
 
 
Alicia Ramirez, R. N., Wesley Nurse
Hello! My name is Alicia Ramirez and I am the new Wesley Nurse. I have been a Wesley Nurse for the past three years, but have been in the medical profession for more than 25 years.
 
I am the proud mother of a 18-year-old son who recently graduated Crystal City High School. I was raised in a small community just south of Uvalde.
 
La Pryor has been my hometown for many years. I am excited to be here and I look forward to working with the congregation and the community.  It is an honor and a privilege to serve our God while working in a profession that I truly love!
 
Her e-mail: Aramirez@mhm.org
 
 
Sandra Cox – Treasurer
Sandra Cox, our Church Treasurer, was born and raised in Uvalde. She was baptized and confirmed at Uvalde Methodist Church and has been active in the church ministries her entire life.
 
Following in her grandfather and father’s footsteps, she has been the church treasurer for over thirty years.
Sandra retired from a highway construction company as office manager and bookkeeper after 30  years of employment and then fifteen years later retired again from a local bank as a trust officer.
 
Sandra has three sons and five grandchildren and enjoys traveling in the United States and abroad with friends and relatives.
 
email Sandra:  skcox66@outlook.com
 
 
 
Steven Sanchez, Facilities Manager & Maintenance
 
My name is Esteban Sanchez but I go by Steven.  Prior to beginning my journey here at the Uvalde Methodist Church I had been working 16 years as a correctional officer and tactical commander.
 
I am a proud father of 7 children from ages 28 down to 6 years old. Of the seven children, 3 are serving our great country in the United States Army. I also have 9 grandchildren. I am married to my wife Karie of 17 years and we moved back to my home town Uvalde, Texas in 2018.
 
My hobbies include working out, playing video games with my 6 year old son, working on our land, and playing with my grandchildren. I am blessed to be part of the staff here at the church, and look forward to serving my community and sharing the Lords message.
 
 
 
 
Zarek & Cheyenne Munoz, Audio & Video Technicians
Zarek and Cheyenne are from and currently live in San Antonio, TX. They have been on staff since 2016 and love the church family they have been able to build in Uvalde, it is a second home. Zarek works for a software company troubleshooting issues, specializing in email. Cheyenne is a wedding photographer and videographer. In their free time, they love spending time with their little family which includes their two young boys and rescue dog Hank.