Our Church Staff
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Pastor Allison
is originally from Atlanta, Georgia. She attended college at Transylvania University, a Disciples of Christ-related college in Lexington, Kentucky. Originally intending to become a high school English teacher, Allison felt her Call at the end of her Sophomore year and shifted her studies to religion. Following college, Allison found her way to Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth Texas where she received her Masters of Divinity. Allison served four and a half years as the Minister to Children, Youth, and Young Adults at First Christian Church in Garland, Texas before coming to East Dallas Christian Church. She started her Call with East Dallas on October 2nd, 2016. Her passion for introducing children and youth to Good News of Jesus Christ through relational ministry is a blessing for our congregation. Allison currently lives in Garland with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs: Rufus and Sadie. |
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BRYCE BIFFLE
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
Dallas-born and Garland-raised, Bryce Biffle holds a Master of Music (Musicology) from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX and a Bachelors of Music (Composition) from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX. Prior to his appointment at East Dallas Christian Church, he served as Director of Music Ministries at Midway Hills Christian Church in Dallas (2022-2023) and accompanist at Axe Memorial United Methodist Church in Garland (2017-2022). He considers social justice at the heart of his work as a musician, educator, and now church music director. Apart from his work at East Dallas Christian Church, Bryce teaches elementary music (PK-5th Grade) in Garland ISD where he also accompanies the Garland Children’s Chorus.
For the past 12 years, Bryce has served as music director, accompanist, and conductor for numerous DFW-area musical theater productions. While teaching, theatrical work, and religious music take up a majority of his professional life, Bryce is also an active composer, arranger, published film music scholar, and freelance multi-instrumentalist in a variety of musical genres from country-western to European folk music, from polka to jazz and beyond. He holds a “Level 1” certification in the Kodály method and "Level 2" certification in Orff Schulwerk from SMU Summer Music Workshops and is a registered member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the International Tuba-Euphonium Association, The Film Music Society, and BMI.
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
Dallas-born and Garland-raised, Bryce Biffle holds a Master of Music (Musicology) from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX and a Bachelors of Music (Composition) from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX. Prior to his appointment at East Dallas Christian Church, he served as Director of Music Ministries at Midway Hills Christian Church in Dallas (2022-2023) and accompanist at Axe Memorial United Methodist Church in Garland (2017-2022). He considers social justice at the heart of his work as a musician, educator, and now church music director. Apart from his work at East Dallas Christian Church, Bryce teaches elementary music (PK-5th Grade) in Garland ISD where he also accompanies the Garland Children’s Chorus.
For the past 12 years, Bryce has served as music director, accompanist, and conductor for numerous DFW-area musical theater productions. While teaching, theatrical work, and religious music take up a majority of his professional life, Bryce is also an active composer, arranger, published film music scholar, and freelance multi-instrumentalist in a variety of musical genres from country-western to European folk music, from polka to jazz and beyond. He holds a “Level 1” certification in the Kodály method and "Level 2" certification in Orff Schulwerk from SMU Summer Music Workshops and is a registered member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the International Tuba-Euphonium Association, The Film Music Society, and BMI.
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TOMAS HERNANDEZ
Children & Youth Intern Tomas Hernandez is from Cincinnati, Ohio, and has recently moved to Fort Worth, Texas so he could attend Brite Divinity School to obtain his Master’s of Divinity. A lifelong member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), he graduated from Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky in May 2023 with his BA where he majored in Religion and Psychology with a focus on Social Justice in the American regions. He felt his call to ministry in the summer of his sophomore year of High School when organizing the ecclesiastical programs at his CYF summer camp program came very naturally and allowed for a high school student to explore a life of ministry. Specializing in Social Justice has been important to the kind of ministry that Tomas is aiming to do as one of his goals is to grow a church community that actively listens to the voices of the younger people. Tomas has served on many bodies for both the Ohio and Kentucky regions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) including counseling youth in the regions’ summer camp programs, positions on regional executive bodies, and guest preaching. For Tomas, Children and Youth ministry means a transparent and meaningful environment for discussion about what it means to be a Christian in our social climate. Aiming to create this pedagogical openness allows youth to not be intimidated by “God Talk” or other ecclesiastical programs. |
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JANIE AUTZ
DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH
After my mother’s passing in 2000, I felt the need to give back for the wonderful care she had received from very dedicated caregivers as well as hospice. At that time the East Dallas Community Center was looking for a Community Development Director to help turn an aging building into a vital collaborative center for nonprofit agencies whose programs and services would benefit our community. I saw this as a great opportunity to “give back.” I was hired and my first day was November 1, 2000.
LUANN JOHNSON
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Luann Johnson arrived at EDCC on July 1, 2012 after a church member referred her to Raymond Tolentino and the need for a modern-day church secretary. Gone is the beehive hairdo, PDX switchboard and congregation gossip … rolling in a new era of spirited evangelism, desktop publishing, a large Cannon workstation, security cameras, shuffling AR & AP duties for Mr. Tolentino and passing out hugs and sweet treats to our little ones and visitors. Our EDCC family would all agree that Lulu is a big football fan, a quiet and faithful soul, energizer Easter Bunny, Labrador Mom and an enthusiastic event volunteer.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Luann Johnson arrived at EDCC on July 1, 2012 after a church member referred her to Raymond Tolentino and the need for a modern-day church secretary. Gone is the beehive hairdo, PDX switchboard and congregation gossip … rolling in a new era of spirited evangelism, desktop publishing, a large Cannon workstation, security cameras, shuffling AR & AP duties for Mr. Tolentino and passing out hugs and sweet treats to our little ones and visitors. Our EDCC family would all agree that Lulu is a big football fan, a quiet and faithful soul, energizer Easter Bunny, Labrador Mom and an enthusiastic event volunteer.
PEGGY Mc CURDY
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Bio coming soon...
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Bio coming soon...
KETTLY ALCUIS
NURSERY ATTENDANT
Kettly Alcuis originally comes from Port au Prince, Haiti and has served as an EDCC nursery worker since 2024. She was an elementary school aide and high school civics teacher before moving to Texas and has a deep love of children. Kettly was a student at Literacy Achieves, the English Language School hosted in our building, and is now a volunteer teacher at Literacy Achieves. She is the mother of two teenage boys.
NURSERY ATTENDANT
Kettly Alcuis originally comes from Port au Prince, Haiti and has served as an EDCC nursery worker since 2024. She was an elementary school aide and high school civics teacher before moving to Texas and has a deep love of children. Kettly was a student at Literacy Achieves, the English Language School hosted in our building, and is now a volunteer teacher at Literacy Achieves. She is the mother of two teenage boys.
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ANDREA MORA
NURSERY ATTENDANT Andrea Mora was born and raised in Dallas, TX. She started working with children at 16 as a summer camp counselor and currently works at Spanish World School (across the street from EDCC!). She enjoys working with children because she feels as adults, we have a lot to learn from them and they are so genuine and caring. |