Our Ministers
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Rev. Deborah Morgan Stokes
is a native Dallasite who graduated from Bryan Adams High School. She attended TCU where she received her B.S. in Education, and spent three years teaching public school at L. G. Pinkston High School in West Dallas. During her time as a teacher, Deborah’s call to ministry intensified, and so, acknowledging Christ’s invitation, she made her way to Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville, TN, where she completed her Masters of Divinity degree and was ordained in 1990 at her home congregation, Northway Christian Church. First Christian Church of Waynesboro, TN., was Deborah’s first call after seminary. She came to East Dallas Christian Church in 2006 after 14 years of ministry serving Saguaro Christian Church in Tucson, Arizona. Deborah loves her work with this historic congregation-in-transformation, and gives thanks for God’s call that brought her home. Deborah lives in Dallas with her husband Don Stokes. Email: deborah@edcc.org |
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. Email: allison@edcc.org |
Keith Critcher
On October 3, 2003, Keith joined in ministry with East Dallas Christian Church. Ordained into the ministry in 1989, he began his first church music director call in 1981. For 40 years, he has served churches of various denominations in NC, TN, MD, and TX. Keith received his Masters of Music ‘86 from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth where he returned in ‘98 for Doctoral studies in Choral Conducting. He received his Bachelors of Music ‘83 from Appalachian State University, in his hometown Boone, North Carolina. Since 2005, Keith has also held the position: Instructor of Music in Worship, Collaborative Pianist, and Vocal Studies Coordinator at Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth. Previously he taught piano in Texas Christian University’s Preparatory Piano Division. Other Music Ministry positions have included: Brite Divinity’s Chapel Choir Director; First United Methodist Fort Worth pianist and Bell Choir director; and a unique experience was organizing and directing the Harris Methodist Hospital Chorale that ministered to patients, families, and staff through song for 10 years. With Musicians on Mission, Keith volunteered throughout New England - guiding lay church musicians in their choirs, worship liturgy, ministry organization, and administration. In 2006, Keith led our church to establish the EDCC CONCERT SERIES - now blessed with over 130 inspiring concerts and chamber/solo recitals with countless singers, instrumentalists, and attendees. A wonderful outreach of our Concert Series is the many collaborations with other church choirs; school choirs from children, high-school, and universities; professional choirs as The Dallas Symphony Chorus, members of the Fort Worth and Dallas Symphonies, and unique ensembles as the TCU Cello Ensemble and UNT HarpBeats Choir. “When in our music God is glorified...Alleluia!” Email: keithcritcher@gmail.com |