Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Stephen T. Hale. He and his wife Rev. Michele Shahan-Hale arrived June 2024. Rev. Michele serves Dow and Edgewood UMCs.
His educational background includes: A Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Development in 2005 from the Seabury Theological/Seabury Institute, Evanston, IL. A Master of Divinity Degree in 1998 from Phillips Theological Seminary, Tulsa, OK. A Master of Health Administration in 1986 from the University of Washington, Seattle, WA. A Bachelor of Arts, Health Services Administration in 1983 from St. Mary’s College, Associate in Arts, Liberal Arts in 1976 from Spokane Community College, Spokane, WA. A Diploma in Respiratory Therapy in 1972 from the College of California Medical Affiliates, Okland, CA. Lastly a Certificate of Completion in Emergency Medical Services – Paramedicine in 2021 from Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma City, OK.
He started his ministry career in 1993 in the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church serving as Full-Time Licensed Local Pastor at the New Horizon United Methodist Church, Woodward, OK, growing the congregation from 45 to 105 members over three years. In 1998 he served as Senior Pastor, starting as a Probationary Elder finishing as an Ordained Elder in Full Connection at New Hope UMC & Redemption Ministries, Enid, OK, growing the congregation from 70 to 135 members over five years. Over the next ten years
He served at St. Paul’s UMC, Lawton, OK; Eastern Abaco Region of the Bahamas Methodist Church; FUMC Lindsay, OK and Chapel Hill UMC, Oklahoma City, OK. In each of these appointments the congregations experienced significant growth. His last appointment before retiring in August 2022 was as senior Pastor of the FUMC of Laverne and Rosston, OK serving from 2016 to May 2022. After enjoying a couple of months of retirement he began serving as an Intentional Interim Minister as an Elder in Full Connection at the
FUMC, Greenwood, MS where attendance grew from 55 to 80. In June 2023 he accepted a quarter time appointment at Colbert UMC, Colbert, OK where he has served until being appointed to McAlester FUMC.
Stephen was born in Norman, OK, his birthday is July 4th. His father worked as a Pipeline Engineer requiring him to frequently relocate. Stephen attended public schools graduating from Concord High School in California.
He has lived and worked in the USA, Canada, Mexico, and the Bahamas. The only state he has not been to is Hawaii. He is flexible and learned to adapt to many cross-cultural situations. He loves to teach Scuba Diving, riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle, fishing from his boat, and he used to fly small private planes. He is passionate about Mission work serving and leading in The Bahamas, Belize, Mexico, Chile, Bolivia, and many places in the United States. His love of the Walk to Emmaus has led him to be the Spiritual Director for 8 walks. He has also served as Community Spiritual Director for the Pioneer Country Emmaus, Pioneer Country Chrysalis, Kairos Prison Ministry of Oklahoma as well as NW Oklahoma Emmaus.
Stephen’s heart is with Jesus in ministering to the least, the lost and the broken.