Custer Road UMC

• This 12-session course will be held on Tuesdays from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. beginning on August 21, 2018, This class is $15, is held in room B17 and will be led by David Paul and Rev Dr. Kory Knott.  Register HERE.  Disciple Fast Track, an adaptation of the original, bestselling Disciple Bible Study, provides a viable option for busy people seeking comprehensive engagement over time with the entire biblical text. This 12-week study immerses the participant in the Old Testament. Participants read a manageable 3-5 chapters of the Bible daily in preparation for the weekly meetings.  A brief, illustrated review video enables participants to recall important facts and ideas; lively and engaging video presenters then offer insights into the current week’s session.

The Rev. Dr. Kory Knott was appointed as Sr. Pastor to Custer Road UMC on July 1, 2013.  Prior to coming to Custer Road, Kory served as Senior Pastor of Argyle UMC where the church grew from 80 to 1200 members during his tenure.  Prior to stepping into a senior pastor role, Kory served as youth, college and singles minister at Highland Park UMC in Dallas where he launched their contemporary Cornerstone worship service. He has also served in youth ministry at First UMC Rowlett and was a youth intern at King’s Way UMC in Springfield, MO.  Kory and wife Jennifer have been married for 15 years and have three children: daughter, Taylor, and sons, Zachary and Reed. Jennifer works as a lawyer in Dallas.

DAVID PAUL has facilitated several Bible studies here at Custer Road UMC since 2004, but his passion is for the DISCIPLE series. Several of his former students have gone to serve the church beyond the classroom including the current director of adult ministries, a pastor, and several lay leaders. David currently serves on the Nominating and Leadership Committee and the Adult Discipleship Committee.

• This 12-session course will be held on Sundays from 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. beginning on September 9, 2018.  This class is $15, is held in room B4 and will be led by Dan McMillan.  Register HERE.  Disciple Fast Track Into the Word Into the World is an adaptation of the original, bestselling Disciple Bible Study Into the Word Into the World. The study is ideal for busy people who want to fit an in-depth Bible study into their schedule. The study retains the familiar Disciple format with its theme word, theme verse, statement of the human condition, daily and weekly assignments, and prayer.  Into the Word helps readers deepen their understanding of Scripture and make connections between what they already know and what they are reading. Each week you will encounter three spiritual disciplines, learn what they are, and how you can engage those disciplines. The first discipline varies from week to week, then moves into Sabbath and prayer. In every session, you commit to how you will respond to Scripture regarding ministry in the world.Into the World identifies some needs in the world for which ministry is needed and suggests possible responses, then invites participants to summarize the scripture message that will shape their ministry and decide what response and commitment to make to that message. Each week you will be guided in experiencing the gift of Sabbath rest and renewal.

DAN McMILLAN is a long-time United Methodist from Lubbock, Texas and a 25-year member of Custer Road UMC.   Dan has served in various leadership roles at Custer Road and is a gifted teacher and leader.  Dan is a self-described uncle, friend, student, reader, teacher, beginner, pilgrim, a sinner in many aspects, and one who strives daily to be a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, The Christ.  Dan and his wife Laurie have two older children, Garret and Madeline.

• This 30-session course will be held on Sundays from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. beginning on September 9, 2018.  This class is $45, is held in room B6 and will be led by Michael Rasmussen.  Register HERE.  The Christian Believer program focuses on classical teachings of the Christian faith—presenting, explaining, and interpreting them in a way that participants can understand, through the use of words, symbols, and hymns. Over a 30-week period, participants will examine the writings of ancient and modern Christian commentators and view video presentations by leading Bible scholars.

MICHAEL RASMUSSEN has been a member at CRUMC since 1998.   He is also a member of the Footprints Sunday School class, along with his wife of 21 years, Carolyn.  Michael & Carolyn have two boys, Blake and Grant, both active in the youth program here at CRUMC.   Michael enjoys Texas A&M sports (of all kinds) and NASCAR.   The whole family enjoys traveling with their RV, usually to the mountains of Colorado, or to some other cool destinations in the USA.   A lifelong Christian, Michael has a passion for studying the Bible and a gift for teaching the gospel to groups and individuals.

• This four-session course will be held on Sundays from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. beginning on September 9, 2018.  This class is $9.00, is held in room B2 and will be led by Tiffanny Hosey.  Register HERE.    We all pray . . . some. We pray to stay sober, centered, or solvent. When the lump is deemed malignant. When the money runs out. When the marriage is falling apart. But wouldn’t we like to pray . . . more? Better? Stronger? With more fire, faith, and fervency?  In this four-session video-based study bestselling author Max Lucado reveals his struggles with prayer and how he discovered that it is not a privilege for the pious or the art of a chosen few but a simple tool everyone has been given to have a conversation with God. He shows you how to let go of uncertainties about prayer, trust that God hears you, and embrace a prayer life that brings peace and rest.   Join Max Lucado on a journey to the very heart of biblical prayer and the power unleashed with five simple sentences: “Father, you are good. I need help. They need help. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Tiffanny Hosey serves Custer Road UMC as Director of Care & Prayer Ministry. During a difficult personal struggle, she experienced firsthand how God meets our needs when we come to Him in prayer.  She is passionate about helping others grow closer to God and learn the power of prayer to transform the lives of each of us.

• This seven-session course will be held on Sundays from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. beginning on September 16, 2018.  This class is $10, is held in room B3 and will be led by Jerry Lee Butler.  Register HERE. In Short Stories by Jesus, Professor and author Dr. Amy-Jill Levine takes readers back in time to understand how original Jewish audiences understood the parables of Jesus. Levine reveals the parables’ connections to first-century economic and agricultural life, social customs and morality, Jewish scriptures and Roman culture. With this revitalized understanding, she interprets these moving stories for the contemporary reader, showing how the parables are not just about Jesus but are also about us–and when read rightly, still challenge and provoke us two thousand years later.
  • Dr. Amy-Jill Levine is University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies, Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies, and Professor of New Testament Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School and College of Arts and Science; she is also Affiliated Professor, Centre for the Study of Jewish-Christian Relations, Cambridge UK.  Holding the B.A. from Smith College, and the M.A. and Ph.D. from Duke University, she has honorary doctorates from the University of Richmond, the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, the University of South Carolina-Upstate, Drury University, Christian Theological Seminary, and Franklin College.   Professor Levine is a member of Congregation Sherith Israel, an Orthodox Synagogue in Nashville, although she is often quite unorthodox.

JERRY BUTLER serves as Director of Adult Ministry at Custer Road UMC and was recently appointed as Sr. Pastor for Cottage Hill UMC  & Chambersville UMC.  Jerry is passionate about Church history, Wesleyan Studies, Inter-Faith Relationships and discussing how we can actively live out our Faith in the world.   Jerry received a Bachelors of Business Administration and an M.B.A. with a focus on market research in from LeTourneau University and is currently working on a Masters of Divinity at Perkins School of Theology, SMU.

• This 13-session course will be held on Tuesdays from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon.  beginning on August 28, 2018.  This class is FREE of charge, is held in room B5 and will be led by Gene Oldham.  Register HERE.  The general epistles of James along with 1 & 2 Peter offer pragmatic prescriptions for understanding and living out the truth of Gospel message.  James writes as a pastor to instruct and encourage his dispersed people in the face of great difficulties.  Peter’s letters encourage a steadfast and watchful faith displaying hope and assurance found only in God’s Grace.   During the course of this study, participants will explore profound truths and be challenged to grow and enrich their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

GENE OLDHAM has been a member at CRUMC since 1990. He is also an active member of the Positive Thinkers Sunday School class along with his wife Linda. Over the years, Gene has served as a small group leader for several Bible Studies and Sunday School classes. Gene is a gifted teacher that brings a passion for Scripture and a wealth of Biblical knowledge to any class he leads.

• This seven-session course will be held on Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. beginning on July 10, 2018.   This class is $15, is held in room B18 and will be led by Christie Varner. Free child is available.    Register Here.  If hearing God has seemed challenging, Priscilla Shirer invites you to explore a more intimate relationship with Him, one that can make hearing Him — His will, His heart, and His voice — your ongoing experience.  Discover how you can listen with greater confidence, clarity, and discernment.  Updated and substantially expanded, this revised study includes weekly insights from author and pastor (and Priscilla’s father), Dr. Tony Evans, plus daily opportunities to:
  • More deeply understand the Holy Spirit’s role in your life
  • Differentiate His voice from imposters’ voices, even from your own
  • Glimpse His guidance in your everyday life
  • Grow consistently in obedience, surrender, stillness, and humility

CHRISTIE VARNER has been a member of Custer Road UMC for over 15 years.   Christie loves Jesus, her family and friends and her Texas Longhorns.  In her free time, you’ll find her learning new things and sharing them, eating salsa, dreaming of travel and laughing as much as possible.  Cherish the moments! 

• This five-session course will be held on Wednesdays from 11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. beginning on August 1, 2018.   This class is $8, is held in room B4 and will be led by Merrigale Allen.  Register Here.   Do you feel weighted down with worry? Does the uncertainty and chaos of life keep you up at night? Are irrational fears your constant companion? Could you use some calm?  In this five-session video Bible study, bestselling author Max Lucado explores God’s treatment plan for anxiety found in Philippians 4:4–8. As you follow this prescription – celebrating God’s goodness, asking for his help, leaving your concerns with him, and meditation on good things – you will experience God’s peace. This is a peace that “transcends all understanding” and will help you reframe the way you look at your fears.  While anxiety is a part of life, it doesn’t have to dominate your life. With God as your helper and his promises at your side, you can sleep better tonight and smile more tomorrow. You can talk yourself off the ledge and view bad news through the lens of God’s sovereignty. You can discover a life of calm and develop tools for combating the onslaught of anxiety.

Merrigale Allen has been a member of CRUMC and Chancel Choir since 2008. Having led many Bible Study groups, Merrigale is a devoted student of Scripture and a gifted teacher.