Church Staff and Leadership
Dr. Doug Deuel, Senior Pastor
Dr. Deuel was raised in Missouri, the son of a Baptist preacher. He
earned a B.A. from William Jewell College, a Master of Divinity
from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and received his Doctor of Theology
from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Doug attended an honors program
at Oxford University in England for his junior year of college. He studied under
Dr. Fred Craddock for part of his doctoral work, and has served Disciples
churches since his ordination in 1987.
Rev. Shannon Grubbs, Associate Pastor to Children and Families
Shannon Grubbs was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and grew up in various towns throughout north and central Texas as her father served as a minister in the United Methodist Church. She graduated from Waco High School in 1989, married, and moved around the country for a few years with her husband who served in the United States Navy.
Shannon attended the University of Hawaii until her son was born in 1992. In 1994, She went to work for EZCorp, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia where she worked as an Executive Assistant until she transferred to the Dallas area in 1997 after having survived a divorce. While living in the Atlanta area, she served on the Praise and Worship team and worked with the children at The Shepherd's Door Church in Conyers, Georgia.
In October 1999, Shannon left her position at EZCorp, Inc. after having received the call into the ministry. She began working with the children's choir at Eastridge Park Christian Church (EPCC) in Mesquite, Texas, and in January 1999, became Children's Minister for that congregation. She received her ministry license from the North Texas Area Disciples of Christ in 2002, and in January 2005, she became Minister to Women and Children at EPCC.
Shannon married her husband, Paul, in 1999, and is proud to be mom to Trey and stepmom to Todd and Ian.
Chris Layton, Director of CYF
Chris Layton grew up in Richardson, TX and attended Richardson High School. Through the mentorship of his High School Youth Director, he felt that God was leading him into full time youth ministry. He attended Dallas Baptist University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Counseling and a Bachelor of Music in Theory and Composition. Prior to arriving at FCC Plano, Chris worked as a part-time youth ministry intern for seven years at various churches. He now uses the experience he has gained to lead an effective ministry to students at FCC Plano. Chris works with our youth sponsors to help discover and refine the gifts of the members of FCC's high school students as they find effective ways to minister to others within the church and their community.
Chris is married to Carol who attended John Brown University and has a degree in early childhood education. They were married in the summer of 2008 and have one child. Along with working with the CYF students, Chris is pursuing his Master of Theology degree at Dallas Theological Seminary.
Joe Shafer, Director of Chi Rho
Joe Shafer was hired by First Christian in August, 2007 as Youth Director for Chi Rho. Joe has a gift for working with youth, and has shared that gift through years of volunteer work at First Christian Church; as youth sponsor and as Chi Rho Sunday School teacher, and through years of leadership in Boy Scouts of America.
Joe and his wife Melinda have two grown sons.
Debbie Johnson, Director of Music and Children’s Choir
Debbie Johnson is a proud native Texan. She was born in Corpus Christi, and after some time in Arizona and Kansas, returned to her native land. She holds a Bachelor's of Music Education from Wichita State University. Debbie taught elementary music for two years in Kansas. After teaching pre-school music in the Dallas area, Debbie returned to school and received a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of North Texas. She began teaching in Richardson ISD in 1987 and is currently teaching 2nd grade. The Johnson's joined First Christian Church in 1991. Debbie has been active in the music programs, directing and playing in the handbell choir, directing children's choirs and singing in the choir. Debbie lives in Plano with her husband, Duncan. Their son, Kris, is a student at the University of Texas at Arlington where he is studying Computer Engineering.
Michele Sargent, Organist and Bell Choir Director
Michele was born and raised in the Chicago area. She stayed in Chicago for her undergraduate work, graduating from North Park College with a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance (with a minor concentration in organ). She then attended University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, earning a Master of Music in Piano Performance (with a minor concentration in harpsichord).
Michele moved to Dallas to join the faculty of Richland College, teaching piano at the community college level and in her private studio. She has held organist positions at Presbyterian and Methodist churches and been an active free-lance accompanist in the Metroplex.
Michele is an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church USA and has been organist at First Christian Church since February 2001. She has one college-age son, Jonathan.
Melinda Shafer, Administrative Assistant
Melinda Shafer was born in Independence, Missouri, but has spent most of her life in the Dallas area. She earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree from the University of North Texas in 1976 and married FCC Chi Rho Director, Joe Shafer, in 1977. Having stayed at home for many years with their two now grown sons, Melinda then entered the workforce at Williams High School in Plano ISD. Melinda Shafer happily joined the FCC staff as Administrative Assistant in November of 2007.
Don Jones, Facility Technician
Married in August 1965, Don and LyndaGail have three children (Debra, David and Steven) and nine grandchildren. They live in Carrollton and attend Hillcrest Church.
Don has been working quietly behind the scene at First Christian Church since January 1998. He has true enjoyment preparing God's building for worship by His Church. He firmly believes the physical setting helps set the atmosphere for worship. Don puts his heart into his work and no task is too small or too large for him.
Julie Overman, Nursery Director
Randall Grubbs, Chairman of the Board
Gary Holly, Chairman of the Elders
John Egger, Chairman of the Deacons
Last revised 02/25/2010