1860 Hayes Rd. (PO Box 527) Gloucester Point, VA 23062
(804) 642-2110
Sunday Worship 8:30 & 11:00 a.m.

Staff

Bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to Gloucester Point

Rev. Moonsup “Paul” Song, Pastor
Pastor Song came to Bethany in July 2021 after having served St Paul UMC, in Christiansburg, VA for six years.
      Pastor Song was born in South Korea, became a US citizen, and has been married for 32 years to Mihaw Kim Song with three grown sons, Joseph, Timothy, and Daniel. He earned his bachelor degree from Soongsil University in S. Korea, his Master of Theology degree from Seoul Methodist Seminary, and his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degree at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C. Since becoming an ordained Deacon in 1992, and Elder in 1994, he has served local churches in the Virginia Annual Conference.
       His passion for ministry is in deepening congregational spirituality, transformative spiritual leadership formation, and contemplative and authentic faith, living to be attentive to the work of God among the congregation, community, and the world.  
       He enjoys Jogging, walking, hiking, and bicycling, gardening, and spending time with family. He also enjoys college basketball games especially, Blue Devils, Hokies, and the Virginia Cavaliers. He is excited to get to know Bethany family, friends, and neighbors.

FOX, Sandra; Director of MusicSandra Fox, Director of Music
Sandy was born in Roanoke, Virginia and moved to Hampton Roads in 1965. She graduated from Cradock High School then graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from Christopher Newport. She began performing in musical theatre in the 1970s; performed American music and liturgical dramas in Europe and USA in the 1980s.
         Sandy began her spiritual journey as a Baptist, then became a United Methodist in the 1970s. She came to Bethany in 1987 as Choir Director where she has produced numerous Easter, Christmas and Children’s programs over the years.
        Sandy married Bob Fox in the 1970s. She has two children and four grandchildren.
        God has been with her throughout her life leading and guiding her. His steadfast love for all things is a life she wishes to embrace and follow through prayer and dedication.

Dr. Rudy Shackelford, Organist/Pianist
It may seem providential, if not preordained, that Rudy Shackelford should end up as Organist of Bethany UMC. Because after many childhood piano lessons dampened the allure of music, Rudy had settled on architecture as a future career—only to be “blown away” by the pipe organ at Trinity UMC in Newport News. A recital there by visiting Belgian virtuoso Flor Peeters revealed the inner architecture of musical sounds and reignited Rudy’s passion for this craft and art. But while he matriculated as an organ major at VCU, a course in music theory uncovered Rudy’s latent talent for composition. A scholarship for graduate study in that discipline brought him to the University of Illinois, where he earned the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in 1971.
      Following graduation Rudy pursued a career as freelance composer and writer. His work was supported by residence appointments at centers for the creative arts such as Yaddo (Saratoga Springs, NY), The MacDowell Colony (Peterborough, NH) and the Ossabaw Island Project (Savannah, GA). A stipend from the Rockefeller Foundation facilitated post-doctoral research in Italy on the work of Luigi Dallapiccola. A collection of his essays translated and edited by Rudy Shackelford was published in London.
     Rudy’s original compositions and transcriptions have been commissioned by the Annapolis Brass Quintet, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and many other organizations; they have been published internationally by Boosey and Hawkes, Belwin-Mills, and Edizioni Suvini Zerboni. Recently Paraclete Press published two compositions which Rudy wrote to celebrate Bethany’s 110th and 120th anniversaries: Trumpet Voluntary and Charles Wesley Organbook. Copies of these works can be found in the church library.
     Soon after joining the staff in June 1997, Rudy perceived the urgent need to upgrade Bethany’s organ and piano consistent with his vision of a professional music ministry. With the enthusiastic support of Rev. Dr. Braxton Allport and key leaders such as Maxine Bayly and George Nelson, Rudy offered a challenge grant of $30,000 which the congregation quickly matched (and more!), affording the acquisition of an Allen three-manual digital organ and Steinway grand piano. Rudy has featured these excellent instruments in the twenty annual recitals he has given since 1999, raising over $10,000 to benefit the George Nelson Memorial Concert Series and the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society.  

Brad Thomas, Director of Children & Youth Ministries
    Brad Thomas and his family came to Gloucester, VA in 2021. He has served in ministry as both a staff member and volunteer for over 15 years. Originally from West Virginia and a proud Appalachian, he has lived in several states and traveled extensively throughout the US. He is married to his partner, Cristie and they have two sons ,Levon and Avett. The family loves to travel together and values being in nature and exploring state and national parks. In his downtime, Brad loves reading novels, playing disc golf, and listening to bluegrass and folk music.
 

Dee Dee Wike, Church Office Administrator
     Dee Dee served as Bethany’s Church Office Administrator from September 2014 through May 2020, leaving to pursue opportunities with a Hampton Roads non-profit organization during the COVID pandemic.  Sensing God was moving her back toward a ministry position, she resigned her non-profit position and began praying for God’s confirmation.  In October 2021, she happily returned to her “dream job” at Bethany.
     Dee Dee and her husband Steve are actively involved in Bethany’s choir and share a passion for worship and music.  Although she has a degree in Music Education, Dee Dee’s strength is providing administrative support to the pastor, staff, and congregants of the church, a calling she thoroughly enjoys.
     Dee Dee is a native Texan and life-long Memphian, who moved to Virginia with Steve and their adult children, Chris and Joy, in 2014.  Happily married since 1987, Steve and Dee Dee now consider Gloucester their home.
     A published author of three devotional books, Dee Dee spends time daily reading and studying God’s Word.  Her passion for scripture continues to grow as God reveals himself through His Word.  It is her most cherished position. 

Accounting Team:
Cathy Raines, Treasurer
Jack Whitmore, Finance Chairperson