We are a church in Tulsa, OK that loves God and loves our neighbor. We share what we believe so that others may experience a loving God who is active in their lives. You will find a wide variety of people at Bethany who come together to worship God and serve our community and the world. Becoming an official part of the Bethany community through membership starts by talking to our Pastor. All people are not only welcome to worship but welcome to the Communion table where we partake in the Lord’s Supper each week in worship. For more information about Bethany, see our “What We Believe” page.
At Bethany, the Spiritual Leaders of our congregation are the Elders who lead in worship, pray for the congregation and gather regularly. Our Deacons are servant leaders who lead in worship. Both Elders and Deacons are Biblical leadership areas rooted in scripture. We also have congregational officers that lead the movement and mission of the church.
Bethany’s Ministry Staff
Our Pastor is Rev. Kelli Driscoll Crews. She is originally from Shreveport, Louisiana and grew up in a church that taught her God loves us and wants the best for us. This message (God loves us!) is what called her into ministry. She wants everyone to know about that love! Kelli went to Texas Christian University in Fort Worth earning a BA in Religion (Christianity and World Religions). She went to seminary at Brite Divinity School at TCU. Following seminary she moved to Kansas City in service of Community Christian Church. There, Kelli met her husband, Nick Crews, a Tulsa native. In June 2015, their daughter, Charlie, was born. They have 2 bird dogs that are more interested in earning treats than retrieving quail. They foster dogs for Oklahoma German Shorthair Rescue. You can find Kelli around town drinking good coffee and working with ACTION, a grass roots effort in Tulsa that empowers individuals and families to create a better community. Find her on facebook, twitter, and at her personal blog.
Our Music Director is Paul Sweet.
Composer, pianist, and pedagogue Paul Sweet has earned regional acclaim as a multitalented musician. His catalogue of compositions includes original solo, chamber, orchestral, and band works. In addition to composing, Mr. Sweet is an active arranger and manages publication of his music.
As a pianist, Paul has enjoyed recent collaborations with Will Rogers Junior and High Schools (Tulsa, OK), Tulsa Camerata, legendary country/bluegrass fiddler, Jana Jae, Tulsa Public Schools’ Metro Honor Choir, and the Oklahoma Haydn Orchestra. His first recording, “Rejoice and Be Merry,” was released in November (2014) and features a collection of original arrangements of holiday songs. He also maintains a private piano studio.
An avid outdoorsman, Paul enjoys hiking, kayaking, camping, and many other outdoor activities. Hobbies include urban gardening and tending to his chicken coop. He, his partner, David Kindred, and their three Pomeranian dogs call Tulsa, Oklahoma home.
Our Children’s Minister is Rev. Chanhee Heo.
Rev. Chanhee Heo will began as Bethany’s new Children’s Ministry on September 1, 2016! Chanhee is a graduate of Vanderbilt Divinity School with a Master’s of Divinity and an ordained Disciples of Christ minister. Originally from Korea, Chanhee comes to Tulsa along with her husband, Simon Han. She is passionate about social justice and loves working with children. She sees Bethany as a community to further live out those two calls. Chanhee also works in our preschool, Bethany Community School.
Christy Martin is our Secretary. Christy grew up in Oklahoma City, but only recently moved to Tulsa after her husband, Rev. Rob Martin, took a call as Pastor at First Lutheran Church in Tulsa. She received a BA in History at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and a MFA in Costume Design at the University of Oklahoma. She taught Theatre and Costume Design at Northern Arizona University and at Eastern Illinois University before she met her husband and settled in Indianapolis, IN, where she worked as Costume Shop Manager for Indiana Repertory Theatre. When Rob felt called to ministry in 2008, they moved to Dubuque, IA where he attended seminary.
While in Iowa, Christy and Rob were foster parents to several children, and they were happy to be able to adopt their son, Chris. They are currently in the process of adopting a second child, Emily, who was born here in Tulsa. Both Chris and Emily attend preschool at Bethany Community School. In her free time, Christy does freelance sewing and design work. The Martin family shares their home with their German Shorthaired Pointer, Hildy.
Christy joined the staff in Fall 2014, and enjoys working with Pastor Kelli and the members of Bethany Christian Church who visit the church office. Christy will typically be in the office Tuesday through Friday from 9am to 2pm, unless the preschool is not in session, when her schedule might change around a bit.
