Pastor, Jared Hanson
Rev. Jared Hanson has now been in the United Methodist ministry for over 20 years, not including his years growing up in church in Durham, NC. Jared felt called into the ministry while attending NC State and received his MDiv from Duke Divinity School. Jared was appointed pastor at Mt Bethel UMC in the summer of 2024.
Jared is married to Jenny, and they have three children: Parker, who is a sophomore at Appalachian State; Henry who is a senior at NC School of Science and Mathematics; and Emily, who is in the 7th grade at Falls Lake Academy, where Jenny teaches 1st Grade. Each of them has a talent for music and musical theater, among their other various interests that often include serving the churches where the family is in ministry together. Included in the Hanson family are a dog named Thor, who is afraid of thunder and likes to cuddle even if he is 135 lbs.; a beautiful dog named June, who is unique unto herself; and a cat named Zorro, who stops by once in a while.
Director of Music Ministry, Elizabeth Forsythe
Elizabeth, or Betsie, as she likes to be called, lives with her husband, David, in Creedmoor, NC. They have one son, Benjamin, who is married and lives in Durham.
As the daughter of international missionaries, Betsie has had the privilege of being a part of, and learning about, many different cultures. For as long as she can remember, a passion for doing all that we can to help others know the love of Christ has been a part of her life.
She has worked in the field of church music for many years, and she loves the work that surrounds worship and music ministry, as well as helping to facilitate worship experiences for God’s people. She believes that worshipping together is one of the most important things we do as a faith family.
She very much looks forward to being a part of Mount Bethel UMC, and looks forward to getting to know the fine people who make up the Bahama community.
Secretary Toni Garrett has been with Mt. Bethel since December of 2003. Toni enjoys getting information out to church members in newsletters and bulletins, by email correspondence and also by Mt. Bethel’s website. A resident of Timberlake, Toni attends Union Grove UMC in Bahama and has two adult daughters. She likes spending time outdoors, serving her church and community, knitting, painting, and reading.
Director of Children and Youth Ministry, Stacey Swanson
Mother to 3 boys, Stacey lives in Bahama and is active in community, church and youth and children activities. Stacey is a teacher with Durham public schools, and recently certified in Youth Mental Health first aid. Stacey has been a member of Mt. Bethel for five years, coordinating youth and children activities that include not only children of Mt. Bethel and Crossroads but the community as well.
She has been involved in Crossroads Preschool for 7 years in many different capacities – Chair of board of directors, teacher, Director of Program and now currently serves as co-director of the preschool and director of the afterschool program and sits on the board of directors representing the Directors of the program.
She looks forward to building community relationships, youth and children programs and activities and bringing faith into the lives of as many children as possible. In her spare time, Stacey enjoys time outside, long walks and hikes and spending time with her family and friends.
Dr. Bill Simpson was presented with the honor of Pastor Emeritus on Sunday, October 4, 2020, during Mt. Bethel’s Homecoming service. Dr. Bill, as he is known to many, served Mount Bethel the first six months of 2014 and the first six months of 2020.
Dr. Simpson and his wife, Betsy live in Burlington, where he was pastor of Front Street UMC. Bill has degrees from Huntingdon College, Emory University, Lutheran Seminary and Lenoir-Rhyne University. He came to Durham in the Ph. D. program at Duke University and taught on the faculty at Duke. He has been a member and trustee of numerous institutions in the North Carolina Conference, including sixteen years on the Board of Trustees of North Carolina Wesleyan. He was the Superintendent of the Rocky Mount District and served as Country Director of Missions of the United Methodist Church in Cambodia in 2008. He is also a trustee and an editor of The Living Pulpit Journal. Betsy and Bill have four children and four grandchildren.
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