Newcomer Orientation

Rev. David Devereaux

Pastor David, the grandson of a Methodist Elder, was born in North Chicago and grew up in Phoenix Arizona. (He moved to Phoenix when he was 6 years old.)
He attended Glendale Community College, The University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University. While studying at Northern Arizona University, he met Geri Dodge; they were married on November 4th, 1978 and have nine children (4 by birth, and 5 by adoption), and thirteen grandchildren.

Pastor David graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, and later attended graduate school at Princeton Theology Seminary, where he earned his Master of Divinity Degree. He felt a call to Ordained Ministry when he was 16 years old, however he did not act on that call until he was 32.

Pastor David was ordained an Elder in the United Methodist Church in 1992, and has served churches in Camp Verde Arizona, Tucson Arizona, and Las Vegas Nevada. He is trained as a church growth consultant, and has assisted numerous congregations in revitalization.

He has a passion for preaching and teaching, and for encouraging people to answer God’s call upon their lives. Pastor David has also served as the North District Superintendent from 2003-2008 and as Dean of the Cabinet from 2006-2008. Pastor David became the Senior Pastor to Desert Spring UMC, Las Vegas, NV on July 1, 2008.

Rev. Sharon Williams

The Rev. Sharon L. Williams (aka. Pastor Sharon) is an Elder of The United Methodist Church with more than 20 years transformational leadership experience as a pastor, strategist, consultant and coach.

Pastor Sharon has served under appointment in a variety of pastoral leadership contexts in Indiana and in the Missouri Annual Conference, where she served on loan as an Associate Director in the Office of Mission, Service, and Justice.

Prior to trusting the call to become a 1st generation Methodist and enter the ordination process as a candidate from the South District, where she was a member of Wall Street UMC (Jeffersonville IN), Pastor Sharon served in a variety of missionary contexts – from Philadelphia to Atlanta, even Central America. Her ecumenical heart and spirit of collaboration has opened doors to partner with International Ministries to pastor a Spanish-speaking church start in Bluefields, Nicaragua, to serve as a hospice chaplain resident, a PRN chaplain and twice as a staff chaplain for level 1 Trauma centers.

Rev. Williams is a sought-after resource leader with a deep respect for the faithful and a message of hope for the church. She celebrates the gift of Christ’s call and brings to her commitment to pastoral ministry an enthusiasm for inspiring the all-sufficient grace of living sent in service with God’s church to a whole world. And Pastor Sharon delights in these discoveries of wholeness while cherishing a host of support in this transformative work, especially that of her husband, The Rev. Dr. Jacob C. Williams Jr. (also a United Methodist Elder).

Pastor Sharon is known to break out into spontaneous singing during a sermon, has a hearty, throw-your-head back kind of laugh and is proud to call herself a new resident of Las Vegas, NV.

Rev. Williams and her husband enjoy KC-BBQ and football Sundays cheering on the Chiefs; and look forward to loving, serving and leading in their new appointment setting.

Julie Hart

Julie is the mother of two adult sons, Lewie & Giovanni; and mother-in-law to Jenna. She enjoys kayaking, family gatherings, and photography. Her spiritual gifts are faith, hospitality, and evangelism, which she has been able to use in her career working with families in both the church and secular settings.

She has served on staff at University United Methodist Church, Desert Spring Church, and UNLV in children & youth ministries, Sidewalk Sunday School, Family Resource Center, protestant campus ministries. She also worked for Clark County Department of Family Services as Background Check Unit Supervisor.

In addition to serving on staff as Director of Connectional Ministries, Julie is currently going through the process to become a licensed local pastor

Jake Skarin

Jake Skarin has worked with several Choirs and Show Choirs across the Midwest. Then moved to sunny Florida to work for a mouse.

Jake grew up in the church and has always found a Church Home wherever he was. Ankeny First United Methodist Church (Ankeny, Iowa), Lutheran Church of the Cross (Altoona, Iowa), Antelope Park Church of the Brethren (Lincoln, Nebraska), Community Presbyterian Church (Celebration, Florida), Church By The Sea (North Miami, Florida). He is so excited to be a part of the Desert Spring Church Family.

Jake has sang on stages across the world from Carnegie Hall, Beijing Opera House, Notre Dame, Mont Saint-Michel, even singing at Disney World! (just to name a few!!). He is so excited to share his musical talents and share the musical talents of our members.

“I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations” Psalm 89:1

Linda Rizzuto

Linda grew up in Michigan and has lived in Las Vegas for 20 years.

Linda enjoyed six years of retirement, and after much persuasion from Desert Spring Church, she agreed to return to work to be Desert Spring’s Accounting Manager.

Linda enjoys volunteering at The Smith Center and spending time with her two daughters and four grandchildren.

Voltaire Verzosa

Voltaire Verzosa, pianist/countertenor, received his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance degree from the University of Montana and his Master of Music in Voice Performance degree from the University of Colorado. He pursued further studies in piano at the Eastman School of Music and at the Dorothy Taubman Piano Institute.

Voltairehas performed Internationally for many years.

Also in demand as a collaborative pianist, Voltaire coaches classical vocal repertoire, with special emphasis on Baroque vocal performance practices. He has served as musical director for several local productions in musical theatre.

Voltaire teaches voice and piano privately at his home as well as at the College of Southern Nevada and at Nevada School of the Arts. As an all-around musician, his extensive piano and voice background has enabled him to maintain a dual career as solo pianist and singer.

Maria Astete-Letelier

Maria Astete-Letelier was born in Chile and moved to Las Vegas, USA when she was 12 years old. She has been attending the Methodist church since she was very young and has loved to help in the Children’s ministry. Maria volunteered to help with the nursery when she was 15 years old. She then transitioned to help with Sunday School and eventually became a youth leader. Due to life changes, Maria took a step away from the children’s/youth’s ministries, but God had another plan for her and brought her back to Early Childcare Education here at Desert Spring. She has been attending Desert Spring for approximately 8 years and enjoys her time serving the church and the children as they are our future.

“Train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old, they will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Chris Devereaux

Chris Devereaux serves as the Director of Worship Technology at Desert Spring and holds a B.A. in Graphic Design from UNLV.

Chris has lived in Arizona, Texas and Nevada and considers Las Vegas as his home town. His favorite things about the city are its easy access to outdoor activities like hiking and camping and the diversity of Las Vegas residences.

Chris came to Desert Spring in 2013 after living in Texas for 5 years and loves helping the church navigate the ever-growing world of technology by helping to improve our livestream, our in person worship experience, and our tech capabilities for bible study and other church events.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 – Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

Laura Younger

Laura grew up in central Ohio and moved to Las Vegas in 2015. She is a true Buckeye.

Laura has two children who are young adults. She enjoys cooking, reading, gardening, and traveling in her spare time.

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Katie Beall

Katie Beall was born in Plano, Texas. She moved to Las Vegas when she was 9 years old, where she began attending Desert Spring Church.

Katie grew up singing in choirs, performing in musicals, dancing, attending concerts & worship festivals and was inspired by everything surrounding music and praise.

She has a great love for her church family and contemporary worship. She watched both form and grow over the years she has been attending Desert Spring.

Katie and her Husband, Stephen, have two adorable boys – Stevie and Loran.

Lori Wilhite

Lori grew up in California where she met her husband Mark. They left California when Mark earned an Army commission; and during their military career have lived in 8 states, and 3 countries, on 3 continents.

Lori has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication, a naturally optimistic outlook, and a very diverse work background, bringing more than 30 years administrative experience to Desert Spring. She has worked in personnel, customer service, federal civil service, travel industry, medical billing, and in curriculum development. She has 13 years’ experience teaching personal and professional development topics for government, military, and nonprofit organizations.

Lori, Mark, and their two brave, resilient, adaptable, tenacious kids, Grant and Amanda – who made being Military BRATs look easy – now call Las Vegas home and are thrilled to be members of the Desert Spring family.

Ann Hardy

Ann serves as Outreach Director, helping our church body extend beyond itself to meaningfully connect with neighbors, our community and engage the next generations.

Ann and her husband Alex have two stellar kids, Victoria & Timothy. Ann says the best part of her job is meeting newcomers to Desert Spring and helping them make connections with others in our wonderful church.

“Gloria Dei vivens homo.” The glory of God is a human being fully alive. – St. Irenaeus

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