Highland Park United Methodist Church

Rev. Derrek Belase - Senior Pastor

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Rev. Derrek Belase has been the pastor of Highland Park UMC since June 10, 2007.  Before being appointed to HPUMC, he served the Wakita/Manchester charge in northwest Oklahoma and the Admire/Allen/Miller charge in the Kansas East Conference.

      Derrek is a native of Carnegie, Oklahoma where he served on the town’s council and was named “Citizen of the Year” in 2003.  He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Central Oklahoma, a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Oklahoma City University, and a master’s degree in divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology.  He is also a CLEET certified police officer in the state of Oklahoma.  Before going into ministry, Derrek was the criminal justice coordinator at Caddo Kiowa Technology Center in Fort Cobb, OK.

     He is active in the Stillwater Noon Lion’s Club.  On the district level, Derrek is the district youth coordinator and serves on the Stillwater District Council.  On the conference level, he is a member of the Department of Congregational Development and the conference standing rules and policy committee.

      Most importantly, he is the husband of Rev. Rebekah Belase, assistant regional director with the Great Plains Office of Church World Service, and father of Madison Ann born May 29, 2008.

Rev. Rebekah Belase - Deacon/Childcare Director

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     Rev. Rebekah Belase is an ordained  deacon in the Oklahoma Conference appointed as assistant regional director with Church World Service.  Her secondary appointment as a deacon is to Highland Park UMC in Stillwater where she is in charge of the nursery.   For the last five years, she served as associate pastor at the OSU Wesley Foundation.  Before coming to Stillwater, she served as a children’s minister at FirstLight, a United Methodist Faith Community in Gardner, Kansas.  She has also been a chaplain intern at the Topeka, Kansas Women’s Correctional Facility and the director of Christian education at Village United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. 
     Rebekah has a bachelor of arts degree in religion from Oklahoma City University and a masters of arts in specialized ministries (social justice) from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City.  She is also certified in Christian Education by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.
     Rebekah has many years of experience with the Cooperative School of Christian Mission in the Oklahoma conference, coordinating both the youth and children schools. She was also a conference UMW officer before seeking ordination.
     She is married to Rev. Derrek Belase and they are the proud parents of Madison.

Cynthia Ingham - Office/ Communications Manager

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Cynthia Ingham is a history graduate student at Oklahoma State University. She is a native of Fort Worth, Texas where she served two years as the Communications Coordinator for University United Methodist Church.

Cynthia has a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.

Rev. David Wiggs - District Superintendent

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The District Superintendent for the Stillwater District is Rev. David Wiggs. He is exceptional in his gifts for ministry, his dedication to God’s kingdom work and his engaging personality.

Reverend David Wiggs served for ten years as Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Enid, OK. While there, he has led his congregation in doubling their efforts in financial giving as well as growing the number of members serving through short term mission experiences.

Previously, David served thirteen years as an associate minister at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church in Tulsa. He grew up in Okmulgee and earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Oklahoma. David attended St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City where he earned his Master of Divinity.

David is a Trustee of the Oklahoma UM Foundation and was a Keynote Speaker for the Cross and Flame Society in Tulsa and Oklahoma City in 2009.

David has developed a reputation as someone who understands how to help people cultivate generosity in a joyful and positive manner. He was the Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation Stewardship Focus Day Presenter in 2009 and has served as Stewardship Consultant for New Covenant UMC in Edmond and St. Paul’s UMC in Ponca City.

David has also worked extensively with youth and their families and is known as an outstanding storyteller and effective speaker. He enjoys outdoor fitness activities and has participated in a number of triathlons. He has been happily married to his wife Mary for more than 26 years and they have two bright and lovely daughters: Grace and Hope.