Pastor & Staff
The Reverend Chris Young
St. Luke extends a warm welcome to Rev. Chris Young, who will serve us as interim pastor until a permanent appointment is made.
Rev. Chris has been the pastor of Cleveland First United Methodist Church since July, 2021. He has served United Methodist churches in Mississippi since 1993 and has served in a variety of towns and church settings. He is a 1990 graduate of Mississippi State University in Psychology, and a 1993 graduate of the Candler School of Theology at Emory University with a Master of Divinity degree. In addition to serving as pastor of Cleveland First UMC, Chris currently serves as Board chair of the Delta State Wesley Foundation, chair of the Mississippi Conference Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry, on the statewide board for Methodist Senior Services, and as chaplain for the Delta Children’s Advocacy Center.
Chris and Becky have been married for thirty-six years. After retiring in May, 2022, after thirty-one years of teaching, Becky now serves as the Co-Director for the Sunny Seniors Memory Care Respite Program and works at Cotton Row Frame Shop. They have two children, David (33) and Sarah (30). David is married to Danielle, and they live in Starkville. David is an inventory forester with Weyerhaeuser and Danielle teaches Calculus III at Mississippi State University. Sarah is a speech language pathologist in Corvallis, Oregon.
Chris loves reading, walking, board games, rooting for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, going to shows at the BPAC and GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi, throwing the frisbee with his black Lab named Roman, and spending time with Becky.
He is passionate about the ministries of preaching and teaching, helping people deepen their relationship with Christ, and doing his part to improve the communities in which he lives.
We look forward to a fruitful relationship with Chris, one in which all parties grow in understanding what it means to be a church. We thank him most sincerely for his willingness to lead us in the coming months.
St. Luke Church Staff
Beverly Jacks | Interim Music Director
Tricia Walker | Interim Pianist
Josh Sheets | Youth Minister
DaNita Richardson | Nursery Caregiver
Allysson James | Nursery Caregiver
Lisa Horton | Secretary & Custodian