Pastor

Rev. Rebecca Duke-Barton is a third generation United Methodist pastor in the South Georgia Annual Conference. 

​

Rebecca and her husband Rev. Garth Duke-Barton, the pastor of Epworth UMC in Jesup work together to equip the saints in Jesup for ministry in our community and in our world.

Rebecca attended Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., where she received a Master of Divinity with emphasis in biblical studies. In addition to her degree, she also met her husband, Garth, who was from South Carolina. They married and returned to Georgia, where Rebecca returned to Emory to do Ph.D. work in Old Testament, but left when she became a mother to Daniel, Susannah, and Samuel.

Rebecca taught Old and New Testament at Andrew College, served Recovery UMC in Decatur County, the Calvary Charge in Grady County, and Colquitt UMC in Miller County.

Rebecca believes in the power of God to change lives, that engagement with the scripture leads us to Jesus, and that nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

​

​

Rev. Garth Duke-Barton has been a pastor since 1996. He has served churches all over South Georgia.

Garth graduated from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., where he met Rebecca. 

​

In addition to being the youth minister at Jesup 1st UMC Garth is also the pastor at Epworth UMC. 

​

He coaches the throwers on the track team for Wayne County High School.

​

Garth has a passion for youth ministry. Since seminary he has many years of service working with youth from his time in churches in Maryland and Virginia to South Georgia.

​

Youth ministry has changed in many ways over the years but youth are still seeking to be accepted and loved by  caring adults who will help them become all that God envisions for them.

​

​

Ann Ray is our children's minister. She, along with her husband and four children have been committed followers of Jesus and community leaders in Jesup.

​

In addition to working with the children at Jesup First UMC Ann also teaches at a local elementary school.