Rev. Dan De Leon accepted the call to serve the position of pastor on June 26, 2005, and he began his ministry at Friends Congregational Church on September 1,2005. He comes to us from a fulltime position as Associate Minister to Youth at Highland Park Baptist Church in Austin, a progressive church sharing ties with the United Church of Christ through its affiliation with the Alliance of Baptists. Dan holds a Bachelor of Journalism in Public Relations from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Divinity from Brite Divinity School, the seminary and graduate degree program of Texas Christian University, and he is currently working on completion of the Doctorate of Ministry at Brite. He was ordained into the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on January 20, 2001. Dan is married to Stacy De Leon, and they are proud parents to son, Mac De Leon, born in March of 2005 and daughter Ruth born in Janurary 2008..

Tamara Franks joined the Friends staff on November 1, 2008. She has returned to us from St. Louis, Missouri where she graduated from Eden Theological Seminary May of 2008. Previously, she taught at Texas A&M University as a Lecturer in the Health & Kinesiology Department from 1995-2005. Originally from the small panhandle town of Olton, Texas, Tamara claims a connection to the land that will often arise with stories of wind, sand, cotton and corn. Interestingly she has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics with a minor in Earth Science from Wayland Baptist University located in Plainview, Texas as well as a Master of Agriculture in Recreation Resource Management from Texas A&M. Her recreation degree led to a teaching position in the Activity Program within the H & K department. Tamara taught a variety of outdoor classes helping the overly stressed Aggies have some fun canoeing and snow skiing. Coming back to Friends after the completion of her Master of Divinity degree from Eden, she is excited and glad to come back to the church that for 10 years has been a place of nourishment, challenge and growth.

Chris is originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Voice from The University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, and graduated with Honors with a master’s degree in Vocal Performance from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches in May 2006. As a tenor, he has performed several leading opera roles extensively while in Iowa and at SFA. He worked as a Graduate Assistant at SFA, teaching voice and accompanying other music majors and ensembles. Prior to coming to Friends Church, he was the Music Intern at First United Methodist Church in Nacogdoches, where he directed the Chancel Women’s Choir and Junior High Choir, and was the assistant director for the Chancel Choir. He was also a staff singer for Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nacogdoches, and served as a substitute organist for several churches in the area. Chris began his tenure at Friends Church at choir rehearsal on June 7,2006, and his first Sunday was June 11, 2006. We welcome Chris to the Friends family!.

Working part time in our office, Bridget serves as receptionist, office manager, newsletter editor and volunteer coordinator. Bridget and her husband, John, are both long-time residents of College Station. They have two sons: Gordon, a Longhorn, and Rob, an Aggie.