Meet Our Pastors & Staff

Vasti Durand

Worship Pastor

Meet Vasti Durand, an exceptional Worship and Youth Pastor. Vasti holds a Worship Arts degree from MidAmerica Nazarene University and possesses a compassionate heart. Currently, she is married to Peyton Durand and holds a local license as she diligently works towards her District one. When not enjoying coffee with her companions or mastering board games, Vasti dedicates herself to guiding young people on their spiritual journey, encouraging them to embrace love, faith, and hope in Christ. Her love for worship is a defining factor in her life.

Peyton Durand

Youth Pastor

Meet Peyton Durand, our dedicated youth pastor with a profound passion for teen ministry. He is a graduate of MidAmerica Nazarene University and is married to Vasti, with whom he shares a dog named Titus. Peyton holds a local ministerial license and is currently working towards obtaining a district license. He enjoys the outdoors, music, and reading, and he actively participates in Sunday morning worship by playing the piano and singing. Additionally, Peyton possesses a strong commitment to outreach efforts within the community.

Shelly Hosier

Children’s Pastor

Shelly Hosier is a locally licensed children’s pastor and working on ordination. She has served in children’s ministry since 2000 and became director in 2007. Shelly is married to her high school sweetheart, Clarence. They have two daughters and one son-in-law: Lacy - married to Josh - and Emma. Children’s ministry is a great joy for Shelly.

Justin graduated from Nazarene Bible College in 2017 and has been a District Licensed Nazarene Minister for the past ten years. He moved to the Fort Smith area in 2018 and took the position of Outreach Pastor with the church, where he continues to serve. Justin is also a Professional Land Surveyor and Corvette enthusiast. He has three sons and loveS being a part of the local community.
For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10: 13

Evangelist in Residence

Bracken has been in ministry for 30 years, with experience in the United Methodist Church, Wesleyan, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Assemblies of God, and has found his home in the Church of the Nazarene. He and his wife Greta have a son Michael and all of them serve in various ministries of First Church.

Bracken is a transplant from Nebraska and enjoys gardening, reading, and the trips and travels that he takes with his family. 

Bracken’s passion is to reach people who have no experience or bad past experiences with religion in order to help God to heal and build them up in who God created them to be, His Precious Children. Bracken loves people, and the harder to love they feel, the more he wants to show them that they are loved by their Father.