Meet the Area Coordinators Supporting Children and Youth Ministry
As the Horizon Texas Conference enters a new chapter of connection and collaboration, it has established a new support structure for those serving children, youth and families across its churches. The newly appointed Children & Youth Area Coordinators are trusted leaders tasked with fostering relationships and coordinating efforts within their geographic regions. Their role includes supporting collective plans for service days, learning opportunities, social gatherings, summer camp and more.
These coordinators serve as vital points of contact, creating a network of mentorship and care so that every children’s or youth ministry leader—whether seasoned or brand-new to ministry—is within one hour of a colleague who can offer support. This structure reflects the conference’s commitment to strengthening shared ministry and ensuring that no one leads alone. The Horizon Texas Conference is pleased to introduce the first six Children & Youth Area Coordinators:
Tessa Armes, Lubbock
Tessa Armes currently serves as the director of children’s ministry at First UMC Lubbock. She is passionate about nurturing the faith of children and families and values building lasting connections within the church community. Armes is currently a certified candidate with the desire to become an ordained deacon in the United Methodist Church.
Abigail Harrison, Abilene
Abigail has worked in youth and children’s ministry for more than 13 years. She believes that young people are not only the church’s future, but a vital part of its ministries now. Her number one priority is to encourage, support and equip young people for ministry and life after adolescence. Harrison is currently a graduate student pursuing her MDiv at Brite Divinity School, a part of the TCU family. She is also pursuing an MSW to provide licensed pastoral counseling for families and plans to be ordained as a deacon in the United Methodist Church upon completion of her schooling.
Pastor Julia Castleman, Richardson
Julia Castleman is the associate pastor of youth ministry at First United Methodist Church Richardson, where she has faithfully served since 2023. A Licensed Local Pastor in the Horizon Texas Conference, Julia is a proud graduate of Baylor University and Perkins School of Theology and brings 10 years of experience working in youth ministry. Raised in the suburbs of Houston in the Southern Baptist tradition, Julia discovered her call to ministry during in her youth group, and affirmed it during her time at Baylor University. It was there she also found her spiritual home in the United Methodist Church—a journey that continues to shape her life and ministry today.
Rev. Bill Mauldin, Cleburne
Bill Mauldin began working in student ministry in 1997 in the Oklahoma Annual Conference. While working as intern at the Wesley Foundation at Northeastern State University and part-time youth director at Ft. Gibson UMC, Bill began to feel a call into full-time ministry. Ordained as a Deacon in full connection by the North Texas Annual Conference in 2019, Mauldin has worked in rural, suburban and urban UMC churches in several conferences. He currently serves at an associate minister at First UMC Cleburne, where he focuses on family ministry.
Rev. Jen Chickering, Belton
Rev. Jen Chickering serves as an ordained deacon in the Horizon Texas Conference, and she is passionate about creating spaces where children, youth and families can grow in faith, build meaningful relationships and feel supported in their spiritual journey. Her ministry focuses on fostering strong connections between the church and the community, equipping parents as spiritual leaders and making faith both accessible and engaging for all ages.
Rev. Kat Smith, Paris
Rev. Katrina Culberson Smith serves as associate pastor and director of youth and family ministries at First UMC Paris. Smith grew up United Methodist and has been in youth and family ministry in the UMC since 2009. Today, Smith is passionate about creating community to give students and those that love them a place to be loved and nurtured by Jesus. She is a graduate of McMurry University, Perkins School of Theology and will be ordained a Deacon in the 2025 inaugural class of the Horizon Texas Conference.
