Hartlen received Christ in a dramatic conversion experience as a freshman in college. He began witnessing and sharing Christ at school. He was invited to join a Southern Gospel quartet with other students and traveled for a few years. It was here that he began preaching along with two others. During this time, several of them felt the call to ministry.
Hartlen spent five years as a student pastor with the UMC and served with a couple of other denominations. During this time, he and his wife Dianne also served two years as resident missionaries. In later years. Hartlen did short-term missions including India, the Philippines, UK, and Poland. We began pastoring again in the UMC in 2019.
Christ has been the foundation of Hartlen's life and the center of his and Dianne's forty-nine-year marriage. His faith is a daily walk with God, and he maintains an extensive daily devotional life. Hartlen feels this is what has kept him strong in his faith and able to handle life’s situations. For Hartlen, this is the most important thing that he can do to keep his relationship with God at its highest level and he likes to teach others how to do this. His faith is a daily experience and encounter with God through the Holy Spirit.
Family is the next highest priority for him and Dianne. Family is everything and they enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren. Three of their four children and seven of their ten grandchildren live in Tulsa, so they will have a houseful on holidays. Look for the Coats family to fill a pew on Christmas and Easter!
Beckie has been the church and financial secretary since 2015. Before serving in this capacity she served at the Adair United Methodist Church and did volunteer financial work for the Chouteau United Methodist Church as well.
Beckie is married to her husband, Ron, and has a daughter and son-in-law in the Kansas City area. They have two grandchildren, Roland and Raleigh.
She enjoys horse showing and running. She also loves the outdoors and spends as much time as possible outside. She considers herself very lucky to get to work for the church and serve God and her church family.
Sierra Thompson is currently a Senior attending Rogers State University and obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Allied Health Sciences: Pre-Physical Therapy.
She plans on pursuing a career in Pediatric Physical Therapy in the near future.
She loves to travel and spend time with her family and friends.
She has been involved in taking care of children for 5 years now and loves getting to help them and watch them grow.