Our Pastors & Staff | First Church of the Nazarene Fort Smith

Meet Our Staff

Pastor Alyssa Beadle

Lead Co-pastor

Pastor Alyssa grew up in a Nazarene Church in Princeton, Indiana. She attended Trevecca Nazarene University where she received her bachelor’s degree in social work. She spent two and a half years as a missionary in Anapolis, Brasil to help plant a Nazarene church. While on the mission field, God would call her to pastoral ministry, and then to marriage. In March of 2020 she moved back home to Princeton, Indiana and married Tyler just 6 months later. She finished seminary classes and her and Tyler began living out their call to pastoral ministry. In November of 2025, they began pastoring here at Fort Smith First Church. She loves leading people into a greater intimacy with God and teaching people how to make His Presence primary in their life.

Pastor Tyler Beadle

Lead Co-pastor

Tyler grew up primarily in Mt. Pleasant, Texas and started attending church with his family at 12 years old. Upon high school graduation, he was employed at a Methodist church as a youth leader and music director, taught private music lessons, and began playing secular music in addition to worship. He studied theater at Northeast Texas Community College and then relocated to Portland, Oregan where he found much success in his career as a professional stage-actor, drummer, and theatre technician. At age 24, he gave it all up and moved back home. After spending a summer with a non-profit organization in Uganda, God led him to rural Indiana where he found a Nazarene church. He began playing drums for the worship band and also entered into a new level of obedience to God and intimacy with Him. At an altar of prayer in 2019, God called him to pastoral ministry. He received his bachelor’s degree in pastoral ministry, and He and Alyssa were ordained in July 2025. He loves leading the people of Fort Smith First with love and joy and loves being in community with those that are hungry for God’s presence and desperate to see city-wide transformation.

Vasti Durand

Worship Pastor

Meet Vasti Durand, our worship pastor. Vasti is a graduate from MidAmerica Nazarene University, where she got her degree in Worship arts. She is married to Peyton Durand and has a dog named Titus. She holds a district license and is working diligently towards her ordination. When not enjoying coffee with her friends or taking her dog on walks, Vasti dedicated herself to guiding young people on their spiritual journey, encouraging them to embrace love, faith, and hope in Christ.

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 Director

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.

Bracken Sheldon

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’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.

Wendy Parker

Office Administrator

Wendy has been our office manager since 2024. A retired teacher, she enjoys working at the church, taking care of details so the ministerial staff can focus on ministry. When not working, Wendy spends time reading, crocheting, spending time with her friends, and her little nieces and nephews.

Meet Titus Durand, FS1’s beloved “therapy” dog and resident mood‑booster. He keeps the office running on paw‑sitive vibes—whether he’s winning tug‑of‑war, soaking up sunny floor spots, sneaking snacks, or brightening even the ruffest days. He loves people, belly rubs, hallway fetch, and will happily trade loyalty for lunch leftovers. Stop by during the week and give him a treat—he’ll love you fur‑ever. Titus spends time in the office during regular office hours. On Sundays, he cheers everyone on from home and watches the livestream service.

Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I'm found was blind but now I see.

John Newton

First Church of the Nazarene Fort Smith

4813 North O Street
Fort Smith, AR 72904

(479) 783-1878

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