Mark C. Hicks, Executive Director

Mark Hicks was appointed founding director of Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries by Bishop Charlene Kammerer in June of 1999. A pioneer and architect of the Disciple Prison Ministry Initiative, Mark first served as chairperson of the DISCIPLE Prison Ministry Task Force in 1998. While serving in this capacity he drafted a proposal for a new comprehensive ministry of DISCIPLE Bible Study in North Carolina. Once accepted by the North Carolina and Western North Carolina Conferences of the United Methodist Church, this proposal provided the pattern for Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries of North Carolina. Mark holds an AB Degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, a Master of Divinity Degree from Duke University and a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Faith-Based and Government Ministry from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He is an ordained Elder in the Western North Carolina Conference and prior to his appointment as Executive Director, held pastorates in the High Point, Charlotte and Greensboro Districts.

Laura P. Hicks, Administrator

Laura Hicks serves as the Administrator for Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries.  Laura holds degrees in both Social Work and Information Systems from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  Her work experience includes Presbyterian Homes Incorporated, Moses Cone Health Systems and Microsoft Corporation.  She is active in both church and community and enjoys being a mother to Sarah and Emily and a Girl Scout leader. 

Janet F. Dixon, Thriving Rural Communities  

Janet Dixon serves as liaison between Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries and Duke Endowment's Thriving Rural Communities Initiative.  She was commissioned for ordained ministry at the 2007 session of the WNC Annual Conference and currently serves as a United Methodist pastor.  Janet traces her early recognition of her 'call to ministry' to the DISCIPLE I class she participated in at her home church of Ardmore UMC in Winston-Salem.  After taking three years of DISCIPLE, she began teaching DISCIPLE both at Ardmore and at the Forsyth County Correctional Facility.  She has since taught at Randolph County Correctional as well.  Janet has a Master of Divinity Degree from Duke University, a Master's degree in Christian Education from Pfeiffer University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from the University of Maryland.  She has held a number of local church offices and has served as a lay delegate to the annual conference.  She has also held a number of offices in community service organizations. 

Pete Jordan, Student Intern

Pete Jordan is about to enter his third year of the MDiv program at Duke Divinity School.  Before coming to Duke, he earned an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering in Australia and a PhD in biomedical sciences from Cornell, and then undertook a postdoctoral research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health.  He lives in Durham and is an active member of his local Episcopal church.

Western North Carolina Conference
Dr. Arnetta Beverly, Greensboro
Mr. Ed Campbell, Lincolnton
Rev. David Christy, Canton
Dr. James Graves, Charlotte
Rev. Randy Harry, Bessemer City
Rev. Andy Lambert, Boonville
Ms. Patricia Pegram, Charlotte
Mr. Mike Smith, Charlotte

North Carolina Conference
Mr. Mike Bell, Burgaw
Mr. Charles Crutchfield, Cary
Dr. William Gattis, Burlington
Dr. Carol Goehring, Raleigh
Dr. William Green, Raleigh
Mrs. Laurie Jackson, Raleigh
Mrs. Nancy Powell, Raleigh
Rev. Gray Southern, Greenville

Advisors
Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster, Charlotte
Bishop Alfred W. Gwinn, Jr., Raleigh
Dr. Zan Holmes, Los Angeles, CA
Bishop Richard B. Wilke, Winfield, KS