Until I came, the senior pastor was left alone to do all the pastoral visitation, calling, and contacts for a church that averages 225,” said Dan. “While he still does have a great deal of contact, I have taken on more responsibility to be a pastoral presence to many in our congregation. This involves visiting in homes, hospitals, phone calls, and writing letters and cards. This allows the senior pastor to concentrate on leadership training of the laity and vision casting for the church, in addition to his preaching duties.”

Prior to moving to Huntington, Dan served as Minister of Music and Outreach at Trinity Church of the Nazarene in Helena, Alabama and before that in McAllen, Texas.

Dan is not alone in his ministry. He married Karen Theis in 1997.

“We met while I was attending Nazarene Theological Seminary. She was visiting and sat in on my class. We got married eight months later. She is a 1995 graduate of Mount Vernon Nazarene University with a degree in Elementary Education.” said Dan.

During Dan’s free time he is active in the community. Right now he is training to be a CASA volunteer (Court Appointed Special Advocate) to help stop child abuse and neglect. He also enjoys golf, and most importantly, spending time with his wife, he says.

The Swans have a dream for the future. They want to become full-time missionaries in the Church of the Nazarene.

Thank you Dan for sharing your life since leaving MNU with us, and for spreading the truth you learned while here.