PASTORS / ELDERS
Derrick Bekius
Elder & Pastor of Missions and Family Minitries
Derrick grew up in the Amazon Rainforest while his parents served as missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators. As a result, he has a vested interest in seeing the church grow in its prayer life, serve on mission, and apply biblical truth to everyday life while looking forward to the Day when people from every tribe tongue and nation worships the Lord together. Derrick, his wife Beka, and their kids Lilly and Isaiah started coming to Mid-Cities at Maplewood in 2016. Since then, they’ve welcome a third: Eliza. Derrick also enjoys hunting, fishing, spending time outdoors, and smoking various types of meat.
Aaron Halstead
Elder & Lead Pastor of Teaching and Worship Ministries
Aaron came to Mid-Cities at Maplewood in the summer of 2021. He is excited by text-driven preaching, by helping others process what the Spirit is teaching them and shaping them to look like Jesus, and by discipling the church in her understanding and implementation of doctrine into real life. He is married to Morgan, and they have two children: Hadley and Haddon. Aaron enjoys reading, walks, hot tea, antique stores, backyard birdwatching, and trying new restaurants.
Tom Scopel
Elder & Pastor of Administration and Care
Tom has a background of close to two decades as an elder at another church and joined Mid-Cities at Maplewood in 2017. He has a desire for discipleship to happen through strong relationships in the local church and for seeing the local church built to reflect biblical principles. Tom is married to Bev, and they have one daughter, one son, and eight grandchildren. He likes to spend his time gardening, traveling throughout the United States, and anything to do with the grandkids.
MINISTRY TEAM LEADERS
Clayton Jones
Worship Team Leader
In addition to leading worship at Mid-Cities at Maplewood, Clayton is an accomplished musician and songwriter. He has been with the church since the spring of 2018 and is animated by international missions, one-on-one conversations with people before and after the worship service, writing songs for the church, and studying ecclesiology and apologetics. He is married to Alisa and has one son, Ezra. Clayton’s hobbies include skateboarding, hiking, reptile-keeping, and Mario Kart.