Leadership

Duane thinks being a disciple of Jesus should make people odd. He loves preaching, teaching, and talking about how weird Jesus can be.

Duane is from Fuquay-Varina, NC and attended Mars Hill University where he received a BA in Communications an a double minor in Theater and English. Having once considered acting, he now finds himself approaching his third decade as a pastor (something he could not have imagined at one time!). He has served in a variety of settings and was appointed as the Lead Pastor at Wesley Memorial in June 2020.

Duane has been married to Heidi since 1992, and they have three adult children. He enjoys reading, movies, traveling, playing guitar, and writing/recording songs. You can find his music at www.soundcloud.com/duane-r-partin. He collects bow ties and loves coffee (never offer him decaf).

Favorite scripture: Romans 12:2 - "Don't be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Favorite movies: The Untouchables, Stand By Me, The Mission
Favorite books: A Prayer for Owen Meany, The Life of Pi, The Sword of Shanara
Favorite bands: Yes, Asia, ELP, U2, Crowded House

Hello! My name is Becca Detterman. I graduated from Duke Divinity School in 2019 and I am currently a Provisional Elder in the North Carolina Annual Conference. Prior to attending Duke, I lived in Louisville, KY where I worked as an administrative assistant. I love music, ice cream, spending time outside/around water, traveling, and anything neon. I cheer for both Duke and Carolina (unless they are playing each other…then I have a dilemma) but consider my team to be the Louisville Cardinals. My favorite parts of ministry are getting to know people, hearing their stories, sharing God’s love with them, and having a lot of fun along the way.

Favorite scripture: 1 John 1:5 - "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." 

Erica grew up in a small town in upstate New York and has lived in four states over the course of her life. She has been part of the Wesley family since February 2021, and has worked in several churches since graduating from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2013 with a Bachelors in Youth Ministries. She has known since she was a young teenager that she wanted to work with children and youth, and first felt called to work in ministry when she was a junior in high school. Erica's youth pastor, alongside other volunteers at her church, encouraged her an affirmed the desire she had to minister to others.

In her free time, Erica loves to read, play sand volleyball, and hang out with her husband, Curtis, and her two (very cute) long-haired chihuahuas, that she and Curtis treat like they are actual human children.

Favorite scripture: Psalm 25:4-5 - "Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior, and my hope is in you all day long."

It feels like I have always been a part of music ministry, from children’s choir, to youth choir, to handbells in the church I grew up in in Fayetteville, then handbells at a church in Durham during college. When I moved to Wilmington in 2019, I found that I was missing both music and worship as I did not have a way to get to a church, then was home bound at the beginning of Covid. I was delighted to find the community, worship, and music opportunities at Wesley, after what felt like forever live-streaming my home church’s services each week.

In my spare time, I enjoy knitting, crocheting, reading and training my cats to do tricks (this has only been partially successful and only for one cat).

Favorite scripture: Psalm 98:7-9 – “Roar, sea, and every creature in you; sing, earth, and all who live on you! Clap your hands, you rivers; you hills, sing together with joy before the Lord, because he comes to rule the earth. He will rule the peoples of the world with justice and fairness”

June 26th of 2017 was my first day as facility manager at Wesley.  The preceding 20 years I spent as a general contractor focusing on restoration and remodeling under my own company banner.  My first recollection of service at Wesley must have been about 1982 when I was asked to set up the pastor’s Vic 20 computer and cassette drive. In ‘84 I helped set up the first video recording equipment for the Sunday service.  

The Building structures are my primary focus as facility manager.  Their safety and cleanliness are foremost followed by the overall environment and efficiency.  A big part of my job is space planning, orienting the physical space for the people and activities of the church.   Our buildings are our biggest physical tool for discipleship and they should convey– ‘This is Your home with Your brothers and sisters’.
Annie, my wife, and I were married by Wesley Memorial pastor, Rodney Hamm in 1994.  We have two children Eston and Jessica.  My son is an engineer living in South Carolina.  Jessica is a student in the business program at UNC Wilmington.  Annie is a kindergarten teacher at Wrightsboro Elementary.  Both Annie and I are Wilmington natives and have lived here most of our lives.  We’ve always enjoyed the beaches, hiking in the mountains, and the outdoors in general.  

Favorite scripture: Proverbs 4:6-7 – “Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”
Matthew 6:28 – “And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin”