Meet Our Team
Lead Pastor - Matt Kilpatrick
Matt Kilpatrick is the Lead Pastor for Pathways Church. Matt’s vision for planting this new church is an inspiring testament to the transformative power of faith, family, and service. He does this with support from his wife Tiffany, and his two children Mason and Molly. Matt loves to inspire, support, and uplift those around him. In addition to being a United Methodist pastor, Matt is also a mentor on John Maxwell Team, and an alumni of Leadership Shelby County. Tiffany is one of our organizers and teachers in our Children’s Department. She also knew Matt would become a pastor before he did. The whole Kilpatrick family has been dedicated to planting this new church, even Mason and Molly. They help as ushers and reminding Pastor Matt if he misses something in the service. We are thankful for this passionate family.
Grand Master of Worship a.k.a.: Praise and Worship Leader - Cory Swinford
Cory Swinford is the Praise and Worship Leader for Pathways Church. Cory understands the importance of music in worship. Whether you prefer traditional hymns or contemporary songs, he has the talent and creativity to blend different styles to deepen our worship experience. In addition to being musically talented, he adds a lot of humor to our team (as you can see from his photo and title that was submitted for this bio). Cory is also the Co-Director of Worship at The Wesley Foundation at UAB and is one of the Leaders for the Bluff Park UMC Student Ministries.
Director of Ministry and Communication- Christal Prater
Christal Prater is the Director of Ministry and Communication for Pathways Church. Christal, along with her husband Jimmie, have been dedicated to serving in ministry roles for churches and nonprofits for over a decade. They have three boys - Corbin, Sawyer, and Everett, who attend Pelham City Schools. The Praters have lived in Pelham for a little over three years and enjoy serving in the community. You can find Jimmie playing bass in the praise band or teaching Sunday School. Christal can be found making silly posts on Pathways social media accounts, helping oversee events and services, creative efforts, outreach and growth development of Pathways United Methodist Church.