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About the Minister. . .

     Dale Hathorn is 7'2" tall and a former high school All-American basketball player at Houston High School in Mississippi. He went on to become the tallest player ever to sign a scholarship with Mississippi State University. He is a vocal music graduate of Mississippi State and holds a Master of Divinity degree from Memphis Theological Seminary. He has served 15 years in the pastoral ministry after serving for almost as many years as a worship leader and small group leader in the church. Raised in the home of a Methodist minister, he learned ministry from a very early age, but his hunger for more of God was the characteristic that caused him to never settle in his Christian experience or ministry. Dale has been very active in school and community concerns, having served as chair of various community events and functions, president of the school Touchdown Club, board memeber of the Tupelo Kennel Club, and as a board member for Corinth Theatre Arts community theater. Dale acted in several plays, and was nominated for a Maggie Award for Best Actor for his role as Mervin Oglethorpe in the hit show "Smoke on the Mountain."

Biographical Information

DALE HATHORN

  • Born January 19, 1954
  • Son of a United Methodist Minister – Rev. and Mrs. Howard L. Hathorn
  • Native of Houston, Mississippi
  • 7’2” tall
  • Played for the Houston Hilltoppers High School Basketball Team – 1970-1972

-State Champions 1971 and 1972

-Grand Slam (overall state) Champions – 1971

-Named a High School All-American – 1972

Four-Year Basketball Scholarship to Mississippi State University

Graduate of Mississippi State University – 1976

  • B.A. Degree in Vocal Music
  • Worked in Music evangelism while in college and shortly afterwards
  • Recorded Inspirational Music Album while in college
  • Married in 1978 to the former Jean Shannon from Shannon, MS
  • Father of three children: Samuel, 20, Michael, 19, Hannah 13
  • Former Biology Teacher— Fair Park High School, Shreveport, LA
  • Personal/Cell Pastor, Worship Leader, and Small Group Leader in church—1978-1988 (New Covenant Fellowship – Starkville, MS and Shreveport Covenant Church – Shreveport, LA)
  • Cum Laude Graduate of Memphis Theological Seminary, 1991
  • Received MTS Award For Excellence in Homiletics and Worship, 1991
  • Served in Pastoral ministry from 1988 to 2003 (15 years)
  • Served Iuka South Charge UMC (three churches), Pleasant Hill and Baker’s Chapel UMC’s in DeSoto County, and Gaines Chapel UMC in Corinth.(all in Mississippi)
  • Led four medical/evangelistic mission trips to Mexico—2000, 2002, 2003, 2004
  • Launched a full-time ministry in evangelism, renewal, and missions in June 2003
  • Traveled to Ukraine and Mexico for evangelistic ministry in November 2004
  • Will travel to Ghana and Nigeria in early 2006 for evangelistic crusades and church planting
  • General Evangelist for the United Methodist Church
  • Affiliated with Destiny Ministries, Searcy, Arkansas
  • Member of the National Association of United Methodist Evangelists
  • Former President of the Tishomingo County High School Touchdown Club, 2002
  • Former Member of Board of Directors of the Tupelo Kennel Club, 2001-2004
  • Past Board Member of the Corinth Theatre-Arts (Community Theater)
    • Played role of “Mervin Oglethorpe” in the musical productions of “Smoke on the Mountain” and “Sanders Family Christmas”.
    • Nominated for a Maggie Award as “Best Actor” for that role in “Smoke on the Mountain.”
    • Played “Judge Thatcher” in the musical production of “ Big River.”
  • Former Director and Judge for Miss Mississippi and Miss Louisiana Preliminary Pageants
  • Showed Pointers and Cocker Spaniels for a hobby