Rural and Small-Town Churches
COMMUNITY DETAILS
Trevon Buchanan, Melanie Gibson, and Brock Paulk are guiding the rural and small-town church community at Summit this fall. We are excited to have their dedication to and passion for small-town churches as we imagine with them what it means to be the church that listens, the church that sees, and the church that serves. Check back for more information on how this conversation will unfold.
Facilitators
Trevon Buchanan
TREVON BUCHANAN
Originally from Texas, Trevon Buchanan has devoted many years to ministry, serving for ten years as a fill-in and traveling preacher and for seven years as a youth minister. These experiences allowed him to work with a wide range of congregations and develop a deep passion for teaching and encouraging others. For the past six years, he has served as the pulpit minister at the Stolley Park Church of Christ in Grand Island, Nebraska, where he continues to focus on preaching and strengthening the church community. Trevon and his wife, Julie, are blessed with four grown children. Together, they seek to pattern their lives after Abraham’s calling—a life walking in faithful obedience.
Melanie Gibson
MELANIE GIBSON
Melanie Gibson serves as an associate minister at 4th and Elm Church of Christ in Sweetwater, Texas. For more than 16 years, she has ministered in a variety of roles with a strong focus on children, youth, and community outreach. After graduating from Abilene Christian University in 2002, Melanie and her husband, Blair, served in youth ministry in Marble Falls and Sweetwater. During that time, Melanie also taught elementary students in the public schools where they lived and served. Since 2013, Melanie has been actively involved in reaching at-risk youth through Opportunity Camp, a summer outreach, and a school-year mentoring program called Lunch Buddies. She is passionate about helping young people feel seen, valued, and connected to God and others. Melanie and Blair have two children: Brody, a sophomore at Abilene Christian University, and Mallory, a senior at Sweetwater High School.
Brock Paulk
BROCK PAULK
After 23 years in congregational ministry in Texas, Brock Paulk joined the Siburt Institute team in 2025 to serve with the Empower & Equip Initiative. He leads the national effort to develop the initiative's library of resources for small-town and rural churches, and he also coordinates regional efforts to connect and support leaders in these churches. Brock holds bachelor's and master's degrees from ACU's College of Biblical Studies.