Leadership


  • Cory Clark

    senior pastor \\ email

    Prior to pastoring Marion First Naz, Cory traveled as a full-time itinerant evangelist from 2009-2019. He is an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene. He has a Masters of Divinity from Wesley Biblical Seminary in Jackson MS. God has led Cory to a full circle as he now pastors the church in which he preached his first sermon when he was 15 years old. Jessica (his wife) has never missed a step as she has shown her passion for worship and missions. Cory and Jess have three children: Ayden, Riley, and Keira.

  • Brannon Hancock

    Associate Pastor \\ email

    In addition to serving as Associate Pastor and worship leader at Marion First Naz, Brannon teaches worship and practical theology full-time at Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University. Before moving to Marion, from 2007-2014 he was the worship pastor at Xenia Church of the Nazarene in Ohio. He is an ordained elder and completed his PhD at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Brannon and his wife Gloria have been leading worship together for 2 decades, and they have three children: Andrew, Joseph, and Cecilia.

  • Ella Birtles

    Pastor of Youth & Discipleship \\ Email

    Pastor Ella ministers to First Naz's students and their families, and gives leadership to the broader discipleship efforts of the church. She is a graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University, where she studied Humanities and Christian Ministry, and she is working toward ordination in the Church of the Nazarene. Ella is married to Christian, who also serves in youth ministry.

  • Deven Swan

    Children's Ministries Director \\ Email

    Deven has been working with children since God called her to be a teacher in 6th grade. In addition to her ministry as Children's Director at First Naz, Deven has taught across several subject areas at Lakeview Christian School (2002-2021) and presently at King's Academy in Jonesboro, IN. Deven and her husband, Stephen, have five kids being raised on the family farm, "The Swanderosa."