For you shall go out in joy and be led back in peace…. Isaiah 55:12a
Our Staff
Rev. Wes Neal: Pastor
Pastor Wes and his family moved to North Carolina after teaching at Davuilevu Theological College in Fiji. He was raised in Virginia and the Philippines, and, after graduating with a BA in History and Asian Studies from the University of Michigan, has lived in both Indonesia and India. Pastor Wes has a dual calling to serve the church as both a pastor and missionary. He hopes to share the gospel like a missionary in his pastoral work, and to pastoral work that points people to the mission of God. He met his wife, Jerusha, who is currently teaching at Duke Divinity School, when they were students at Princeton Theological Seminary. Pastor Wes is a member of the Cal-Pacific Annual Conference and the very proud father of two adult kids, and Josiah. He loves to be outside, whether in the garden or on a hiking trail with his dog.
Rev. Melissa Culbreth: Minister of Outreach
Melissa has a diverse background having served as a chaplain in various settings, including the North Carolina Army National Guard, WakeMed Hospital, and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. She served on church staff while attending Campbell University and earning a BA in Religion and Christian Ministries and a Master of Divinity, but learned that her calling was more focused outside the walls of the church leading her to pursue chaplaincy.
After deploying to Iraq, Melissa saw the need for counselors who could address spiritual issues and went back to school at North Carolina Central University to earn an MA in Mental Health Counseling.
Being medically retired from the military has allowed Melissa to follow God’s call in a new direction. She works with communities in the Triangle area such as working with the unsheltered population through Open Table Ministry, with various veteran service projects, with groups looking to discuss topics on faith and mental health and works to create sacred spaces where those facing mental health challenges and their caregivers can share their stories and be empowered in recovery and service.
Melissa is mom to the Church Dog, Lea (see below) and enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and camping. She is also a certified Qigong instructor and enjoys teaching meditation and meditative movement classes.
Joe Alexander-Meinholz: Interim Pianist
Joe is a worship leader, community organizer, and poet based in Occaneechi-Saponi lands (Durham, NC). He grew up farming in the Driftless area of Wisconsin, where he learned a passion for environmental justice. Living in Minneapolis, Joe got to experience the church lifting up the voice of the marginalized. He worked as a "movement chaplain" accompanying people in social movements as they advocated for changes in policing and environmental policy.
Joe graduated in May 2025 from Duke Divinity School. These last three years, he participated in the United Methodist Church both at Asbury's Illumine Service and at the nearby Church at Spring Forest. He is passionate about musical worship being an invitation to experience God's presence, and he is excited to return to leading music at Asbury! In his free time, Joe enjoys gardening and dancing. He is recently married to Emily Alexander.
Email Marie
Marie Phelps: Administrative Assistant
Marie joined the Ministry Team at Asbury in May of 2004 after a 22 year career with Durham Technical Community College where she worked in the Marketing and Communications Department. Marie truly lives out her faith and commitment to Christ as she serves at Asbury UMC. Marie handles the administrative matters with joy and dedication and brings a wonderful spirit to all the workings of the church. Marie is from Durham, is married to Rusty, and they have three grown children, Greg, Jessica, and Travis. She is a member of Gorman Baptist Church, in Durham.
Nancy Lehman: Preschool Director
Nancy joined Asbury Preschool in September 2000, after a nineteen and a half year career in Mortgage Lending. Embracing this new career change, Nancy went back to school, and earned her A.A.S. in Early Childhood Education in May 2009. Originally from Lumberton, N.C., Nancy moved to Durham in 1978. She has been happily married to John, a V.P. at Harrington Bank, since 1998. They have two children– Grey and Lily. Nancy also has two adult children, Brad and Johanna, and a ten year old granddaughter, Carson. Nancy is an active member of Watts St. Baptist Church, serving on the Children’s Education Committee, the Children and Youth Choir Committee, the Bereavement Committee, and the Women’s Prison Ministry Team. In her spare time, Nancy enjoys movies, reading, and yearns to spend more time at the N.C. coast.
Shaliet Leathers: Nursery Attendant
Lea: The Church Dog
Lea is our resident church dog & attends more of our ministries than we can count! She is a trained and registered therapy dog and helps serve a variety of needs within our community. Lea has adopted the children of our church and can usually be found in the midst of the group spreading love by letting people rub her belly or sharing the peace of Christ with a wag of her tail. She has yet to sing to any songs in worship, but we know her heart is being strangely warmed!
When Lea isn’t on duty, you can find her hiking with her mom, Reverend Melissa Culbreth, enjoying afternoon puppy parties in her neighborhood, volunteering at Open Table Ministries or Veteran events around the Triangle, or enjoying a nice nap in the sun.
*Note: Asbury UMC welcomes trained service animals. We have expansive needs in our community and try to align our practices of hospitality for inclusion and safe participation of all God’s people (and creatures) in worship services and ministries.