Meet Our Staff

Eric O'Neal

Lead Pastor
Eric@dcnaz.org

Originally from Kentucky, Eric has served the Church as children’s pastor, youth pastor, and worship leader in Oklahoma, Missouri and Alaska since 2009. Eric attended Southern Nazarene University and graduated with a degree in theology and music. He went on to attend Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City where he studied spiritual formation. In 2017 Eric was ordained as an elder in the Nazarene Church.

Eric and his wife Stephanie were married in 2010 and have three wonderful kids: Grayson, Maisie and Beckett.

Joel Tuchez

Community Outreach Pastor
Joel@dcaz.org

Rev. Joel David Tuchez is married to Karina Tuchez-Ubanda, father of 4 children and grandfather of one grandson. Born in Guatemala, CA., raised in a pastoral family, third generation minister. In 1990 he moved to the United States. At the age of 17 he answered the call to ministry.

A graduate of Christ for the Nations School of Worship in Dallas TX, Joel earned his pastoral studies from Gilgal Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Ministry from the Faculty of Theology International.

Author of “The Pastor and His Self-Care”, named Thesis of the Year in 2023.

Ordained as an elder in the Church of the Nazarene, he has served as a children's pastor, youth pastor, and currently as the community outreach pastor

He has participated in church planting in the United States and Central America. As a musician he also enjoys serving God in the area of praise and worship. His ministerial identity is that of a teacher/pastor, and he has served as a professor at various Bible colleges, a lecturer, and in training pastors and future ministers. He also works as an official interpreter for global ministries of the Church of the Nazarene.

He and his wife founded Ministerios Enciende, focused on training for Christian workers. In 2020, following God's leading, they became directors of Shepherds Hope, a ministry dedicated to the care of pastoral families and missionaries around the world.

His favorite phrase: Hasta que la mision sea cumplida ( Until the mission is accomplished)

Ana Tallent

Children’s Pastor
Ana@dcnaz.org

Ana Tallent became the Children's Ministry Leader in July 2018. She was no stranger to the ministry, though. She began volunteering in the children's ministry at DCNaz as a teenager and has helped in numerous kid/youth ministries ever since. In 2010 she was given her first opportunity to actually help plan and lead children's ministry and instantly fell in love with the process and the outcome. What better job is there than to get to work around awesome kiddos and help teach them about Jesus?! :-)

Ana's road to ministry wasn't exactly a straight path, though. God took her through a few different locations, jobs, and life experiences before He led her to full time children's ministry. She truly believes that this was all part of His plan for preparing her for this ministry, though. She received her Associate of Arts degree in children's education in 2006 and worked as a paraprofessional for USD 443 for a couple of years. Then she worked at the Dodge City Public Library as the Teen Librarian and then the Children's Department Coordinator. God also gave her an opportunity to live in California for a short time where she worked at an alternative school for children on the Autism spectrum. Through all of these experiences, God shaped Ana in a way that would prepare her for this current adventure of being the DCNaz Children's Ministry Leader.

Ana married her best friend of 10 years, Kyle Tallent, in 2011 and they have 2 sweet, beautiful blessings named James and Rhiannon. They love to sing, travel, and praise Jesus together.

Kat Juel

Pastor of Recovery Ministry
Kat@dcnaz.org

Catherine “Kat” Juel is excited to have been named the Director of Recovery Ministry at Dodge City Church of the Nazarene. She looks forward to the opportunity to help people grow and develop a personal relationship with Christ, and to help them heal from their past and move on to a bright, spirit filled future. Kat grew up in Dodge City and now resides in Minneola with her husband Justin and their two teenage children, Brian and Emmalea. Growing up in the church and knowing God her whole life, the road to salvation was still a rough one for Kat. After a battle with drug addiction and mental illness, Kat turned her will and her life over to God in April of 2015 and has been recovering ever since. God brought Kat and her family to DC Naz in February of 2017, and from the first Sunday they attended, they realized they had found a place to call home. In April of 2018, Kat felt God placing a call on her life. After over a year of prayer, discernment, studying and hard work, in July of 2019, Kat was awarded her local Minister’s license by the church board and named Director of Recovery Ministry. When Kat is not busy with work, family, church and recovery, she enjoys traveling with her husband and relaxing at home.