Rev. Josh Dalton
Lead Pastor
Hello! I’m Pastor Josh and I’m so glad you found your way to this page. Gum Spring is a wonderful, loving congregation and I’m blessed to serve here as their Pastor. I’m also blessed to have a loving wife, Leslie, and an awesome baby (toddler) boy, Jack. I’ve been in ministry the past 11 years all over the state of Virginia. I hold a Master of Divinity from Eastern Mennonite Seminary, as well as a B.S. in Health Promotion, and a M.S. in Exercise Science. In my free time, I enjoy powerlifting, and all strength sports, working on my car, and restoring mid century modern furniture.
I hope you make yourself at home here, and also pray that you experience God’s transformational love in your life.
"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."
-John 1: 12
I hope you make yourself at home here, and also pray that you experience God’s transformational love in your life.
"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."
-John 1: 12
Rev. Melody Tanner
Director of Outreach, Contemporary Worship, and Youth
Hi, I’m Melody! I’m married to Jonathan. We’re parents to Summer and our two rescue dogs, Beamer and Zuma. I received my Bachelor of Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University and Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. I then served twelve years in full-time ministry as an ordained pastor in the UMC in the Tidewater region before returning home to serve on staff at the church that raised me in the faith and sent me forth as a servant leader. I enjoy all things music, sports, gardening, front porch-sitting, hiking, and carpentry (I’m very bad at carpentry but I still…mostly enjoy it).
Looking for a church to love you as you are and not for what you’ve done or left undone? Welcome home!
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
-Galatians 2:20
Looking for a church to love you as you are and not for what you’ve done or left undone? Welcome home!
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
-Galatians 2:20
Susan Duty
Director of Music
I am a lifelong member of Gum Spring UMC. My husband Brad and I were married here 32 years ago. We have two grown children. Our daughter, Kimberly, is married and resides in Roanoke with her husband Adam. Our son Coleman also lives and works in Roanoke. I adore my white fluffy pups, Lily and Bo, enjoy spending time with my mother, who is also a member of GSUMC, and love sharing my love of music with my piano students, outside of my work at church. I am a graduate of Radford University, as is my son Coleman, while the rest of our family are all VT Hokie alumni.
"I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being."
-Psalm 104:33
Office hours: Sundays & Wednesday evenings
"I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being."
-Psalm 104:33
Office hours: Sundays & Wednesday evenings