Leaders

Brett DeHart brings more than 20 years of pastoral experience to First SRQ, having led United Methodist congregations that have each grown in community depth and missional reach. His ministry is shaped by a genuine passion for people — especially those who have never felt at home in a church.

A recognized leader in the Messy Church, Dinner Church, and Fresh Expressions movements, Brett approaches ministry with creativity and openness, always asking how the church can better meet people where they are rather than waiting for them to show up on Sunday morning.

His commitment to community showed up in a particularly tangible way at Austell First UMC, where his congregation’s response to the historic 2009 flood earned the church the city’s Business of the Year award — a recognition rarely given to a church, and a testament to the impact a congregation can have when it shows up for its neighbors.

In 2023, Brett was honored with the Harry Denman Evangelism Award by the North Georgia Conference — one of the most meaningful recognitions in United Methodist ministry, given to those whose work consistently draws new people into a living relationship with Jesus Christ.

Beyond his local ministry, Brett carries a deep heart for international mission, with long-standing ties to ministry in Cuba and Venezuela.

Brett and his wife, Candy, have been together since high school — more than 30 years of marriage and partnership. They have two grown children: one a clinical dietician, the other a pilot.