Meet The Staff
Rev. Brian Steele
Senior Pastor
I grew up in Florida and always said I wanted to live somewhere with snow. Oops. Be careful what you wish for. There is proof that God has a sense of humor. I went to college at the University of Florida where I graduated with a degree in journalism. However, it was during that time that God made it clear that I was called do something different than interviewing people and writing about their answers. When I first heard God speak, I thought it was a joke. This new “calling” would just be a temporary phase and go away. Nope. Try again. God kept at it and, eventually, I realized that the only way to have true peace in my life was to answer the call to seminary. So, off to seminary where I received dual degrees in a Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling.
I am a justice oriented and inclusive pastor and seek to help our church become a more just and inclusive place for ALL of God’s Children. I love sports, American Idol (seriously), and most other mainstream reality shows (seriously again). While I will always be a Florida Gator at heart, I have gladly adopted the Spartans now that I am in Michigan. However, above everything else I want you to know that you are loved by God and that our Creator’s grace and love has no boundaries. I believe something special happens when a group of people come together and are truly devoted to loving God and all people.
Debbie Tedrick
Director of Music
Debbie is a theater and vocal music instructor, conductor, performer (piano/voice), and arts administrator. Debbie is from Farmington Hills, Michigan, attended Southfield Christian High School, and went on to get a Bachelor of Music degree from California State University, Los Angeles, and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Central Florida, Orlando. She has also studied music at The University of Texas, Austin, and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. After receiving her MFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Central Florida, Orlando, she worked as a Professor of Theater at UCF, teaching graduate and undergraduate classes in Vocal Pedagogy/Style, Theater History/Dramatic Literature, and Music Directing-Conducting Music Productions. Currently, Debbie is the Producer/Co-Director/Music Director of a youth theatre program at St. Dunstan’s Theatre in Cranbrook. Debbie is an Adjunct Theatre & Music Professor at Rochester University, teaching Music Appreciation, Theatre Appreciation, Voice Pedagogy, Music Foundations, and Vocation in Practice/Identity.
Debbie owns InterACT Entertainment, a music and theatre production company. As a writer, Debbie has published academic, show reviews, and entertainment articles for The Sondheim Review. And as a creative “Second ACT,” Debbie also owns a Soapery (soaps, candles, bath & body products) called Second ACT Soaps-n-Such. She enjoys vending at fairs and festivals when she’s not performing, conducting, and directing music. Debbie loves all things music, so please feel free to contact her at dtedrick@farmingtonfumc.org with any music ideas to connect and serve together at Farmington First United Methodist Church.
Yaroslav Daniels
Organist/Accompanist
Ukrainian native Yaroslav Daniels is a concert pianist and winner of numerous international music competitions in the United States, Spain, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine. He is a performing member of Tuesday Musicale of Detroit including concerts at Steinway Music Galleries, the Comic Opera Guild, and LaCorda music associations.
Yaroslav earned his Master's degree in Piano Performance in the United States and his Bachelor's and another Master's degree at the prestigious Dnipro Academy of Music in Ukraine. Yaroslav was a soloist of Dnipro State House of Organ and Chamber music, frequently performing with prominent symphonic orchestras and in international music festivals. He currently gives solo and collaborative concerts with acclaimed musicians, choirs, and bands in concert tours across the United States and Europe. Since February 2022 Yaroslav organized or participated in more than 25 Benefit Concerts for Ukraine raising thousands of dollars in humanitarian help for Ukraine.
