Meet the Staff

Meet our dedicated team who works tirelessly to serve our vibrant community. We proudly introduce the individuals who bring passion, dedication, and expertise to every aspect of our ministry. From our pastor and worship leaders to our administrative team and volunteers, each person contributes their unique talents and passion to our shared mission. Take a moment to learn about the people who help make our church a welcoming and vibrant community.

Pastor Derrick Parson

Lead Pastor

At the age of six, I felt a profound calling that initially filled me with fear, leading me to retreat from it. However, at 21, I embraced a new direction by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps, which allowed me to serve at two American embassies and spend significant time in Bonn, Germany, Bamako, Mali, and Iraq. This experience reignited my inner calling to serve the Lord and Local Church. I pursued my academic interests, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Saint Peter’s University in New Jersey, followed by a Master of Divinity and a second Master’s degree in Christian Education from Union Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia. Over 28 years in ministry, primarily in Richmond,Virginia. I have served as a campus minister and associate pastor in Harrisonburg, and spent five years on the Conference Staff under Bishops Kammera and Cho. My true passion has always been leading congregations within the Virginia Conference. As I embark on my journey at Register Chapel United Methodist Church, my wife Natalia and my son Joshua join me with deep gratitude, honored to follow in the footsteps of the remarkable leaders before us. As pastor, I am dedicated to fostering personal and spiritual growth, inviting all to engage in dynamic worship within a warm and welcoming environment characterized by unconditional love and acceptance. We believe that if you visit us, God will meet your every longing and need, and our prayer is that the Holy Spirit will transform and renew your thinking to better serve his kingdom.

Anthony Gerogosian

Contemporary Worship Co-Leader

Anthony is a native of Port Clinton, Ohio, and spent most of his young life growing up on the family farm before moving to Maryland in 1962, and then to Virginia in 1967. His musical education includes two years of concert band in middle school and independent music studies. He earned an A.A.S. in Communication Design from Northern Virginia Community College. His professional career spans more than 40 years in several diverse musical projects as an acoustic soloist with duos, trios, and quartets, as a drummer, bassist, lead guitarist, and singer, including in his own band. Anthony is also a successful guitar teacher, serving in Stafford and Woodbridge since 1997. He is passionate about his faith and his music and is a prolific songwriter covering many genres, including contemporary Christian. His vision is to reach people and encourage them to worship God through praise music here at Regester Chapel along with fellow Contemporary Worship Leader Dawn Houser-Abel and the Praise Team members. Anthony loves to spend time with his family, including his wife, Denise, on their boat, cooking, gardening, writing new songs, and recording them.

Dawn Abel

Music Director

Dawn Abel serves as our Traditional Music Director and, along with Anthony Gerogosian, leads the Praise team at Regester. During her 30-year career, she has had the privilege to direct various instrumental and vocal ensembles along the East Coast. Her passion has always been for ministry. She formerly toured with her family gospel group for six years and is an accomplished songwriter. Her motto has always been "Y'all come sing!" Whether you're interested in praise music, or the traditional styling of the Chancel Choir, she's here to help you serve!

Teresa Wu

Music Accompanist

Teresa was born in Taiwan and emigrated to the United States in 1995, where she called Southern California her home for most of her life. Her music education included piano and cello performances at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, where she served as principal cellist. She completed her B.A. in Music Performance at California State University, Los Angeles, before transitioning her career to focus on education and completing a Master's in Education and instructional design. Teresa started teaching cello and piano at the age of 15, which fueled her passion for education. This passion led her to pursue single-subject teaching credentials in music, English, Chinese, and computer science, teaching middle school, high school, and university-level pedagogy and educational technology. Teresa's musical accomplishments included numerous piano competitions and scholarship awards, winning two first places in Chopin and concerto performance competitions. In her spare time, Teresa enjoys learning new skills, staying abreast in her fields, playing video games, watching TV, and reading and writing fiction.

Isaiah Morton

Lead Audio & Visual Technician

As Regester Chapel’s Lead A/V Technician, I ensure the seamless operation of audio, visual, and lighting systems to enhance worship services and church events. My responsibilities include setting up and maintaining equipment such as microphones, cameras, and soundboards, coordinating graphics, operating lights, managing livestreams, and troubleshooting technical issues during live events. I collaborate closely with church leaders, train and coordinate Media Ministry volunteers, and oversee the organization and maintenance of all AV equipment to provide a high-quality multimedia experience that engages and inspires attendees. I also serve on our church’s Administrative Council as the 2025 Young Adult Representative Chairman. Outside of Regester Chapel, I serve as a 4-H Youth Development Extension Agent, and I’m working on getting my Master in Public Administration (MPA degree) in the next few years from Virginia Tech.

Nicholas Schneider

Social Media Coordinator

Nicholas has been a member of the Regester Chapel family since a very young age. He has participated in many different opportunities the church has to offer, including vacation bible schools, various mission trips, and much more. He consistently seeks new opportunities to contribute. Focusing on the church's digital outreach, Nicholas takes on the responsibility of overseeing various online platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and the official website. The function of this position is to connect with new audiences but also cultivate growth within the church's online community. One of Nicholas's key responsibilities is the management of livestreams during Sunday worship, assisting those unable to attend physically. This includes technical aspects like setup, troubleshooting, and ensuring a smooth broadcast. Recognizing the importance of meaningful connections in the digital age, he also develops engaging and relevant content to promote church events, services, and activities to reach a wider audience.