Meet Our Staff – Moore First United Methodist Church

Lead Pastor

Shyloe O'Neal

Shyloe O’Neal serves as Senior Pastor of Moore First United Methodist Church in downtown Moore, Oklahoma. A native of McLoud, OK and a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Shyloe brings a deep love for community, story, and the transforming grace of Jesus Christ into her leadership. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Northeastern State University, a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School, and a Master of Business Administration from Dakota Wesleyan University, graduating summa cum laude. Her unique combination of theological and business training shapes her passion for building healthy, sustainable churches that make a real difference in their communities.

Before coming to Moore First, Shyloe served as Associate Pastor at McFarlin Memorial UMC and Senior Pastor at Jones UMC, as well as in children’s ministry at First UMC Wagoner. She now also serves the wider church through leadership roles in the Oklahoma Annual Conference, including the Committee on Finance and Administration, the Episcopacy Committee, and the Communications Team, and she serves on the board of the OU Wesley Foundation.

Shyloe is especially passionate about discipleship, leadership development, and helping people discover how their faith connects to everyday life. She teaches in the United Methodist Course of Study and Licensing School, mentors clergy pursuing ordination, and is widely recognized for her work in church finance and leadership systems.

At her core, Shyloe believes that faith is a journey best traveled together. She is committed to creating a church where people are known, valued, and invited into a deeper relationship with Christ—through both life’s celebrations and its challenges. She is the proud mother of two adult children, Trenton and Raeleigh, and “daughter-in-love” Shelby and “son-in-love” Clayton, and she treasures time with her two grandchildren. Outside of ministry, she enjoys road trips, visiting national parks, gardening, and cooking.

Associate Pastor

Kevin Tankerson

Kevin Tankerson serves as Associate Pastor at Moore First United Methodist Church. Originally from Lake Charles, Louisiana, Kevin brings a deep love for people, community, and the transforming grace of Jesus Christ into his ministry.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Oklahoma Panhandle State University and a Master of Divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology. Kevin has served as a Local Licensed Pastor since 2017 and will be ordained as an Elder in the Oklahoma Annual Conference in May 2026.

Kevin’s ministry experience spans a variety of contexts, including campus ministry, local church leadership, and outreach with underserved communities. He has served as Associate Pastor at Quayle United Methodist Church and Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City, Executive Director of the Langston University Wesley Foundation, and Pastor at Guthrie First United Methodist Church. Throughout these roles, he has led discipleship ministries, Sunday School programs, recovery ministries, and community partnerships supporting individuals in transition.

At the heart of Kevin’s calling is a deep commitment to serving all people in the name of Jesus, with particular compassion for those who are often overlooked. His ministry has included prison outreach, homeless ministry, recovery support, and mentoring students and young adults. He is passionate about helping people encounter the transforming love of Christ and creating spaces where individuals feel seen, valued, and supported as they grow in faith.

Kevin is married to Alejandra, and together they are raising four young children: Cali, Keval, Alek, and Alena. Outside of ministry, he enjoys cooking, watching movies, and following football—a lifelong passion from his days as a college athlete.