Dr. Heather Kilbourne is the director of Faith in Rural Communities. She grew up surrounded by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in Marion, North Carolina. She previously pastored United Methodist Churches in rural towns and communities including Hamptonville, Morganton, and Statesville, NC. Prior to becoming a minister, she worked as a non-profit administrator for Family Services Center and Teach For America. 

Dr. Kilbourne has always felt a calling to serve marginalized families and communities. She assisted in starting three Circles communities, a program to help families out of poverty through building relationships across class barriers and increasing individual social capital.  She is a former Bridges Out of Poverty trainer.  

She holds her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina – Asheville, a Master of Divinity and a Doctor in Ministry from Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

In her free time she enjoys hiking, reading, and walking her dog, Hanna.

After 12 years of full time, pastoral ministry, Darren has most recently transitioned to the NC Rural Center as the program manager of Faith in Rural Communities (FIRC). A graduate of REDI 29 and a participant in FIRC in 2018, his passion is found in community building in the name of Christ.

He has a wonderful wife of 24 years, and 4 beautiful children ages 23, 20, 16, and 2. His oldest, Lyndsay, is a Registered ICU Nurse. His second youngest daughter, Payton, is currently enrolled at Western Carolina University and is seeking her Elementary Education Degree to one-day become a kindergarten teacher. His son, Nathan, is in 11th grade at Davie County High School. His youngest, 2 yr. old Sophie, has most recently began preschool. 

Darren has been a full-time clergy member of the WNCC of the UMC since 2010 and was ordained as an Elder in full connection in 2016. He has a degree in Manufacturing Engineering from UNCC, Master of Divinity from Hood Theological Seminary, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry from Duke Divinity School with emphasis upon Rural Church Ministries. He is so thankful for the opportunities to serve God in rural North Carolina.