Zebulon United Methodist Church

Zebulon United Methodist Church (ZUMC) has a wonderful, caring church staff. Pastor Liz Hounshell’s door is always open. If you would like to talk to one of our staff, please contact them directly or you may call the church office at 919-269-9408. For information about our many church ministries or missions, please click on those specific tabs. The volunteer staff will happily assist you with your questions.

Liz Hounshell is the pastor of Zebulon United Methodist Church, where she was appointed in June 2020. Liz is married to David, and they have two daughters, Katie and Sarah, and one son-in-law, Ryan who is married to Katie. Liz and David have three grandcats and one granddog. That’s great, because Liz likes animals!

Liz is thrilled to be a pastor. She answered the call to attend seminary in 2010 and began her education at Duke Divinity School in the fall of 2011. She graduated in 2014 with a Master of Divinity degree. It was a little tough being at Duke since she is a devoted UNC fan. However, Liz did attend UNC-Chapel Hill for her undergraduate studies where she received a nursing degree in 1984.

While training at Duke, Liz was a pastoral intern at Wendell United Methodist Church in Wendell and also at Bailey and Pleasant Grove United Methodist Churches in Bailey. How fitting that she would later be serving as a pastor in nearby Zebulon!

Liz became an elder in The United Methodist Church when she was ordained at the North Carolina Annual Conference in Greenville, NC, in June 2016. At that time, she was serving Jarvis Memorial United Methodist Church, also in Greenville, as an Associate Pastor for Mission and Empowerment. Most recently, Liz served as the pastor of two congregations, Salem and Mt. Carmel United Methodist Churches. Salem is in Goldsboro, and Mt. Carmel is in Pikeville.

Before attending seminary, Liz worked as a public health nurse and as a project coordinator for a small building business. She also served as Minister of Christian Education at North Raleigh United Methodist Church, where she and David were members for 25 years.

Here’s a little more about Liz: She is originally from Hillsborough, NC. She enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, writing and going out to eat. She also likes to watch sports events and, just as a reminder, cheer for the Tar Heels. Liz has traveled to the Holy Land three times and was fascinated by all the biblical sites she got to see.

Liz is so grateful for this incredible opportunity at Zebulon UMC. Many exciting adventures in faith are in store for all of us. Glory to God

Cynthia Dixon is the Music Director at Zebulon United Methodist Church, joining us in January 2020.

Cynthia graduated from both Peace and Meredith College, finishing her Master’s of Music degree in 1994. She has worked in several Raleigh and Smithfield area churches since the late 1980’s as Organist and Choir Director. She enjoys working with adult and children choirs as well as handbells. She places her faith in God to lead her musical experiences.

She is confident that God can touch a person’s life in meaningful ways through music. The message He shares can bring comfort and hope to people if they just listen with their heart.

Kara Zaharin is the pianist at Zebulon United Methodist Church.

Kara performed and competed Internationally at the concert-level in classical piano for several years, before opening a piano studio here in Zebulon. She has a double B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and has been playing piano for the church since the summer of 2019. Her role as church pianist also extends to Weddings, Memorial Services, and other celebratory/sacred events, and she very much welcomes engagements for any and all of the above.

Faith has always played a key role in Kara's piano work, and she endeavors to uplift the Holy Spirit with her sacred arrangements, each and every Sunday, and on all other occasions for which they are asked or appropriate.