Clayton Oliphint

Clayton Oliphint has served as Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church, Richardson, Texas since 2001. This church of more than 6,000 members has a mission focus that sends people out into the community and world serving others. Taking a team approach to ministry, the church focuses on partnerships in the community, including two elementary schools, as well as partner churches, schools, and relationships in Eastern Europe, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Dr. Oliphint holds a B.A. From Austin College in Sherman, TX, and a M.Div, and D. Min. From Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. He was inducted in the Athletic Hall of Honor at Austin College after a record setting career as a wide receiver on Austin's 1981 NAIA National Championship football team. In 2017, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Austin College.

Dr. Oliphint is actively involved in his community and in the United Methodist Church, serving on numerous boards, addressing issues ranging from health care, human trafficking, senior living, domestic violence, education, and ecumenical and interfaith relationships. He was named Richardson's Citizen of the Year in 2013.

Regarding the Basics Series, Dr. Oliphint says, "It is so exciting to partner with my sister, Mary Brooke Casad, as we share stories of faith and a practical approach to putting faith in action. In each chapter of our books we begin with Biblical truths and seek to apply them to our daily lives. We use many personal stories and illustrations we hope will help connect readers to their own experiences. Our whole desire in writing these books is to reach busy people with short readable chapters that we hope will encourage Christians to live their faith daily."

Dr. Oliphint, a preacher's kid, is married to Lori, a teacher and a fellow "preacher's kid". Together they are the parents of three preacher kid's.