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For Lori Fallon, a calling isn’t something you plan — it’s something you grow into.
Fallon, who now serves as associate pastor and youth minister at First United Methodist Church in Monticello, has spent years pouring into the lives of others, building relationships rooted in faith, compassion and a deep sense of purpose.
Originally from Jena, Louisiana, Fallon graduated from Jena High School in 1992 before attending Louisiana Tech University, where she met her husband, Greg. The couple’s journey eventually led them to Arkansas, where Greg attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law while Fallon pursued her own path at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine Technology.
In August 1997, the Fallons moved to Monticello after Greg accepted a position with the Harper Law Office — a move that would ultimately shape the course of Lori’s life.
“When we visited Monticello in June of 1997, it gave me that hometown feel,” Fallon said.
She began her career in radiology at Delta Memorial Hospital in Dumas, later commuting from Monticello to Monroe, Louisiana, for several years to continue her work in the medical field. But in 2003, during a Disciple Bible Study class, Fallon said she began helping with the youth ministry at First United Methodist Church — a step that would change everything.
By 2005, she had stepped fully into the role as full-time youth minister.
While on leave after adopting her first daughter, Sydney, Fallon continued to feel her calling deepen. In 2006, she and her husband welcomed their second daughter, Mallory, further grounding her in the role she had always dreamed of — being a mother.
Still, the calling didn’t stop there.
“In 2015, I knew God was calling me to more,” Fallon said. “I found what it took to be a licensed pastor, and in May 2017, I became associate pastor and youth minister.”
Today, Fallon’s ministry extends beyond the walls of her church. As part of the Delta Charge, she preaches regularly in surrounding communities including Dermott, Wilmot and Montrose. She also dedicates time to visiting shut-ins, offering prayer, communion and comfort to those unable to attend services.
Her commitment to spiritual growth recently led her to earn certification as a spiritual director through Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology.
Fallon’s days begin simply — with a cup of coffee and an audio devotional — before shifting into a schedule filled with prayer meetings, Bible studies and pastoral care.
Though she didn’t always envision a future in ministry, Fallon said her upbringing planted the seeds.
Her grandfather, known as “D-Daddy,” was an ordained United Methodist elder and a spiritual leader in her family. After losing her father at a young age, Fallon said her mother showed her what it meant to live a life grounded in faith. She also credits her grandmother as a strong spiritual influence who helped shape her foundation and values.
Those influences continue to guide her work today.
“Pastoral care and meeting people where they are, reminding them of God’s grace — that’s some of the most important work we do,” she said.
Fallon has a special place in her heart for young people, spending time mentoring junior high and high school students while also teaching younger children about their identity and worth.
Beyond her church, Fallon’s impact stretches across the Monticello community. She serves on the Feed the Kids board, has been the stage manager for the SEARK Concert Association since 2014, and leads multiple Bible study groups. She has also supported local schools through volunteer work, from feeding the Monticello Billies Band to helping organize the junior class prom.
Her influence is perhaps best measured not in titles, but in moments.
Fallon recalled one particularly meaningful experience when a former youth member reached out years later, asking Fallon to provide premarital counseling and officiate her wedding. Fallon gladly agreed. A year later, after the young woman’s unexpected death in a car accident, Fallon was asked to preach her funeral.
“It was a truly devastating moment,” she said. “But I felt blessed to be there for that family.”
Through both joy and heartbreak, Fallon remains grounded in her purpose.
“I’m doing what I have been called to do,” she said. “God doesn’t call the qualified — He qualifies the called. It is a blessing what I do.”
When asked about her proudest accomplishment, Fallon doesn’t hesitate.
“My children,” she said. “I wanted to be a mom for as long as I can remember. It came later than I had hoped, but because of who God is, it came at just the right time.”
For Fallon, Monticello is more than just a place to live — it’s home in every sense of the word.
“The familial ties, the loving friendships — I love being able to pull into someone’s driveway and drop something off or pick something up,” she said. “It’s a great place to raise a family. A great place for my girls to come home to.”
And through her faith, service and unwavering compassion, Fallon has helped make it that kind of place for countless others.
