Meet the Pastor
A Message from Pastor Gene Strother…

Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. (I Timothy 3:1)

I grew up in Oakdale, Louisiana, and God called me to be a preacher when I was 19 years old. I had just completed my first year of college at McNeese State University and God began to immediately change the direction of my life in clear and unmistakable ways.

After earning a degree in Bible and Music from Arlington Baptist College, I continued to serve as Director of Music and Youth at First Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas. My first pastorate was at Maranatha Baptist Church in Chickasha, Oklahoma, and I have been the pastor of Bethel Baptist Church since March of 1984. I am excited about Bethel’s joyful spirit of unity and dynamic sense of purpose. Local church ministry has always been my calling and passion and I have never been more committed to ministry than I am today.

I believe that God has truly blessed my life. He has surrounded me with loving people who have consistently shown me His goodness and grace. Their affection, support and loyalty have helped me keep my sense of humor and not lose perspective while meeting challenges and overcoming adversity. He has also given me the privilege of leading and serving a congregation that is growing in faith and making a difference in our world. I have been blessed and I want my life and ministry to be a blessing to others.

Our Staff
At Bethel, we are proud to have a tremendously talented and dedicated staff who whole-heartedly love and serve our Lord Jesus Christ.

If you visit our church, please take the opportunity to speak with them about their vision for our church.

Meet the Worship Coordinator
Kathy Cunning

Even as a little girl growing up in upstate New York, I had dreams of going on mission with God to an exotic and faraway place.  The fulfillment of that dream came in the form of a move to Austin, Texas, in January of 1984!  
           
One of six sisters born to godly and caring parents, I spent most of my growing up years attending Sunday School, youth group and church services.  The two things I wanted most in life were to become a mom, and to have a chance to serve God in some way that would make a difference in my world for Him.  God graciously fulfilled the first dream with three terrific kids - and three wonderful grandchildren!  When I moved to Texas, I joined Bethel Baptist Church and began volunteering in the music ministry and the children’s ministry.  In 1986 I was offered the job as Church Secretary, and my second dream became a reality.
           
I have been serving on the staff of Bethel for over 20 years and it is as exciting and fresh to me today as it was the first day I began.  Over the years I have had the opportunity to branch out into many different areas of ministry, including outreach, youth and women’s ministry.  Currently I am serving as a ministerial assistant, as well as Worship Coordinator and Drama Director, fulfilling my passion for incorporating the arts into worship services. 

It has been my privilege to be a part of this loving, caring and vital church family.  I would have to say that, so far, God’s plans for me have surpassed my original dreams! I am looking forward to seeing what other “missions” and “adventures” God has in store for me as I continue on life’s journey.

Meet the Youth Minister
Katrina Davis

“I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could” is a fitting statement for me.  I was born and raised in California’s San Francisco Bay area where I spent many of my growing up years singing in choirs and performing on the stage.  In deciding on a focus of study for college, music was a natural choice.  When I’d received my Bachelor’s degree in Voice Performance from the University of Redlands, CA, I wondered, “What should I do now, God?”  I remember his response: 

I was looking through a catalog of universities that offered Master’s degrees in music, and my heart got the distinct impression that my next step should be to attend the University of Texas at Austin.  After auditioning, saying goodbye to my friends and family, and moving my few possessions across 1,500 miles of scorching summer heat, I was finally living life “reliant upon God”.  But God had plans for my Christian growth, too.  In walking the halls of UT’s music department, I ran across a job posting for a soprano soloist at a church.  I remember thinking “How perfect!   This will force me not to sleep in on Sundays!”  So I auditioned.  Bethel Baptist Church gave me the job.

I look back at that time as being the beginning of a magical love story between God and myself.  Coming to Bethel was truly the “coming home” I needed in my new surroundings.  I fell in love with the worshipful spirit of the congregation, and eventually, I fell for the guy in the back pew, Daniel.  God has blessed our marriage with a little boy, William.

My favorite Bible verse is “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deut. 6:5)   Now that I work with Bethel’s youth, I'm passionate about introducing that challenge to the teenagers.  Go against the grain! Take a step in God’s direction!  Love out LOUD!