Hope Elders
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ministries
God’s Word says we are designed for community. At Bethel, we want to create opportunities for people to be known and to know others..
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our elders
Wisdom and unity, leadership and humility – the elders of Bethel strive to lead and serve with love. Our Shepherding Elders care for the ongoing and emergent needs of the body. Our Trustee Elders prayerfully set the vision of the church and oversee its governance. Bethel believes aspiring to this office is a noble task (1 Timothy 3) and involve the body in the vetting and election of this group each year.
Dennis Brown
Hope Elder
Dennis and his wife, Donna, met at the University of Texas at Arlington and were married in 1971. They have four children and 10 grandchildren. They enjoy spending time with their children and grands, doing whatever they are enjoying! Dennis has loved the word of God for as long as he can remember. He has taught Sunday School to elementary, high school, and college students throughout his life. He currently teaches a Sunday morning class and is also the Operations Director at the Hope campus! He loves to open the word and have the Holy Spirit speak into his life.
Nate Hill
Hope Elder
Nate and his Lakenya have been married for 19 1/2 years with their children Nakayla, Kaniyah, Nathan, and Lily, who have called East Texas their home for the last 11 years. Nate is a former Youth Pastor of New Holy Trinity Church in Compton, CA, and studied Christian Leadership at Southwestern Christian University in Bethany, OK. Nate currently serves as the Associate Regional Director for Young Life in Northeast Texas and gives leadership to communities from South Oak Cliff – Longview, TX. Nate Hill is a cultural intelligence facilitator and youth advocate who values service, unity, and empowering communities. Nate’s life mission is to equip, impact, and influence the next generation.
Samuel Hudson
Hope Elder
Samuel and his wife Candace have been married for over 30 years. Born and raised in Mississippi, they uprooted to Texas and had three beautiful children. They also are the proud grandparents of one. Unity, multi-culturalism, diversity, and a passion for Christ’s mission to the nation were a few key factors that led their hearts to Bethel Hope. In 2019, by divine guidance, Samuel and Candace became official members of Bethel Hope. Candace is a Registered Nurse, author, and poet for Christ. She is a member of Bible Study Fellowship and loves teaching the word of God to children. Before attending Bethel, he served as a deacon for over 25 years, he was the chairman on the deacon board, and was a Praise and Worship leader for many years. Samuel served in the US Army as a Commission Officer and now currently works for the United States Postal Service. He is also a diehard Raiders fan! Samuel and Candace are excited about the purpose and vision at Bethel Hope and look forward to being a part of the leadership team.
Jerry Putman
Hope Elder
Jerry has attended Bethel Bible Church since 1988. He went to medical school at The University of Texas Medical School in Galveston and did his training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Baylor Medical Center in Houston. Jerry recently retired from practicing for over 30 years. He and his wife Marty lived in Sierra Leone, West Africa from 2004 to 2008 as medical missionaries. He continued to do surgeries for several weeks per year in several African countries until 2018, serving as the Women’s Health Consultant for Mercy Ships from 2014 through 2018. Jerry completed his MA/BS from Dallas Theological Seminary in 2017 and was ordained by Bethel Bible Church that year. The following year he completed a one-year chaplaincy training program at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Hospital. Marty and Jerry have three married children.
Rick Rogers
Hope Elder
Rick met Jesus at a young age and accepted Him as savior between six and 16 years of age (happy to explain, just ask). He and his wife Jane have been married for 40+ mostly wonderful years. They moved to Tyler from training in Dallas and after working in a hospital in Benin, W Africa. They have five great kids, a daughter-in-law and son-in-law, and two amazing grandsons. Their family is scattered all over the place. Rick and Jane have been members of Bethel since 1984, but have moved north to Bethel Hope, where they believe God has called them. They love traveling and hiking. Rick is a pediatrician; Jane is a retired nurse/homemaker. They are both involved in missions: Living Alternatives, Young Life Africa and Mentoring Alliance. They love the fellowship at Hope and are thankful to be a part of this body. Rick has served as an elder at Bethel South and is thankful to be serving again as a Shepherding Elder at Bethel Hope.
Ricky Garner
Campus Pastor / Elder
I was born and raised in Tyler, TX and I am a U. S. Air Force veteran. Prior to returning home in 2014 after living in the DFW area for over 25 years, I served as Senior Pastor at Unity Baptist Church in Fort Worth for nine years. Upon returning home I served as Assistant Pastor at New Days Community Church in Tyler and Lead Pastor at Hope Church Tyler. I have served on several boards in the community including Young Life Tyler and The Mentoring Alliance. Currently I serve on The Texas African American Museum Advisory Board and The Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Board. I am a graduate of Texas College with a BA in Religion, I hold a Certificate in Biblical Studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, and a Masters in Biblical and Theological Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. I have been married to my beautiful wife, Jane, for over 37 years and we have four children.
Email Ricky (ricky@bethelbible.com)