Hope Leaders

New to Bethel

Find out where we are located, what we believe, how to get involved, how to stay connected and how to become a member.

sermons

Catch the Livestream of a Sunday worship service, or access the video sermon archive.

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..

Give

Giving financially is a personal way to worship. It’s convenient, immediate, and most importantly, SECURE.

pastors

Our pastors are men of compassion, scholarship, and grace who seek to glorify God and point the world to Christ. They are among the imperfect people who make up our church, believing and teaching that Jesus came to save sinners through His life, death, and resurrection. Our pastors desire to make disciples who seek to treasure and follow Jesus.

Ricky Garner

Pastor - Bethel Hope

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)

Fritz Hager

Executive Pastor

I attended Bethel for the first time in 1982 as a sophomore Robert. E. Lee student — my family had recently moved to town from the Dallas area. After graduating from West Point and serving in Desert Storm I left the Army, married my wife Sarina, and started a business career. Over the next 15 years I ran and built companies, and our family grew to six kids. In 2009 I accepted the opportunity to join the pastoral team at Bethel, where I do whatever Ross tells me. I graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary in 2012 with a MABS and finished my ThM in 2015. I enjoy hunting or fishing in my spare time outside of the family, work, and school.

Email Fritz (fritz@bethelbible.com)

Mark Kuykendall

Executive Pastor of Leadership & Strategy

Born in Fort Smith, AR, I grew up in the small town of Ozark. As a High School freshman, we moved to Henderson, TX where I met my wife Marla. We were high school sweethearts and married two years after graduation. I graduated with an accounting degree from the University of North Texas. Marla and I have three children, Kylee who is married to her husband Josh, Ufayse, and Marcus. I studied Christian Education specializing in youth and families at Dallas Theological Seminary. In December of 2016, I graduated from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lousiville, Kentucky with a Doctorate of Christian Ministry, specializing in leadership. In my free time, I enjoy running, hunting, building with my hands, and buttermilk pie.

Email Mark (mark@bethelbible.com)

Todd Wright

Pastor of Worship, Communications and Media

My wife Kristen and I moved to Tyler from Lufkin, Texas a few years ago, and I’ve been leading worship at Bethel South ever since. We have two awesome kids — Jonah, our oldest, is pretty much a video game master, and Finley, the baby, is pretty much a party waiting to happen! Kristen and I have been married since 1998 and we love East Texas. I love writing worship songs, social media, and Batman (not necessarily in that order).

Email Todd (todd@bethelbible.com)

Jeff Bice

Missions Pastor

I have the best job at Bethel Bible Church because I have the privilege of encouraging our people towards God’s great mission of having as many people as possible across the entire globe worship His great name. I love connecting with our missionaries, sending our teams to the nations and helping our church learn about God’s heart for everyone. My wife, Stefanie, and I started out in ministry with Athletes in Action running camps in Ohio, moved into camping in my home state of Texas, and then transitioned into church ministry in 2010.

We love being with our three grown kids and traveling either overseas on mission trips, or in the states to National Parks. In my time off I like mountain biking, hiking, reading a good spy novel, and eating lemon or raspberry pastries.

Email Jeff (jeff@bethelbible.com)