Our Pastor

     I was an entrepreneur for 25 years in the advertising and marketing world. My brother and I built two billboard companies. Subsequently, I wore hats of Business Developer and Copy Writer  in the ad agency business. Throughout my adult life, I always knew that God had a plan for me. Surrendering to the call of God on my life was a long process which ultimately led to me responding by returning to college for a Bachelors and a Masters degree in order to be equipped as a pastor, graduating in May 2010 from Perkins School of Theology at SMU.

     Born in Austin, TX, I am the grandson of a missionary to Cuba. I am the proud papa of two children, Marla (37) who lives in Raleigh/Durham, NC, and Tim (34) who lives in Frisco, TX. They have blessed me with four grandsons, Brayden (8), Ryan (5), Logan (4), and Noah (turns 2 in December). Shadrach, a shelter-adopted orange tabby cat with marbleized markings, lets me live with him since I feed and sometimes entertain him.

     I am learning to ride a road bike (the pedal kind, not the motor kind) with my son. I like writing poetry and hymns, barbequing in the back yard, meeting new friends, traveling new places, learning new things, sharing time with my family, going to the zoo, and hiking in Santa Fe. I’m a sports fan (Cowboys, Mavs, Rangers, Longhorns, Mustangs) who loves to sing the National Anthem. I want to exercise more and weigh less.

     God touched my life through Lovers Lane UMC in Dallas beginning in 1993. During my 15 years there, I served as a youth counselor, Leadership Board member, Faith Fellowship teacher for a decade, and finally as a Licensed Local Pastor from 2004 to 2008. I was the Pastor Liaison for the founding of Heart of Africa Fellowship there. Heart of Africa thrives today as a congregation within a congregation featuring African expatriates from all over the continent.  During my tenure, I also served as the Director of Congregational Care as well as the Director of Communications. For the past three years, I have been appointed as the Pastor of Pilot Point UMC. And now, I am looking forward to serving the congregation at Kavanaugh UMC.

God’s grace given freely and lovingly to all people is the reason I became a Wesleyan pastor. God’s grace is the center point of Methodism which reaches out inclusively to all people with the extravagant love of Jesus Christ. For me, this means that radical hospitality is the hallmark of true discipleship and my constant ministerial pursuit.

The Pastor's Pen     Pastoral Care     Prayer Request

Kavanaugh UMC Staff

Stephen Cotten, Pastor
pastor@kavumc.com

Heather Hamilton, Children's Director

James Hamilton, Youth Director
youth@kavumc.com

Patrick Just, Hand Bell Choir Director
pjust@cawb.com

Irene Foster, Nursery Supervisor
nursery@kavumc.com

Randy Hooper , Music Director
randall_hooper@tamu-commerce.edu

Kathy Logan, Organist

Dawn White, Office Administrator
office@kavumc.com

John Griffin, Treasurer
kavtreasurer@kavumc.com

Rick Porter, Sound Tech

Pastoral Care

Our Pastor, Stephen Cotten, offers prayerful support and care for community members in need.

Pastoral Care includes hospital and home visits, counseling and grief support, assistance for those with questions about their faith, and encouragement for those who are troubled.

Pastoral Care is extended to all members of the community and their family members.

Please call the church office, 903-455-2869, to set an appointment.

Prayer Request

Our pastor and church community join your family in prayer in times of need, whether you or someone you love is challenged by health problems, career changes, or any personal crisis.

To request community prayer, please call the church office at 903-455-2869. You may also fill out a Prayer Request card (in pew racks in the sanctuary) and place it in the offering during worship service.

You may specify whether you wish your prayer request to be announced to the congregation and included in the Circuit Rider newsletter or not. If you wish, the pastor will send a letter to the person named in your prayer request to notify him/her of the congregation’s prayer support.