Ministers

Bill Allen

Bill Allen

Preaching Minister

billallen@westerwincoc.org

Dr. Bill Allen and his wife Joyce came home to Texas and to us in July 2015.

Bill and Joyce met and became friends in seventh grade in their hometown of San Antonio, started dating their senior year of high school, and married in 1977. Bill and Joyce have two married daughters—Amy & Brian Tindell in Maryland, and Amanda & Paul Adkison in Arlington, who have given their parents four wonderful grandchildren—Sam, Isaac, Ella Mae and Will. Joyce has cheered Bill through eight marathons, and they enjoy music and movies, family and friends, and serving the Lord, His church, and His world.

Bill received a Bachelor’s degree in Bible from Oklahoma Christian and Masters and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Abilene Christian (ACU)He has served as preacher for churches in San Antonio and Arlington, TX, and in Winston-Salem, NC. He was President of the Center for Christian Education in the DFW area and has served on the Board for women’s shelters in Arlington and Fort Worth, and has been to Ukraine for six mission trips.

Bill’s personal mission statement is taken from Colossians 1:28-29: “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”

Davy Carter

Davy Carter

Benevolence Minister

rdskcarter@gmail.com

Davy Carter is presently the Benevolence Minister at West Erwin Church of Christ. He is a graduate of Oklahoma Christian College (’76-’80) with a Bachelor’s degree in Bible and a Minor degree in Music. He married Sonja (Smith) Carter on March 19, 1983 at Crockett Road Church of Christ in Palestine, Texas. Sonja has been teaching elementary and middle school for 39 years. She presently teaches 6th grade Math in Frankston, Texas, their hometown school district. She was selected as District Teacher of the Year in ‘2021-2022. Davy has served as youth minister in Frankston, Texas (’80-84) and at Tenth & Rockford Church of Christ in Tulsa, Oklahoma (’84-2003). While in Tulsa, Davy and Sonja had three children; Tyler Brice (wife Kelsey), Brittany Leigh (husband Jake), and Barrett Evan (wife Jessica). Their kids have since married and blessed Davy and Sonja with six grandchildren; Savanna Lou Smith, Griffin Tyler Carter, Vivian Ruth Carter, Canaan Aaron Smith, Reid Evan Carter, and Rhett David Carter (deceased 1/2/22). God has tremendously blessed this family with many friends, a wonderful church home, and a vast number of memories for a lifetime.

Donni Cook

Donni Cook

Children's Education Coordinator

donnicook@gmail.com

Donni began working as the Children’s Education Program minister in January 2018.  She and her husband Tom have been members of the West Erwin Church since 2006.   Donni has spent her lifetime working with and around children. In addition to teaching elementary classes at West Erwin Church of Christ since 2006, she comes to the children’s program at West Erwin after working as an educator in the public school setting for over 30 years. During that time, Donni taught elementary and middle school students, served as a curriculum director, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction and recently ended her career in public education after serving eight years as a Superintendent of Schools.   Donni attended Abilene Christian University, the University of Texas at Tyler, and Texas A&M Commerce. She has earned her bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees in the field of education which she plans to use in her new role as the Children’s Education Program Coordinator/Minister. Donni and Tom have been married since 1987 and have two children. Caitlin, their daughter, is a graduate of TAMU and has two precious sons, Ralph and Emerson.  Caitlin, Ralph and Emerson live in Wylie, TX, where Caitlin teaches English at Wylie High School.  Chandler, their son, is a graduate of TAMU. Chandler lives in Tyler, TX, attends West Erwin Church of Christ and works as an engineer at Trane.

Tucker Sullivan

Tucker Sullivan

Youth Minister


Tucker is a 2020 Graduate of Southwestern Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, magna cum laude.  He worked extensively with the “Bulldogs for Christ” college ministry at SWOSU and was the summer youth group intern at Weatherford Church of Christ in Oklahoma.  Tucker and Elizabeth were married in September and settled in the Tyler area.  They met through the college ministry in Weatherford. They are the proud owners of a Miniature Australian Shepherd named Charlotte.
Eric Thornton

Eric Thornton

Connection Minister

Eric is no stranger to the West Erwin family.

In fact, his relationship with this church began in 2002 when Eric was hired as West Erwin’s summer youth intern, and then returned again for the same job the next summer. After 10 years in full-time youth ministry in Weatherford and Longview, Eric returned to West Erwin as the full time Youth Minister in 2013, which was followed by 4 1/2 years of preaching ministry. In total, Eric brings 17 years of church ministry experience with him.

Eric lives in Chandler with his son’s Wesley (6th grade) and Kade (5th grade). In his spare time, you’ll find him running getting ready for his next half marathon, or practicing football or basketball with his boys (they’ve become sports junkies like their dad).

From Eric – “So much has changed in my life in the last several years, but one of the constants that has not changed for me is the love and support of God’s church in our lives. I’m so grateful and humbled to be back at West Erwin, and this new opportunity given to honor the Lord and serve His people. My prayer is that I can bless this church family in the same way God has blessed my own family through her.”