Ministers
Devin LaBay and wife Cammy - Lead
Minister
As Lead
Minister here at Surprise Church of Christ, my wife Cammy and I
would like to welcome you to our website and to invite you to join us
for Bible study and worship at your earliest convenience.
Just so you know us a little better, I am a native Texan growing up in the Piney Woods of East Texas in Longview. My wife Cammy and I met at Abilene Christian University and married in 1990. God has blessed us with four wonderful children, two daughters, Rebecca and Sheridan, as well as our twin sons, Trevor and Cullen.
I love sports,
hiking, fishing
with my boys and losing golf balls. I received my degrees in
Bible and Ministry from Harding University and the Harding University
School of Biblical Studies.
Cammy is
an incredible wife and mother. She is actively involved in the
life of the church and has served as a teacher as well as behind
the scenes doing the things that need to be
done. Cammy is a faithful Christian wife, mother, friend, servant
and confidant. Cammy grew up in the Park Plaza Church of Christ
in Tulsa, OK where her parents still attend. Cammy works with
children as an Occupational Therapy Assistant and enjoys art and
reading as well as hiking.
As a minister I love
sharing the Word with people in a way that is uplifting, educational
and relevant to daily living. This includes a style of
presentation where power point, current events, storytelling,
interactive sermon outlines, as well as video clips are utilized.
The goal is for the listener to leave the worship experience feeling
better that when they came in: motivated, dedicated and ready to share
the good news with others.
Reading between the lines
is
important in Bible study. It must be more than red and black ink
on white pages. A diligent effort should always be made to
communicate the original intent of the text, its historical impact as
well as cultural and linguistic detail that is often lost in our
English translation. But most importantly, the Word must be
communicated in a manner that has relevance and application for today's
world.
One of my favorite
things about being a minister is making the connection on a personal
level. The most powerful and meaningful ministry takes place one
on one and at the most crucial times in life. One of the many
benefits I have received in my ministry experience has been that of
covering the age spectrum. As a Youth and Family Minister for 10
years, I was blessed with the opportunity to serve congregations as
small as 200 and as large as 2,000. and as pulpit minister I have
been blessed with the experience of serving older Christians and become
aware of their needs, challenges and contributions to the Kingdom.
A strong Biblical
foundation is important to me and important to the Surprise Church
family. I am thoroughly committed to preaching and teaching
non-denominational Christianity in a 21st century culture.
Surprise Church of Christ is committed to meeting the needs of people
using relevant methods
that do not compromise Biblical truth.
I hope to see you
soon!
David Brown and
wife Kerri - Family
Life Minister
Hi, my name is David Brown and I’m the Family Life Minister here at Surprise Church of Christ! Welcome to our website! We would love to meet you in person and have you worship with us any time!
I grew up on the eastern side of New Mexico in a town called Artesia, just south of all those aliens in Roswell. After graduation I went to college in Portales, NM at Eastern New Mexico University where I met my better half, Kerri. We actually got married not too long ago, in August of 2011. She is a great wife that I know God has placed in my life for specific reasons that only Kerri can provide. I enjoy all types of sports, outdoor activities, video games, and anything that generally includes having fun. Kerri’s interests include swimming, reading, spending time with the girls in the youth group, and making me look good. She currently is going to school to earn a radiology degree. In May of 2011, I completed my degree in Religion at ENMU while doing youth ministry work in Portales.
My ministry is focused on our kids. When I am blessed to be around the youth, my main goal is to teach them the Word of God. Simply put, if our young people do not know the Word of God, they do not know what they believe in. This is one of the biggest blessings God has given us and it is my goal to spread it to the youth that I am around. Outside of our class time, I try to build experiences that will make a solid impact on their faith. Those moments where they realize that this is what Christianity is all about. Whether it is a simple service project on a Saturday afternoon, a mission trip that truly challenges their faith or anything in between, the youth will always be in a position to experience the love of Christ and to experience what it is like to spread that love to others. We look forward to meeting you very soon!