Bulverde  

United Methodist Church

  28300 Highway 281 North, San Antonio, TX  78260     Phone 830-980-7745

 Staff

Mark Deaton Senior Pastor

Mark Deaton is our Senior Pastor. He was born in Lubbock, Texas, but moved frequently as a child and calls Edinburg, Texas his home town. He has a BBA from the University of Texas-Pan American and a Masters of Divinity from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He has been married to Cynthia Deaton, who is also on staff, for 36 years. They met in freshman algebra class in high school and dated all through high school and college. They have two grown children, Taryn and Patrice. They have three pets: a basset hound named Canton Tankerous, because they bought him at “First Monday” in Canton, a sheep named Beauregard and a pot bellied pig named Percy. Mark likes to work with wood in his spare time. The person he most admires is anyone who is trusting enough to be real with him. Food: he likes anything chocolate. He recommends the book “Reaching Out”, by Henri Nouwen because it is the basis of his “Hospitality Evangelism” that he teaches. His favorite vacation spot is anywhere in Colorado.

Steve Coker Associate Pastor

Steve Coker has been serving as an Associate Pastor at BUMC since 2004.  Moving to full-time in January of 2009, Steve is a Licensed Local Pastor working toward ordination.  Steve, his wife and two sons have lived in the Bulverde area since 2000, the same year they began attending BUMC as visitors.  Steve is a preaching pastor, leads the church’s pastoral care efforts, leads quarterly Join The Vision classes for visitors and new members, serves as a Stephen Leader in Stephen Ministry, leads the church’s Prayer Ministry, and he leads the monthly Renewal & Healing Service.  Steve also works in men’s ministry at BUMC, leading and facilitating classes and is a co-founder of Men of Light Conferences that reaches men in Christ all around San Antonio and beyond.  In addition, Steve is the founder of Light Shine Ministries, a non-profit, community outreach ministry that serves the least, last, and lost in a four county area around San Antonio, Texas.

Cynthia Deaton Children's Pastor

Steve Angle Director of Music & Worship Arts

Reese Henry Associate Pastor

Reese Henry is Associate Pastor.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology/religion and a Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling. Bumc is proud to be birthing a new church, Hope Arise UMC, in the Johnson High School neighborhood with Reese as pastor.  Hope Arise is a diverse family of people who believe that true hope can be found only in Jesus.  Hope Arise will open their doors on Sept. 12, 2010 at Johnson High School.

Bethany Graham Pastor to Youth & Young Adult

Bethany Graham is so excited to call BUMC home!!!  She grew up in Irving, TX and received a call to ministry as a youth at Plymouth Park UMC.  She earned a BA in Communication from McMurry University in Abilene, TX while serving as Youth Assistant at Aldersgate UMC.  She returned to the metroplex to serve at First UMC Irving, while attending Perkins School of Theology.  She graduated from Perkins in May with a Masters in Church Ministry with a heart and passion for youth and urban ministry.  She continues to seek her call to ordination as a deacon in the North Texas Conference.  She joined our staff in June 2009 and is having a blast!!!  She says, “It is such a joy to see the Spirit of God flowing through the lives of God’s children.  BUMC is a special place, and I feel so incredibly blessed to be a part of this family!” 

 Bethany enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring the Hill Country, cooking, and anything that has to do with music.  She is undergoing therapy for her addiction to Sonic beverages.  She survived her first pumpkin patch with the help and support of her BUMC family.  And thinks she has the most amazing youth and youth parents ever!!!

Ron Thompson Praise Band Director

Born and raised in Georgia, Ron became interested in music at a young age.  He began teaching himself guitar when he was just 12 years old.  He began playing golf as a teenager as well.  Faced with the choice of a career in golf or music, Ron chose the guitar. He has pursued excellence in his craft ever since.

 Ron has the gift of encouragement.  His drive for excellence is contagious.  He challenges his students, band members, and vocalists to go to the next level and improve on the gifts God gave them.  Whether he is recording in the studio, teaching young people, leading the praise band, or gigging professionally, it’s always about the Lord.  Ron doesn’t like to draw attention to himself.  He would rather make others look and sound great.  He would much rather draw people into the presence of God.

 Ron is currently employed full time with law office of Prichard, Hawkins, McFarland, & Young as Office Services Coordinator and has been working with this core group of attorneys for 20 years.  He joined the staff at Bulverde United Methodist Church in 2003 as Praise Band Director.  He has played and recorded with many diverse groups and venues.  From country to jazz-fusion to blues, he does it all.  He is currently starting on his first solo recording project.

 Ron is the proud father to his 22-year-old daughter, Savannah.  He married Heather in March 2007.  They live in Boerne, Texas.

Lisa Nelson Business Manager

Lisa Nelson is the smile on the other side of our phone.  She is known around the church for her bright and cheerful personality and her great competence.  Lisa is in charge of the church's financial records, building facilities and staff supervision.  She is also the church treasurer.  She co-leads a small group and is very involved in Emmaus.  Lisa has one son, Matthew, who is her pride and joy.  God has blessed Lisa with a new home which she plans to start a new ministry in.  She is excited about this challenge and can't wait to see where God takes it.

Karen Hughes Office Administrator 

Karen has been with BUMC for 7 years now and enjoys her job as much now as she did when she first started.  The people contact is her favorite part of working in the office.  Loves a good laugh!  She also has been involved with the youth group for 11 years, though her main focus now for the group is coordinating special events like mission trips, ski trips, or any other outing.

   If you need a prayer request sent out or a Pastor to make a hospital visit, Karen will make sure that is done for you.  She handles the church calendar and schedules rooms for classes, meetings, etc., and produces the bulletins for Sunday service.

   Camping (anywhere there are mountains around), Disney World and San Diego are Karen's favorite vacation spots.  Favorite books and movies?  Anything, especially funny ones, but no scary ones!  Favorite food?  Pistachios!

   Karen and her husband Chuck have 2 children; Dawn who lives in San Antonio and Charlie who is currently in Chicago, Illinois at Northpark University in the seminary program They also have a 20 pound "Tiger Cat" named Bailey and a Chihuahua named Chuy.

Susan Moore Director of Child's Morning Out

Susan Moore is the director of our Child’s Morning Out program. She has been working at the church for 15 years. She graduated from John Marshall High School in San Antonio. She also has an Associate in Applied Science in Child Development, Professional Administration National Credential, and Management CEU from UTSA. She has been married to Randy Moore for 27 years. They have 3 children: Michael, who will graduate from Texas A&M Corpus Christi on May 15^th, 2005, Robert, who is working at HEB, and Kristin, who will be going to Smithson Valley High School in the Fall. Pets: they have 2 dogs, Tuffy and Angel, and a whole lot of out side cats. Susan’s hobbies are doing crafts, playing games, reading and camping in their RV. She likes to go to New Mexico, Colorado and the beach for vacations. She likes to read all kind of books but not horror books.

Linda K. Reynolds Administrative Assistant

Linda is our Administrative Assistant and helps with general contributions, attendance and membership records.  Her husband of 32 years is in the band instrument business and they have 2 grown children, Clint & Emily.

Their dream of moving back to the hill country was fulfilled when they moved to Canyon Lake in 2004.  They had originally left the Austin area in 1974 to live in Houston and then Fort Smith, Arkansas.

In her spare time, she enjoys working crossword puzzles, cooking, entertaining, and playing with her grandson.

Guy Davis Custodian

Guy Davis came to us in 2003, first as the drummer for our SonRise Celebration Praise Band, of which he is still a member.  Not long after that Guy became our weekday custodian and handyman.  But those who know him know he is really The Minister of Space.  When you meet Guy in the hall he always has time for a prayer, a story or a testimony.  He is married to Carolyn and they are both very involved in the whole life of our church.