Ministers

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 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.

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.