Meet the Staff

Clayton Coates
Senior Pastor

Prior to coming to FBC Coppell, Clayton led the Single Adult Ministry at Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest, California. At that time, Saddleback's Single Adult Ministry included over 13,000 single adults in the greater Los Angeles area. Prior to that, he was a pastor at Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas. Clayton earned his Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University in 1998 and a Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2004. Clayton and his wife, Allison, have five children, Ella, Karis, Tatum, Tyler, and Annabelle! Email: ccoates@fbccoppell.org

Christopher Cass
Executive Pastor

Growing up in a military family, Christopher has traveled and lived all over the world. His predisposition to leadership has been evident since childhood. Christopher graduated from Baylor University with a double major in Finance and Economics. While studying at Baylor, he started his first company which developed his talent at creating organizations. Prior to joining FBC Coppell, he co-founded a leadership training ministry that has several thousand alumni. His wife, Amy, is a graduate of The Art Institute of Dallas and works as a freelance graphic designer, contributing her talents often to the ministry. He also has two lively children, Cage and Kendall. Email: ccass@fbccoppell.org

Kevin Goldstein
Creative Arts Pastor

Growing up in California, Kevin fell in love with music at an early age and studied jazz theory and performance in college. Kevin began leading worship at the age of 18, which is also when he picked up playing the piano after he realized that singing and playing his sax simultaneously was virtually impossible. Kevin joined the Navy in 1998 and served four years in Washington State, and where he met and married his wife, Megan. Kevin has led worship ministries at churches ranging from 200-3,000 people up and down the West Coast. He loves the opportunity God has given him to lead worship and equip people to serve Him with their talents. Kevin and Megan have two wonderful children, Kellen and Kayla. Email: kgoldstein@fbccoppell.org

Charley Hellmuth
Student & Family Pastor

Charley Hellmuth grew up in Tyler, TX. Graduated and relocated to the Dallas area where he attended just about every Dallas county community college there is before beginning his ministry life as a youth intern and enrolling at Criswell College. Charley received his BA of Biblical Studies in 2000. Charley is married to his wife Erin who has a Masters degree in Social Work and played volleyball at Baylor University. They have 2 girls Avery and Emily. For their entire professional lives they have worked with Students and Families in some capacity whether it be coaching, youth ministry, or counseling. You will often find Charley with a Dr. Pepper in hand since it is his second most favorite thing besides working with Students and Families. Email: chellmuth@fbccoppell.org

Clay Adkisson
P.E.A.C.E. Pastor

Clay grew up in Nashville, Tennessee but Texas has been his home since 1999. He received his bachelor's degree in Speech Communication from Hardin – Simmons University in 2003, and is now working on his Master of Divinity from Redeemer Seminary in Dallas. He has been in a variety of ministry roles as a student and college pastor, church planter, and now P.E.A.C.E. Pastor. Clay has served at First Baptist Coppell since November 2006. He is passionate about the gospel of Jesus Christ, and helping people to live on mission for him. Clay married his beautiful wife Mandy in Austin, TX in 2006. They have two boys Seth, and Asher. Email: cadkisson@fbccoppell.org

Katie Smith
Preschool & Children's Director

Katie grew up in Denton, Texas, but originally hails from Beaumont where her cajun roots run deep. After a year in Washington DC at American University, she transferred to UNT and interned with a high school youth group for four years. After graduating with a Marketing degree, she began working at a private school and volunteering with kids ministry where she found a deep love for ministering to kids and families. Before joining the FBC Coppell team, she spent three years as Director of Preschool and Kids Ministry in Fort Worth. Katie's favorite things include Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, reading, and she is pretty proud of her vast knowledge of random things. Email: ksmith@fbccoppell.org

Ryan Brymer
Ministry Administrator

Ryan was born and raised in the DFW area. In 2002 he graduate from Texas Tech University with a B.A. in Public Relations. After a few years working in the Christian music industry, Ryan returned to North Texas to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He married Katie and graduated with his M.A. in Christian Education in 2007. Prior to joining the staff at FBC Coppell, Ryan worked with Christopher Cass at in his leadership training ministry and served on staff at 121 Community Church in Grapevine. Ryan and Katie have a wonderful little boy that they are so proud of, named Lincoln. Email: rbrymer@fbccoppell.org

Tina Brown
Director of Communications
With a bachelor's degree in Music Theory and Composition from the University of South Carolina and an associate's degree in Recording Arts from Full Sail in Orlando, Florida, Tina made her way out to LA to pursue a career in film music. God had other plans for her there. After 3 years as a VP of Web Development for an automotive aftermarket distributor, Tina joined the staff at Saddleback Church. For two years she served as the Singles Team Admin, then took on the role of Small Group Community Specialist where she launched Saddleback's online small groups ministry. She is thrilled to be a part of the FBC Coppell family and closer to her own family in South Carolina. Tina is also a cellist with the Flower Mound Symphony and Progressive orchestras. Email: tbrown@fbccoppell.org

Chris Spalding
Middle School Director

Chris, or "Spalding" as he is known to most people, grew up right here in Coppell, TX. Spalding has previously worked as a conference representative for Planet Wisdom student conferences, and as the technical intern for the middle school department at Irving Bible Church. He is currently attending Dallas Baptist University finishing a B.S. in Communications and Design. Email: cspalding@fbccoppell.org

Wes Ashworth
Technical Assistant

He may be the youngest staff member, but he has been at FBC Coppell longer than anyone else on staff. Wes grew up attending FBC Coppell. He graduated from Coppell High School in 2009 and is currently enrolled at Dallas Sound Labs. You can usally find him back at the sound booth on Sundays. If he is not there he is running around helping someone. Email: washworth@fbccoppell.org

Laurie Gaddy
Ministry Assistant

Laurie was born and raised in Henderson, a small town in East Texas. Like any other teenager growing up in a small town, Laurie was determined to “get out of there!” She moved to Coppell in 2002 after graduating high school, and in May 2006 she received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of North Texas. Laurie is currently working toward her M. Ed in Counseling, and is on track to graduate in 2010. Although, Laurie grew up in the Baptist church and received Christ at a young age, she just recently joined the ministry team here at FBC Coppell in August 2009. After going on her first mission trip to Brazil this past August, Laurie fell in love with working in the mission field. Her passions also include working with children and families. Email: lgaddy@fbccoppell.org

Sherry Horton
Financial Assistant

Sherry Horton was born and raised in Wichita Falls, TX. She graduated from Wayland Baptist University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. Sherry is married to her husband, Jim who works as a National Accounts Manager with Schneider Electric formally TAC in Carrollton. They live in Lewisville. They have 2 children, James Horton and his wife Robyn, and Jodie Johnson and her husband, Bryan. They have 3 beautiful grandchildren, Haylee, Hayden and Maddisyn. Email: shorton@fbccoppell.org