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meet our church staff
michael cooper, jr
Lead pastor
Michael was captured by Jesus at the age of 17 and was called to the ministry at 18. He and his wife Kailie are the proud parents of two little girls, Sophia Grace and Lydia Joy. Kailie is active in the nursery, toddler classes, and the Ladies of Grace ministry. She has a passion about reaching women and children with the gospel.
Pastor Michael has earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies and a M.A. in Theological Studies from Criswell College with additional academic work at Southern Seminary. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D in Preaching and Church History from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Pastor Michael has written various articles for The Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society, The Jonathan Edwards Journal, LifeWay Pastors, Preaching Source, and Preaching Magazine. He is passionate about expository/text-driven preaching, severe storm-spotting, drumming, and the Dallas Cowboys. He has been serving as the pastor of GCC since 2013.
Pick up Pastor Michael's book Cruciform Identity: Union with Christ and Christian Formation.
Chris butts
Pastor of students and families
Chris Butts serves as our Pastor of Students and Families, overseeing our ENGAGE ministry. Chris was saved at 22 years old and was called to youth ministry in the spring of 2015. Since then, he has served as youth director at various churches and is now blessed to serve at Grace Community Church. He is a student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He works as a guitar instructor offering music lessons locally. Chris and his wife Brandi are the proud parents of three children: Keagyn, Koben and Kinlyn. Brandi is an integral part of the youth ministry and is often doing what is unseen to make everything work. Chris and Brandi both have a desire to reach young people for the advancement of the Gospel.
beckey traylor
director of the center kids ministry
Beckey came to know and serve the Lord as a young wife and mother of two girls, both under the age of three. For more than 30 years, she has loved serving families in various roles of children’s ministry. She has led Sunday school classes for children ranging in age from preschool to high school. She has led and taught in Wednesday night children’s programs, including AWANA and Team Kid.
Beckey has also served the Lord and children in local missions through Backyard Bible Clubs Summer Programs and Kids Beach Club, an after-school bible club. She's done missions in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and Colorado. Internationally, she has led VBS in Panama and Haiti. Beckey and her husband, Bill, began attending GCC in the summer of 2019 and joined our fellowship in January 2020.
Cindy owens
director of ministries
As our native Californian, Cindy serves as our director of ministries. Cindy helps oversee the various ministries at Grace. She also supports the pastoral staff by providing wisdom and leadership. Her desire is to see the people of GCC grow in their relationship with Jesus.
kevin & pam wilkerson
directors of music ministry
Kevin and Pam serve as the music directors at GCC. They are passionate about God glorifying worship through music. Kevin also teaches our Older Adult Sunday School. After many years Kevin retired from the Plano Fire Department. In his spare time he serves as a board member for Texas Farm Bureau. Pam is a homeschool mom who enjoys playing the piano. They operate a cow-calf operation and a hay baling business in Van Zandt county.