David Brown

lead Pastor

David began his pastorate at The Avenue Church in May of 1990. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from East Texas Baptist University in 1985, and Master of Divinity (Biblical Languages) from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1989. David has also served as the Associate Pastor of Youth at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Ennis, TX, and the Youth Minister at Emmanuel Baptist Church in White Oak, TX (where he was ordained to the ministry in 1987) and Friendship Baptist Church in Palestine, TX. He married Dawn in 1982, and they have five children: Mandie, Misty, Chase, Cole, and Malachi; and two grandchildren, Chance & Brooks Harper. He also has two son in-laws Kody Harper and Bonham Hough.

Cindy Mong, Assistant to the Lead Pastor

Stacie Brown, Financial Manager

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Jason Bankhead

Connection Pastor

Lee Coleman

NEXt Generation Pastor

Lee joined the The Avenue staff in July 2007. Lee is a graduate of Howard Payne University (1996) with a Bachelor of of Arts Degree and also a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (2000) with a Master of Arts degree. Before coming to The Avenue, Lee served as the Jr. High Pastor at Northwest Bible Church in Dallas, and Minster to Students at First Baptist Church Paris, Texas. Prior to those staff positions, Lee also served in similar capacities at First Baptist Plainview, Texas, and First Baptist Rusk, Texas. Lee and his amazing wife Melanie were married in 1995 and are fortunate to have been blessed with four beautiful children: Caleb, Faith, Marigrace and Lilly. 

Melissa Lance

Minister of Children

Melissa joined The Avenue Church in January of 1991 as the director of the Child Development Center. After twelve years of dedicated service in that position, she became The Avenue's first full-time Children's Minister in 2003. Before moving to Waxahachie in 1990, she served as director of "Friends @ First" at First Baptist Church in Jackson, Tennessee. She is married to Brian and they have four sons: Jeff, Micah, Eric, and Jared.