Meet our Staff

Reverend Larry Cothrin

Rev. Larry Cothrin
Director of Pastoral Care

Larry Cothrin was born in Gainesville, Texas but grew up north of Dallas in Lewisville, where he graduated from high school in 1975. Larry received his seminary training and graduated from Arlington Baptist College in Arlington, Texas. He has been an ordained minister for 40 years serving in Texas and Nebraska. Through those years Larry ministered with the youth and children, served as an assistant pastor and served as a Senior Pastor for 11 years.

Larry joined the UMC staff in February 1999.

He enjoys spending time with his family, grilling outdoors, occasional golfing and fishing and a little yard work. Larry and his wife Charla have five children and seven grandchildren.

Rev. Dr. Jerry K. Hatfield, B.S., M.A., M.Div., D.Lit.

Rev. Dr. Jerry K. Hatfield, B.S., M.A., M.Div., D.Lit.

Jerry Hatfield was born in Olney, Maryland, but grew up around Westminster, Maryland where he graduated from high school in 1980. Several years later, Jerry graduated with a B.S. in Bible and Pastoral Ministry from Valley Forge Christian College, Phoenixville, PA.

Following several youth pastorate tenures, Jerry went on to pursue graduate studies at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA, where he graduated in 1994 with an M.A.T in Semitic Languages and Literature, and an M.Div in Ministerial Studies. Following seminary, Jerry spent a year teaching in Jerusalem, Israel.

Several years later, Jerry was awarded a Doctor of Literature for a Hebrew workbook he wrote for a seminary in Louisiana. Jerry was ordained 1999.

Jerry is married to Melinda Grace Hatfield who taught junior high and middle school choirs in Levelland and Lubbock for 36 years. She is now enjoying her teacher retirement but continues to offer her skills as a vocal coach and accompanist for the Frenship area schools in Lubbock.

Jerry has mentored several Biblical Hebrew students and currently continues to lead a directed study with a local pastor in reading portions of the Hebrew Bible (OT) most Saturday mornings at United Market Street for fellowship, fun, and to keep his Hebrew reading skills current.

One of the main areas of chaplaincy that continues to be his focus involves exploring ways and means for providing the suffering patient cutting-edge spiritual care. This interest he cultivates as an outreach to other clergy caregivers through yearly in-house educational venues. Jerry has also played a key role in bringing innovative spiritual wellness programs to the medical staff since 2017.

Jerry’s other interests are astronomy and dragonfly photography. He also enjoys reading, writing, and wilderness hiking with his wife in Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado.

Lisa Laviolette-Bondt, MHCM,BCC

Lisa Laviolette-Bondt, MHCM,BCC
Associate Chaplain

Lisa was born and raised in San Antonio, TX, and moved to Lubbock in 1984 to attend Texas Tech University, where she receive her undergraduate degree in Sociology. In 1990 she felt God calling her to ministry and began working at St Mary’s hospital as a Eucharistic Minister and received her certificate in bereavement training at Hospice of Lubbock. Her ministry eventually took her in many different capacities working with individuals with special needs such as a Human Resource Director at Texas Lions Camp and an Early Interventionist Specialist with ECI. She was accepted as a resident chaplain for Clinical Pastoral Education at Covenant Medical Center in 2006. Lisa eventually obtained her Master’s in Health Care Mission in 2011 at Aquinas Theological Institute at St. Louis University. She became a board certified chaplain through the National Association of Catholic Chaplains in 2012.

She has worked at UMC Health System since 2008 as a contract chaplain and joined the pastoral staff fulltime in September 2019. There is nothing Lisa loves more than to use her gifts for God’s glory as she actively participates in the healing ministry of Christ.

Lisa is married to “the love of her life” David (a Canadian from Prince Edward Island), whom she met overseas while doing mission work in Ireland with individuals with special needs. Ireland continues to hold a very special place in their hearts—upon returning on their 7th anniversary, they discovered they were pregnant with their precious son Liam. She maintains that her main mission and ministry on this earth is to become the best wife and mother that she can possibly be through the abundance of God’s continual grace.

Lisa and her family continue to enjoy doing various outreach work, using art as a healing modality within their community and abroad. They are also Benedictine Oblates at Christ in The Desert Monastery in Abiquiu, New Mexico where they visit often and have dedicated themselves to live a simple life to God.

Rev. Ron Finley, B.M., M. Div.

Rev. Ron Finley, B.M., M. Div.
Associate Chaplain

Ron Finley was born and raised in Wichita Falls, TX. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from Midwestern State University, in Wichita Falls in 1996.

Ron spent the next seven years as a band director in schools throughout the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. At the end of his run as band director, Ron began seminary studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Ft. Worth, TX, and graduated in 2008, with a Master of Divinity degree. Ron was licensed in ministry in August of 2000 and ordained in the summer of 2008.

He spent fifteen years serving as a pastor/minister in churches throughout Texas in various capacities, mainly as a music minister/worship pastor, but also as a discipleship pastor, youth pastor and church administrator. Ron has also served as a hospice chaplain and golf coach. Ron joined the UMC staff as an associate chaplain in September of 2019.

Ron has a passion for golf and enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids out on the golf course, whether playing golf or watching his kids play in tournaments. He also has a passion for leading worship whenever he can.



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