Phillip Bates
Preaching Minister
His passion is watching God change lives through the preaching and teaching of His Word. Phillip became our preaching minister in 2019 after serving as a preaching intern for both Sunset in 2017 and the Brookline Church of Christ in 2018. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Bible and Preaching from Harding University, a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry from Harding School of Theology, and a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching and Teaching from Liberty Theological Seminary. Phillip and his wife, Alayna, are both originally from Dumas, Texas, and together they have two beautiful daughters, Adelyn (Addy) and Ellie, and a son, Layne. Phillip also has a website where he regularly posts Bible study guides: phillipbates.com.
Dwight Samuel
Associate Minister
Dwight was born and raised right here in Southwest Missouri. He graduated from Missouri State University in 1990 with a business degree and spent several years working in the transportation industry. A door opened and he was able to come to Sunset as an associate minister in October 2002. While at Sunset, he has continued his education and completed his graduate studies at Harding School of Theology. He met his wife, Carie, while attending Crowley’s Ridge College. They have three sons and two daughters-in-law. Dwight spends much of his time focused on comforting, caring, and encouraging his church family, but would love to sit down and talk “cars” with you if you were so inclined.
Chris Livingston
Community and Family Minister
Chris joined the staff at Sunset in October of 2012. Chris comes to Springfield from Sundance, Wyoming where he preached and worked on his family ranch. Prior to ranching, Chris attended the CAMT program at Harding University where he received a Bachelor of Ministry degree. Chris and his wife Amanda have two sons, Aden and Alex. The Livingstons love traveling to see Amanda’s family in China and are incredibly blessed to serve and call Sunset home.
Shaun Jordan
Campus Ministry
Shaun is originally from Pryor, Oklahoma, and moved to Missouri in 2000. He decided to stay in Missouri after meeting his future wife, Jolee, in campus ministry at Missouri State University. He has had the opportunity to start multiple youth ministries across both Oklahoma and Missouri and, under elder guidance, began Sunset’s campus ministry, Campus 4 Christ, in 2012.