Brother Rick Cato
Pastor

    Bro. Rick Cato has been the pastor of Bethel since 2003. He has been in the ministry a total of 33 years, during which he has served churches not only in Alabama but also in North Carolina.

    Bro. Rick is a graduate of Gardendale High School and holds degrees from Samford University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He continues to be affiliated with Samford as a teacher in the Beeson Divinity School Extension Division.

    When he is not busy with pastoral work, Rick enjoys outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, and shooting. He is not only an avid Auburn fan but also a fitness enthusiast who teaches spinning classes at Iron Works Gym.

    Rick’s other pastimes include woodworking, carpentry, and reading. He especially enjoys books on history, military history, and of course, theology. Max Lucado, Philip Yancey, and Ted Dekker are among his favorite authors, and his favorite stories are Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien and The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.

    Supporting Rick’s ministry is his wife of 37 years, Essie McGaughy Cato.

Brother Scott Douglas
Associate Pastor and Minister of Students and Activities

    Scott and his wife, Kelly, came to Bethel in March of 1995. Scott leads the students in World Changers youth worship every Wednesday night and oversees youth Sunday School and Discipleship Training. In addition, he prepares and leads monthly youth outreach opportunities, a yearly World Changers mission trip, a winter mountain retreat, a summer beach retreat, plus many other regular outings and events. Scott also coordinates use of the Christian Family Life Center and oversees numerous activities there such as the basketball league.

    Scott graduated from Hueytown High School in 1987 and accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior in 1989. Feeling the call of God to serve Him fulltime as a minister of the Gospel, Scott attended Samford University and received his Bachelor of Arts in Religious Education in 1995. He is now working toward his Master of Divinity degree through the New Orleans Theological Seminary Extension Center here in Birmingham.

    Scott believes in a very active style of ministry and is always looking for new ways to impact students’ lives for Christ and then disciple those same students to impact others. Scott loves working with students and wants them to reach their fullest potential. His work extends to students beyond Bethel as well. Currently, he leads First Priority at Pleasant Grove High School and is chaplain for the Pleasant Grove High School baseball team in addition to serving as the Bessemer Baptist Association Youth Director.

    Scott enjoys spending time with his wife, watching movies, and playing all sports and video games. His passions include Alabama football and playing against his students on Xbox Live whenever he gets the chance.

    Scott and Kelly have been married 17 years and have a Dalmatian named Domino and three cats that go by Dave, Maddie, and Ollie.

Brother Vince Melvin
Minister of Music and Children

    Brother Vince Melvin joined the Bethel family in 2009. He oversees all phases of the church’s graded music program as well as an active children’s ministry that includes not only Faith Factory on Wednesday nights, but also children’s camp and other regular outings.

    A graduate of Midfield High School, Vince gave his life to the Christ at the age of 20 after realizing that he was a “lost church member.” Shortly after his salvation experience, he surrendered to the call to fulltime Christian music ministry. He subsequently earned a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry degree from the New Orleans Theological Seminary. Since then he has served several other churches near the Birmingham area.

    Music is a vital part of Vince’s life. He believes that it is a wonderful tool that God uses to break down barriers to help lead others to the throne of grace. Vince incorporates a variety of musical styles in worship at Bethel, but some of his personal favorites include selections from Chris Tomlin, the David Crowder Band, and Hillsong United.

    Vince enjoys riding his motorcycle, camping, and just spending time with his family in various activities. Sports interests include Auburn football, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and college basketball. He is also a devoted fan of the ever-popular Andy Griffith Show.

    Vince and his wife, Angela, have been married for 18 years and have two daughters, Kayla and Hannah. They also have a Bassett Hound named Molly.