Meet The Staff

Wes Hamilton

What place you would like to visit before you die...and why?
I would love to float through Italy eating as much food, taking in as much culture and learning as much history as possible.

What's your dream car?
1968 Shelby Mustang GT500KR

What's on your reading list?
"Christ Plays in 10,0000 Places" by Eugene Peterson
"Radical" by David Platt
"The Trellis and The Vine" by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne
"Preacher and Prayer" by EM Bounds
"The God Who is There" by Francis Schaeffer
"Christ the Lord" by Anne Rice

What was your first job?
I was a sacker at the Minyards on the corner of Shady Grove and Story Road in Irving. The white shirt and a green polyester clip on tie always looked good with my tight rolled acid washed jeans.

What's on your iPod right now?
Jared Anderson, Brenton Brown, Matt Maher, Matt Papa, and all things 80’s.

What inspires you?
So many believers have never been taught about who they are in Christ, and so they struggle to overcome temptation and are desperate for purpose. I am most excited when someone "gets it" and they begin to understand the sacredness of all of life and to live their new identities in Christ. Identity always determines behavior and not vice versa.

What's your biggest challenge?
Like most people I have this natural bent toward practicality. As a result I find myself reading God’s word looking for things to do (how be a good husband, father, pastor) or new things to teach. Practicality, over time, has a way of draining our passion for God and turns our faith in to just another set of self help principles to be applied. I have to constantly remind myself that seeking God alone is enough.

What is your greatest indulgence?
Paula Dean's Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding. I just put on 2 pounds by typing it.

What would you say you do here? Your role at Hulen Street?
As the Lead Pastor my primary responsibility is to teach the word of God and to lead the church to pray. My secondary responsibility is to equip believers for the work of ministry and to develop new leaders who can extend the impact of Hulen Street far beyond where I alone am able to.

Are you on Twitter?
Yes...follow me at: http://www.twitter.com/weshamilton

Email me...
wes@hulenstreet.com

Drew Caperton

What was your childhood ambition?
I wanted to be a comic book artist. Uncanny X-Men was my favorite comic back then and I wanted to be the next Jim Lee.

What's your dream car...and why?
My dream car is a 2010 Dodge Charger (white with blue racing stripes). It's a retro-looking muscle car without the retro engine.

What inspires you?
Dancing with my wife in the kitchen, teaching my children new things about the world, looking through art pieces with my wife, movies about life change, and dramatic monologues filled with transparency and humor.

What place you would like to visit before you die...and why?
Anywhere in Australia, just because the people and the culture is entirely laid back.


What's on your reading list?
"Generous Justice: How God's Grace Makes Us Just" by Tim Keller
"Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation" by Jeff Chang and DJ Kool Herc
"The Rage Against God" by Peter Hitchens
"Exposition to Exegesis" by Robert Chisholm

What book has changed you the most? (And, no, you can't say the Bible)
"An Unstoppable Force" by Erwin McManus left a mark on my understanding of what Christianity is. I had grown up with a lesser, toothless version of Christianity and McManus set out before me how my walk with Jesus changes my heart, my behavior, and the people around me.

What was your first job?
I was the fry-cook at Checker's (called Rally's in some places). Because their fries were famous, I had people asking me for freebies all the time.

What's something God's been teaching you lately you didn't know before?
Jesus has been teaching me that genuinely loving people costs so much more than I realized: time, emotion, sleep, discipline. In a good way, I'm stuck in this place where only Jesus can come through for me, and He is.

What would you say you do here? Your role at Hulen Street?
I wear a lot of hats at Hulen Street. Primarily I am the Discipleship Pastor, so I oversee the discipleship process of the entire church, birth to grave, through our Growth Groups and Life Groups. If it has to do with anyone growing in their walk with Jesus, I'm on it. Secondarily, I handle general church administration and print communications.

Email me...
drew@hulenstreet.com

Jared Howard

What place you would like to visit before you die...and why?
Iceland. I watched a documentary on the music scene in Iceland a few years ago and have been fascinated with the culture and the stunning topography ever since.

What’s on your reading list?
An obscene amount of seminary textbooks, The God-bearing Life by Kenda Creasy Dean, Erasing Hell by Francis Chan, Outer Dark by Cormac McCarthy.

What was your first job?
I was a stocker (not stalker) at a neighborhood grocery store called Dollar Saver.

What's on your iPod right now?
Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues, Foals, Antidotes, Hillsong United, Aftermath, Sigur Ros, Takk

What inspires you?
Participating in genuine, God-centered conversation. Observing others push themselves beyond their perceived boundaries. Knowing that Christ’s power is made perfect in my weakness.

What is your greatest indulgence
Texas Ranger’s baseball. I know way more about this organization than could be considered a healthy addiction (including information regarding their seven minor league affiliates).

Favorite food?
Probably Indian or Thai.

What’s one of your proudest moments?
Sharing the Gospel in a foreign language for the first time.

What is your role at Hulen Street?
To walk alongside parents and volunteers in discipling students towards a deeply rooted and passionate relationship with Christ, and to lead and encourage students in the outward expression of their Faith.

Are you on Twitter?
Yes…follow me at: @jwhoward

Email me...
jared@hulenstreet.com

Kayla Hawthorne

Your favorite season is...? Why?
Summer!! I love going to the pool, the lake, the beach, or anywhere I can swim and enjoy the sun!

What's on your reading list?
I have a stack of books on my bookshelf that I have bought from Half Price Books and haven't had the chance to read yet. They include: "Miracles" by CS Lewis
"The Spiritual Man" by Watchman Nee
and about ten others. The stack is constantly growing because I can't resist buying cheap books when I find them.

What was your first job?
In high school I was a babysitter extraordinaire! I learned a lot about kids by making A LOT of mistakes. I also occassionally served food at nice dinners at our hospital cafeteria for some extra money. I had to wear a hair net and I learned a lot about humility.

What's on your iPod right now?
Amos Lee, Tristan Prettyman, Joshua Radin, Dave Barnes, Ingrid Michaelson, Ray LaMontagne, Kristian Stanfill, Adele, Matt Papa, The Weepies, Sara Bareilles and a few playlists full of random stuff.

What's your biggest challenge?
Maintaining balance. It is so much easier to jump from one extreme to another, but it takes discipline (something I don't have a lot of) and control to find that middle ground in relationships, work, free time, and so many other things.

What inspires you?
My community of friends, music from my Pandora stations, Scripture, books, coffee, sunsets, and laying in my hammock.

What was your childhood ambition?
I always told my mom I wanted to be a vegetarian. What I actually meant was veterinarian but the two words were so similar I got confused. It was my dream profession until I had to dissect a rat in 10th grade biology and realized that it was really gross on the inside and the smell made me physically sick.

What's something God's been teaching you lately you didn't know before?
I seem to keep having to learn the same things lessons over and over again. I think its because I don't normally pick up on them the first, second, or even third time. The theme of my life the last couple of years has been God's faithfulness and how it continues to surprise me somehow that He truly will never abandon me.

What would you say you do here? Your role at Hulen Street?
As a Minsitry Assistant my role is to serve the rest of the staff and members of the church in the details of daily administration.
As a counselor my role is to build relationships with people, come alongside them and walk with them in their pain and struggles, and point them toward Christ who is the only one who can truly redeem and restore lives and hearts.

Are you on Twitter?
Yes...follow me at: @kaylahawthorne

Email me...
kayla@hulenstreet.com

Kristin Barnhardt

What place you would like to visit before you die...and why?
Italy... I would love to go and eat all the pasta I could find. I also would love to be free to roam and take pictures.

Your favorite season is...? Why?
Spring... the weather is always perfect and I love the flowers.

What was your first job?
Babysitting... Best Job Ever!

What on your iPod right now?
Josh Wilson, Chasen, Telecast, Shawn McDonald, Audrey Assad... I love music!

What's your favorite food?
Macaroni and Cheese... pretty much anything with pasta!

What inspires you?.
A child's faith, coffee, music, running, taking pictures.

What was your childhood ambition?
Be a professional cheerleader... I have cheered all my life!

What is your greatest indulgence?
Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino

What would you say you do here? Your role at Hulen Street?
As the children's minister, my job is to partner with parents and volunteers in order to teach children biblical truths.

Are you on twitter?
Yes... follow me @kbarnhard

Email me...
kristin@hulenstreet.com

Sara Salinas

What place you would like to visit before you die...and why?
Hawaii...cause it’s pretty.

What's your dream car...and why?
Bentley...it’s pretty too.

Your favorite season is...? Why?
Fall...yes, it’s pretty too, but the temperature is usually great!

What inspires you?
Children...they have a remarkable faith.

What was your childhood ambition?
To teach.

What's your biggest challenge?
Motherhood.

What book has changed you the most? (And, no, you can't say the Bible).
The Left Behind Series. I read it in High School and I’ve never been the same.

Your greatest indulgence?
Dark chocolate.

What would you say you do here? Your role at Hulen Street?
I am the WEE School Director.

Email me...
sara@hulenstreet.com

Jody Kennedy

What inspires you?
My wife, Trisha.

What famous person do people tell you that you look like?
Glen Campbell.

What was your childhood ambition?
Jet fighter pilot.

What was one of your proudest moments?
Seeing my son take the oath as a Navy officer.

What is your biggest indulgence?
Once a year I try to take a guided striper fishing trip on Lake Texoma.

What book changed you the most?
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

What is your biggest challenge?
To maintain focus on the Kingdom of God when others try to distract me.

What was your first job?
Manufacturing fishing rods.

What would you say you do here? Your role at Hulen Street?
Shape and promote the purposes, premises, definition and scope for missions through our church.
Establish priorities within the scope of missions and develop partnerships for accomplishing these priorities.
Manage and sometimes lead short-term missions, develop lay leaders and mission participants and encourage long-term missionaries.
Continually educate our church on the biblical foundation and imperative for missions.
Assist other church leaders to incorporate a mission focus into their particular ministry areas.

Email me...
jody@jodykennedy.com