Church Staff

Willie Sanchez – Pulpit Minister Willie serves as the pulpit minister for the Merrick Drive church. He develops adult spiritual formation through preaching, teaching, and life group curriculum. Willie is married to Tamara Sanchez and they have 3 grown children and 4 grand children. Their greatest joy is that they have faithful children and that they are active in the kingdom at their local congregations. Before coming to Ardmore Willie served as the Vice President of Admissions and adjunct professor in the bible department for York College in York Nebraska. Willie also served for 25 years as the Youth and Family, College Age and Worship Minister for the Westside Church of Christ in Bakersfield California and the Student Life and College Age Minister for the Highland Oaks Church of Christ in Dallas Texas. Willie holds an Associate of Arts Degree from York College, a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Oklahoma Christian University and an a Master’s of Science degree from Pepperdine University.

Tim was raised in Ardmore and entered church ministry in Eastland, Texas as a youth minister in 1992 and then served as preaching minister in three Texas churches (Stafford, Albany & Argyle), he spent 7 years as Spiritual Formation Minister with the Oakcrest Church in OKC before beginning work with the Merrick Drive Church as Family Minister in July 2019. Adult Education & Life Groups are points of ministry emphasis. His academic training has included North Texas, the University of Oklahoma and he completed a Masters of Divinity from Abilene Christian University. Tim enjoys movies (especially comedies and martial arts) and his M & M’s (his wacky family of M’s — Mendy, Marissa, MacKenzie & Micah).Type staff bio here…

Tricia has been a part of the staff since 1997. She is the Administrative Assistant for the church and secretary for the entire church staff. She also takes care of all general administrative duties in the church office. Tricia is married to Glen Gary, one of our elders and they have 3 grown children and 5 grandchildren. They are very proud of the fact that all of their children and spouses are active and involved members of the Merrick Drive church family. Tricia’s hobbies are reading, sewing, spending time with grandchildren and athletic events, which involve Merrick Drive youth. Tricia considers it an honor and joy to serve the congregation at Merrick Drive.

Matt joined the Merrick Drive Church as the youth minister in August of 2020. He is no stranger to the youth at Merrick Drive as he and his family served in the same role from 2008-2012 when the church met at Maxwell Avenue. In his first stint in Ardmore, Madole also taught English and coached at Ardmore High School. He was a part of multiple groups and committees during his tenure at AHS and in 2011 was selected as the Ardmore High School Teacher of the Year. After the 2012 school year, he answered a call to coach college basketball at York College in York, NE, his alma mater. After 6 years as the head coach of the Panthers, he took over as Athletic Director in 2018. He served as AD for 2 years before coming back to Ardmore to join the church at Merrick Drive. He and his wife Traci have been married 21 years and have 4 kids: Zander, 14; Drake, 11; Titus, 9; and Mighty Quinn, 2.

Traci joined the Merrick Drive Church as the children’s minister in August of 2020. She and her family have lived in York, NE the last 8 years, but prior to that they were part of the Maxwell Avenue Church of Christ in Ardmore. Traci brings a lot of education experience into the children’s ministry at Merrick Dr. She got her degree in Elementary Education from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK in 2001. Since then, she has taught a number of subjects and age levels, ranging from Elementary PE to 8th Gr. English. Traci took a step back from teaching full time in 2010 to stay home with her kids. The last few years, while in Nebraska, she got back into the world of education with York Public Schools. She and her husband Matthew have been married 21 years and have 4 kids: Zander, 14; Drake, 11; Titus, 9; and Mighty Quinn, 2.