In December 2020, this group became a “we” — united by a common desire to plant churches in and provide development support for underserved communities.
Eric Willis
Executive Director
Eric Willis is a native of Houma, Louisiana. He studied jazz piano under Alvin Batiste at Southern University. Upon enlisting in the armed forces, he served in the 77th U.S. Army Band earning the title of Percussion Section Chief.
He moved to Dallas in 1989 and began work in sacred music at Concord M. B. C. He became involved with church plants such as Frazier Court B.C. He then served at New Mount Zion Baptist Church Dallas, where he began his preaching ministry. In 1998, he worked with Victory Park Church plant and became a church growth consultant for Highland Park United Methodist Church in 2001.
He ultimately accepted the role of Music Director at Highland Park UMC and was also appointed Music Director for Park Cities B.C., Saturday Night Services. Eric eventually served in the same role for Fellowship Bible Church North with Dr. Gene Getz.
Eric joined the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod a few years ago and believes that this role as Executive Director of City Lights is what God has been preparing for him to do for quite some time.
Eric has authored several books including: Father to Son: Words of Wisdom Every Son Should Consider, Piano Quick, Handle Your Business: Music Publisher, Turn on the Light: Exposing Abuse Without Confronting the Abuser, Sacred Piano Solos and Piano Etudes. He loves church growth, innovation and also loves to engage people in ways that identify their gifts, encourage activation and inspire personal and spiritual growth.
Elliott Caldwell
Church Planting Ministry Leader
Elliott is a native of Alice, Texas. His family moved to Houston, Texas when he was 7 years old. At age 12, he was baptized. Elliott has been active in church ministries since the age of 13, serving in various capacities throughout a wide array of ministries at Progressive New Hope MBC and Brentwood Baptist Church in Houston. He was educated through the public school system in Houston and is a graduate of Houston Baptist University.
Upon moving to Dallas in 1997, Elliott joined Victory Park Baptist Church, where he was part of the SBC church plant team and served as a lead for the Christian Education Ministry. He has assisted with church growth models not only for Victory Park, but for Highland Park UMC.
In 2003, he became a member of Shiloh MBC, where he was part of the Men’s Ministry leadership team and the Men of Praise (Choir). He entered the LCMS through his connection with Eric Willis, and currently serves on the core leadership team for ART Church - DeSoto. Elliott has known God has prepared his heart and mind not to just enjoy the fellowship of believers, but to be engaged in such a way that lives out the Word by actions. Elliott is currently attending Lutheran Seminary.
Elliott loves traveling, sports, history and reading along with his passion of studying the Word. He enjoys meeting people, sharing ideas and encouraging others.
LaVetta Phillips
Director of Community Outreach
LaVetta Phillips is a native of Tyler, Texas currently residing in Dallas. She became a believer at the age of 11, but confesses that she only has more fully engaged her faith in Jesus in the last 20 years. LaVetta’s self-proclaimed mission is to feed people both natural and spiritual food, and she serves them with humility and joy. She collects and distributes socks and toiletries, along with a healthy dose of dignity, to homeless citizens throughout the year, and is known to be a powerful prayer warrior.
LaVetta has recently joined the LCMS as a member of the core team of ART Church - DeSoto. She will help cast the vision for our community outreach and development ministries (especially with the homeless community) into the future.
Meet the Board of Directors
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Natoya B. Addison
Natoya B. Addison is first a woman of God and a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Dallas. She is a wife to her husband Earl and mother to two children, Aiden & Nola. Currently she works as an Instructional Lead Coach for Dallas ISD. Natoya has a passion for children and leading people to Christ.
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Darlene Antoine (Treasurer)
Darlene Antoine provides treasurer support to City Lights. She has worked in the banking industry for over thirty years. Darlene has served on various boards in her current and past church congregations. Darlene enjoys meeting people and she is very excited about the opportunity to assist in church planting of local congregations and sharing the Gospel with others. Darlene is a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Irving.
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Renee Haygood
Renee Haygood was born and raised in Oklahoma City, OK. She and Dennis, her husband, have 3 children, Morgan, Cortney, and Eryn, and two grandchildren. Renee recently retired from AT&T, where she worked for over 22 years as a Technical Sales Consultant. She has been a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Carrollton, TX for over 25 years. Renee is a graduate of Spelman College’s centennial class in Atlanta, GA. She has a passion for working with young girls and women of color and wants to see them succeed. Renee’s hobbies include playing tennis and attending her daily boot camp.
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Karen Matthews
Karen holds a BS in Education from the University of Missouri. Her professional expertise includes college admissions and registration and degree audit. Valuing service means that she seeks to provide a meaningful experience to the people she serves and supports. Karen is a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Dallas.
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Rev. Harry Smith (President)
Harry has lived in Texas most of his life, but cherishes the period of time when he lived in Saint Louis, Charlotte, and Chicago. He loves it most when people from diverse backgrounds become friends and find their common need for Jesus. He serves as a pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran in Irving. His first loves are his wife, Hannah, and sons, Lionel and Ethan. He also loves anything basketball, learning new things and spending time with friends.
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Amy Williams (Secretary)
Amy is an Okie who spent 30 years in North Texas 30 to serve in a career as a flight attendant with American Airlines. She feels very blessed to have a job she loves that allows her meet people from all walks of life and travel the world. She and her husband Kelvin have two children; Mary Alice and Carson. She recently moved back to Oklahoma. Amy is member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Edmond, OK.