Our Team

Elders

Type the main content for this grid section here. This is just example text to show you what it will look like when you enter text content into this section. Your unique, authentic, and appropriate text will be filled into this section.

  • Jonathan Lang (Class of 2023)

    I was raised in Lewisville, TX, just north of Dallas - where my father was an elder for our church during my high school years.  My youth minister there had a significant impact on my growing faith, and after graduating I followed a long line of my peers to Lubbock Christian University for college. 

     

    I met my beautiful wife Randa at LCU, and we have been married for over 20 years, with two fantastic kids that are still working their way through high school and college.  I am blessed to work for Tyler Technologies as a software product manager, and Randa works for the Region 17 Education Service Center.

     

    We came to Raintree in 2016 after I had been invited by Kris to fill in occasionally with the band.  We quickly came to appreciate the culture of inclusion and grace that Raintree fosters. Since then, I have continued to work with the worship ministry, and we have also enjoyed helping out with student ministry and community outreaches like Kingdom Come Ministries.


  • Robert Barritt (Class of 2024)

    I was born in Houston and raised in the northwest suburbs there. My parents faithfully took my sister and me to church, and my mother served for many years as a volunteer in the church library. Based in large part to that foundation, when I was 18 I gave my life to Christ. I went to school at Texas A&M and found a great church under whose guidance and teaching I was able to grow quickly.


    My wife Christina and I met at A&M. She was born in Germany and was raised in Lubbock, Fort Knox, KY, and Canadian, TX, her parents’ hometown. She gave her life to Christ when she was a freshman at A&M. We married a year later. I am a meteorologist with the National Weather Service while Christina is a history teacher at Kingdom Preparatory Academy. Our children are Samuel and Abigail, both in high school at All Saints Episcopal School.


    We have lived through good times and bad, joys and struggles, but always desiring to praise God and live for him. We have served him in Sunday School classes at previous churches and as small group leaders here at Raintree. Currently I am serving my third stint as an elder while Christina has been a long-time servant in our children’s ministry.

  • Kent Lytle (Class of 2024)

    I was born and raised in Quanah and have many wonderful memories from my childhood. After high school, I received a degree from Midwestern State University and started a career in home building. Janice and I have 5 children and 12 grandchildren. I currently work as a Project Manager for Frenship ISD and Janice is an Executive Administrative Assistant in the Division of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Texas Tech University. 


    We have been members of Raintree Christian Church for 11 years and have served in leadership and children's ministry. We are sharing life with our small group and find that to be extremely rewarding and fulfilling. When not attending athletic events or cheer competitions, we love to go camping, fishing, and hiking with Emme. Sometimes we may even play a round of golf.

  • Bruce Clinard, Chair (Class of 2025)

    I was born at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in North Carolina. Since my father was a career Marine, I grew up on Marine bases all over the country including three years in Hawaii. I was blessed to meet my soul mate, Becky, while we were seniors in high school. We married in 1973 after I graduated from the University of North Carolina. Even though I now work for Texas Tech, I have to admit that my blood still runs Carolina Blue.


    While at Carolina, I earned a degree in Mathematics and a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. Becky and I spent the next twenty years in the Air Force where I served as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer. Along the way we were blessed with two special daughters, Lisa and Megan.


    Having grown up as a Marine Corps brat and then spending twenty years in the Air Force, I had never lived any where more than 3-4 years. However, in 1986, the Air Force transferred us to Reese AFB in Lubbock, TX -- and we’ve never left. Also in 1986, Raintree became our family. We were honored and blessed to have Charles Carmen baptize Becky, Lisa and myself that same year. A few years later, I had the privilege of baptizing Megan myself. I can tell you there’s no better feeling for a father than that!


    I retired from the Air Force in 1993 and took a position at Texas Tech in the Northwest Texas Small Business Development Center where I assisted small businesses in the West Texas area. After 24 years, I recently retired from Texas Tech.


    As our girls were growing up, both Becky and I were very active in the Children’s and Youth Ministries. Becky also worked for a year as the Church Secretary. Over the years I have served the church in many different capacities including that of elder. One of my most enjoyable roles is as teacher for the Ambassador Class. They clearly taught me more than I taught them.


    My walk with the Lord has been slow in starting and far from perfect, but in spite of that He continues to bless me in immeasurable ways. Out of gratitude, my desire is to serve Him and His church in any way I can.