Rayville UMC prepares to change pastors
After three years as the pastor of Rayville United Methodist Church, the Rev. Darryl Tate is being transferred.
His last service will be June 28, after which the Rev. John Kavanaugh will take over for him at RUMC.
“When we came here, I thought this would be where we retired,” Tate said. “When we came here, my wife said they’re sending us home.”
He added that taking the reins at RUMC was an easy transition for him thanks to the warmth of the community.
“The community accepted us right away and we invested our lives here,” Tate said.
The job was made easier, Tate said, by an excellent staff which includes youth director Twilla Head, children’s director Shannon Smith, program director Dora Heath and administrative assistant Lyndsey Cumpton. RUMC also rebirthed the Adult Choir under the leadership of Becky Anderson with Jean Germany as the church organist and Jamie Harrell as church pianist.
With the help of the church family, RUMC has been able to raise funds to renovate much of the church’s physical appearance, including roofing, heating and air and stained glass windows.
They’ve also reopened the Franklin Chapel which had been used as a storeroom before Tate’s arrival three years ago.
Tate’s even added a brass processional cross which he discovered shortly after learning he would come to RUMC.
“The church was designed based on a German cathedral,” Tate said, so it’s got this lovely chapel and when I saw the cross, I knew it belonged there.”
“When I asked how much it was, they told me $1,500,” Tate said.
The owner suggested he could charge it to the church.
“I can’t charge $1,500 to a church I’ve just started at,” Tate said, “but I kept going back to look at it until he said ‘give me $200 and you can take it with you.”
When he leaves the church in June, the cross will stay behind as his gift to the congregation.
“We’re leaving with our heads held high,” Tate said. “The church has grown and I want to thank the community for accepting us. We felt at home here right away.”
In addition to his presence at the church, Tate’s community spirit will be missed.
“I hate to see Bro. Darryl leave,” Sheriff Lee Harrell said. “Our loss will be Baton rouge’s gain. Bro Darryl has not only been Rayville United Methodist’s pastor he has been our community pastor. To me he has been a friend, a prayer warrior and pastor I thank God for him and I thank him for his service to our community. “
In addition to serving as a chaplain for the Richland Parish Sheriff’s office, he’s also been a key volunteer for most the civic group projects in the parish.
“Rev. Tate has been a tremendous leader in Rayville and has worked tirelessly to make Richland Parish a better place,” Congressman Ralph Abraham said. “While we will certainly miss him, I’m also excited for him to take this next step in his life. I count him as a friend and wish him well in his next endeavor. His new congregation is truly blessed to have Rev. Tate leading their church.”
Tate also helped start the Church of the Golden Arches.
“One of our youth members, Morgan Anderson, asked me if she got a group of young people together at McDonalds, would I feed them,” Tate remembers. “I told her we’d feed them with food and the word.”
Now, anywhere from 30 to 50 young people gather at McDonald’s where Tate continues to minister to to them.
Tate will begin his work at the new pastor of St. Andrews United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge in July.
He said he’s not worried about the church, though. He feels Kavanaugh will work out well at RUMC.
“I think he’s a good match,” Tate said. “He studied agricultural educatin at Louisiana Tech so he understands farming communities and he should be a great match to carry on what we’ve begun here as well as giving it his own twist.”
Kavanaugh has been married wo his wife, Rebecca for nine years and they have two children, Hannah, 6, and Ethan, 4.
“We love spending time together as a family, and being a part of our church and community,” Kavanaugh said. “I also enjoy reading, college football, and working in my yard/garden. Rebecca enjoys baking, spending time with family, & serving in MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), and other things with the children’s activities.”
He was raised in Clay, the son of John and Cathey Kavanaugh, who still reside in Clay and Ruston, and he has one sister, Christen, who resides in Austin, Texas.
He attended Quitman and Ruston high schools and pursued a degree in agricultural education at Louisiana Tech University.
“During my time there, I was involved in the Wesley Foundation and served on many mission teams,” Kavanaugh said. “This time really challenged and grew me in Christian walk. During college, I also started speaking at various United Methodist Churches and F.C.A Chapters within the area. After completing LA Tech in 2001, I subbed in the school system and also taught one year of school, before I felt called to serve in my first pastoral position at Beulah UMC, near Calhoun, in 2003. After two years, I followed that calling to Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky to continue my learning and prepare for full–time ministry.”
After beginning, seminary, he married Rebecca in January 2006.
“We were asked to move back early to take a church while I was completing my last semester in seminary,” he said. “So I began my full-time pastoral ministry in 2008.”
Since that time he has completed his process and been ordained in the United Methodist Church as an elder. Kavanaugh has served at First UMC of Tallulah and First United Methodist and Wesley Chapel United Methodist of Coushatta.
“We enjoy serving and loving our church & community,” Kavanaugh said. “Over the years, some of the highlights of my ministry have been being able to spend time with people of our church and community, and to teach, preach, pray, and serve those in need out in the community. We are looking forward to meeting you all very soon & beginning the process of getting to know one another. We are excited about partnering in ministry with you.”