Pastor: Rev. Dr. Mark Dowell

Rev. Dr. Mark Dowell is the senior Pastor for Church of the Savior, Austin, TX as of July 2023. Mark and his wife Brenda of 33 years were already recent members. Mark was ordained by the United Church of Christ and was granted privilege of call in the South Central Conference by the SC Heart of Texas Association. He earned a Bachelor of Science Psychology from William Carey College in Mississippi, Master of Divinity Theology/Church History from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Mark has had 20+ years of successful ministry in Florida, Tennessee, and Louisiana. Besides being a father to 3 grown daughters (Caitlin, Cansas, Charis), he is now a grandfather to baby Gray Naya Tavo Salazar.

Email: pastor@COTSAustin.org

Church Administrator: Helen Pelkey

(she, her)

Helen and her family just moved back to Austin last June, after having lived away for 10 years. Helen is originally from San Diego, CA and has lived in Southern California, Northern California, Texas, Florida, and Virginia. She is married to her wonderful husband Richard, who is the pastor of Christ Episcopal Church in Cedar Park and has 3 awesome children. She has worked for several different churches, doing children’s and youth ministry. In her free time, Helen likes to thrift shop, travel, read, and take her 2 dogs, Milo and Eli for long walks. Email: office@COTSAustin.org

Instrumentalist: Darlene Hello

Darlene has been the instrumentalist for our worship services at COTS since 1986. Her predecessor, Mary Pryal, was the founding instrumentalist at COTS.  Darlene has accompanied worship services the majority of her life–beginning at Hutto United Methodist as a young teen, and later at Hutto Baptist Church. She last served at First United Methodist Church of Taylor before moving to COTS. Additionally, Darlene served behind a desk with our COTS founding pastor, Joe Phelps, when they were both on staff at our mother church, Highland Park Baptist Church in Austin. Darlene says, “Music is a very important facet of worship for me. I love being able to use my gift of music for my church family at weddings, funerals, and worship services!” Darlene lives in Austin. Her husband Jack and their grandchildren Jacob & Gabi are all active members of our congregation.