Dan Cates is a part-time instructor, and also serves as the evangelist of the Independence, MS, Church of Christ. He is a 1994 graduate of the Memphis School of Preaching. He received additional training in David Lipscomb University, University of Memphis, University of Arkansas Little Rock, and Regions University (B.A., M.A.). He began preaching in 1983. He is married to the former Shelly Jones since 1993. They have two children: Maggie born in 1996 and Conor born in 2002.