Raised in the close-knit farming community of Hart, Texas, Travis Bennett was fortunate to grow up in an environment where strong values of neighborliness and community flourished. A profound sense of connection with family and place shaped his early life. He was surrounded by the influence of his grandparents, Weldon and Gaylia Davis, and Ed and Sue Bennett, as well as many of his great-grandparents, who instilled in him a deep appreciation for heritage and tradition.
From a young age, Travis demonstrated a natural talent for art, which was quickly recognized by his grandmother, Gaylia. She encouraged his budding interest by taking him to weekly art lessons with local artist Audell Thomas, fostering a lifelong passion for painting and drawing. This early exposure to the world of art laid the foundation for a creative journey that would evolve in unexpected ways.
After high school, Travis felt a calling to ministry, a path that seemed paradoxical given his earlier struggles with faith during his teenage years. He pursued his calling with conviction, attending Wayland Baptist University, and later earning a Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2004. His early ministry career took him to various churches in Texas, where he served as a youth minister in Olton and Tulia, before moving on to roles as Associate Pastor at First United Methodist Church of Plainview, Texas. In 2010, he became Senior Pastor at Morning Star United Methodist Church in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He currently serves as the Senior Pastor of Saint Stephen United Methodist Church in Amarillo, Texas.
While his work as a pastor is a central part of his life, Travis has never abandoned his love for art. His creative practice, particularly his focus on farm and ranch life, landscapes, cattle, and horses offers a quiet yet powerful expression of his connection to the land and his upbringing. His work is a testament to the beauty of the world around him, captured through his unique artistic perspective.
For Travis, art and ministry are both forms of expression—one through the brush and the other through service. Whether behind the pulpit or the easel, he continues to explore the intersection of faith, community, and creativity, using both his talents and his experiences to inspire and uplift those around him.
