What an honor and privilege to serve my fellow Arkansas Baptists! I am deeply humbled by this opportunity. One of my life verses is Psalm 15:6, “The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” God has been so good to me. I was privileged to grow up in a Christian home with my father and mother, Dan and Sue, and three siblings, David, Peggy and Pam, who all knew the Lord before me. They showed me the way to Him. I am grateful that on June 7, 1975, I came to know the Lord Jesus personally during a revival at Pickles Gap Baptist Church.
Growing up in an Arkansas Baptist church, I remember attending Royal Ambassadors and hearing the Women’s Missionary Union (WMU) ladies plead for our missionaries. I heard the challenge of Bold Mission Thrust to reach the world by the year 2000. With every campaign and focus, I grew closer to this Baptist family.
Several years later, at an Associational Youth Rally, God sent Carla Pearce and we met for the first time as high school students. She, like me, had sensed a call to the ministry. Her calling was specific, as a “pastor’s wife.” We married a year later and have been married 35 years. She is truly a gift from God to me. Everywhere I have served, the people have loved Carla. God knew what kind of helpmate I would need.
We are blessed with three daughters. Haley is married to Tyler McKinney and lives in Searcy where they serve at Valley Church. Hannah is married to Seth McCoy and lives in Conway, and they serve at Woodland Heights. Hope is a senior at Ouachita and preparing for ministry. We have two wonderful grandchildren, Asher and Abigail.
I have been blessed to have been a member of an Arkansas Baptist church for over four decades. After graduating from Ouachita, I pastored in Texas while attending Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. After graduation, we returned to this state to serve again.
Through Arkansas Baptist churches I have been able to do mission work in eight states and nine foreign countries. I have seen how the Cooperative Program works from our local association to major cities and remote villages in Far East Asia. God has used Southern Baptists mightily for His Kingdom purposes. He is continuing to use this generation to reach the nations.
There has been controversy and unfortunate family squabbles among our national convention. But I thank God, that for the most part, Arkansas Baptists have found that we have much to agree upon and have worked hard to cooperate for His greater glory. Arkansas Baptists are my family. I feel at home and welcomed among my brothers and sisters around the state. I am proud to be a Southern Baptist in Arkansas! I look forward to meeting more of my Arkansas Baptist family and seeing how God works in this next year!
6 Responses
What a wonderful testimony! I’m glad that you are my pastor at Woodland Heights in Conway. I will pray that you will lead our Arkansas Convention to get through these troubled times.
Praying for you as you serve our Lord as our President. May God guide in all you do and say to be for His glory and to share him with others. Bless you!
I am thankful God has given you this opportunity, and that you have always been willing to serve wherever He calls you. Praying for you. Its an honor to watch you still growing and following our Lord.
Praise the Lord for all the things He has done in your life! The convention has chosen its leadership wisely!
I will be praying for you as you continue to serve our Lord as President of Arkansas Baptist. I love you & Carla, may God continue to bless you both as you serve.
Praise God for godly leadership and a lifelong testimony of God’s faithfulness. Praying for you as you lead on this new road.