Tell us about your family.
I married my high school sweetheart Heather Otwell on December 22, 1995. We have three children. Rachel is a 20 year old sophomore at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA where she is majoring in Psychology. Micah is a sophomore at Lonoke High School. He plays percussion in the school’s band. Micah is also active in the church, serving in the youth, children’s and worship ministries. Eli is 9 years old and attends Lonoke Primary School. He enjoys playing games with his siblings.
When/How did you begin your relationship with Jesus Christ?
I trusted Christ as a 9 year old boy at an RA Camp. After telling my parents, they invited our pastor over to talk about that decision. The night our pastor came to our home and talked to me about salvation, I began to understand what it truly meant to follow Christ. Since I was raised in a Christian home by godly parents, I had always been taught right from wrong. I grew up attending church and Sunday School where I learned the Bible and was taught by some great teachers and awesome pastors. I grew in my faith and yet there were seasons in my life that I strayed and pursued other things. After getting married, my home church asked me to work with students. It was through that ministry to students that God led me to finally surrender to His call.
How did you come to Lonoke Baptist Church?
God called me to preach as a young boy. I clearly remember the Lord speaking to me and saying I would spend my life preaching His Word. Though I did not always embrace the call, I have never doubted it. After serving as pastor of Searcy Baptist Church in Trout, LA for 8 years, the Lord led us to Lonoke Baptist Church. Dr. Emil Turner, who was my pastor when I was a young boy, was the interim pastor at Lonoke Baptist. He shared my name and information with the church. After several months of prayer, we knew God’s call was to move to Lonoke and serve the Lord here at Lonoke Baptist.
What is your favorite scripture?
“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk 3:17-18
What is your favorite thing about your job?
Preaching the Word and being about to see it transform people’s lives.
What is the best thing you have ever eaten?
Pickle fried chicken tacos from the Heights Taco and Tamale in Little Rock.
What is your favorite TV show/Movie?
Monk and The Office
What are your hobbies?
Golf
What is one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?
I coached baseball at my alma mater, Harrisonburg High School for 5 years. During those years we were our district champs four times and state finalists once.
If you weren’t doing your job now, what job would you have?
Before surrendering to the call to preach, I worked for Child Protective Services. I would likely be involved in some type of social services work. However, I cannot picture myself doing anything other than what I am doing now.