My Childhood:
I spent my childhood growing up in a little town just outside of Moultrie, Georgia, called Norman Park. I was raised with four other siblings including my twin brother, Chad, who is also a pastor in Lakeland, Georgia. For two years, during junior high age, I lived with my mother and step-dad in Burbank, California. We later moved back to Moultrie, and I commuted to Victory Christian School in Valdosta, Georgia, where I graduated from high school (Class of 1995).
My Salvation:
I was saved at nine years of age. While living in Moultrie, my family and I attended Grace Independent Baptist Church. Pastor John Miller was a straight-shooting, but yet compassionate preacher, who was instrumental in bringing me to Christ. One Sunday after Pastor Miller preached on Hell, I fell under deep conviction of sin and went to the altar to be saved. That day in October of 1986, I trusted Christ as Savior and was made a new creature by Him.
My Calling:
After hearing a number of pointed sermons, I surrendered to preach at the age of fifteen. I immediately began filling the pulpit for my pastor and others locally (wherever my mom would drive me). By sixteen I preached my first revival and the die was cast. In my later teenage years the Lord directed me to join the ministry of the Victory Baptist Church in Valdosta, Georgia. Dr. Steve Ward became my pastor during those turbulent formative years of my life, and I received much training and wisdom from he and his wife, Debra Ward. By the grace of God, since then, I have been blessed to be used of God to start the Lighthouse Baptist Church in DeFuniak Springs, Florida, where I pastored for a little more than a year. I am now working on my 14th year pastoring the wonderful Bible Baptist Church of Live Oak, Florida.
My Family:
My wife Shae Bailey and I met at Victory Baptist Church in Valdosta, Georgia. We were both pure young people who were seeking the will of God and found it. We were married on June 29, 1996, at Victory Baptist. We have three wonderful children; Lorianna Elizabeth, age 15, Dawson Elijah, age 9 and Mildred Isabel, age 4.
My Education:
I have an Associate of Theology from Carolina Bible College (Concord, NC), and a Bachelor of Theology from Macedonia Baptist College (Concord, NC). and a Master of Theology from Macedonia Baptist College (Concord, NC). I am currently enrolled in the Ph. D. program at Bethany Divinity School and Seminary in Dothan, AL.
