I was born and raised in Shreveport, LA. The youngest of four children, I grew up in a Christian home. At the age of 7, I joined the Baptist church where our family attended, but I was to realize later on that I didn't really commit my heart to the Lord at that time. Reflecting over that experience, I was mimicking the actions of a friend. God would help me to see that as I matured. Upon completion of high school in 1963, I enrolled as a freshman vocal music education major at Northeast Louisiana State College (now ULM) in Monroe, LA. I selected Northeast because I was able to attend there and enjoy my first love, the sport of playing "baseball." My second love was "singing" and I thought that God might be leading me to become a Minister of Music. The music minister and youth minister of my home church had made a profound impact upon my life.

    While in college, I was blessed to serve as the Minister of Music and Youth at the First Baptist Church of Sterlington, LA from 1964-1968. While serving at this church in 1965, something happened that changed me forever. I felt that my so-called salvation experience as a child, had left doubts in my mind. I didn't feel that I had made a true confession of faith at age 7. Although I believed I was a Christian at the time, I wanted to settle it once and for all. On my knees in my pastor's study, at age 20, I gave heartfelt expression to Romans 8:9-10. I confessed with my mouth the Lord Jesus, and believed in my heart that God had raised Him from the dead. Like the scripture says:"... with the mouth confession is made unto salvation and with the heart, man believes unto righteousness." I was re-baptized. I have always gone back to that experience as my true conversion, because of the promises of God's word. 

    Also, while in college, I went through the Army ROTC program. At graduation in the summer of 1968, I accepted my commission as an officer into the Transportation Corps of The United States Army. After three years in the Army, with a tour of duty in South Vietnam, I returned to Monroe, LA in 1971. I met my future wife, Ashley Stovall of West Monroe, LA and we were married August 5, 1972. That summer and fall, I served as a Minister of Music and Youth in Greenville, MS.

    Sensing God's persistent call upon my life, I felt the necessity of further training and we headed to New Orleans Baptist Seminary in January of 1973. While in school, Ashley worked, and I served as Minister of Music and Youth at First Baptist Church of Arabi, LA. In 1975, I received a Masters of Church Music Degree from the seminary and we then responded to God's call to Jackson, MS. I served as Minister of Music and Recreation at the Ridgecrest Baptist Church until 1983. While in Jackson, my wife was able to go back to school and receive her Masters Degree in Community Counseling from Mississippi Baptist College in Clinton, MS.

    God had two major changes in store for us in 1983. First, we adopted our one and only child, our son, Lane, in February of that year. Secondly, six months later, the Lord called me to become the Minister of Music at Trinity Heights Baptist Church in Shreveport, LA. He blessed us with a fruitful ministry there for 17 and 1/2 years. We saw many changes, and ministered in a variety of ways, having served with four different pastors during that time. Little did I know that God was using all of those varied experiences to prepare me for a future change of direction in ministry. In late 2000, we began to talk with the North Monroe Baptist Church, which had just created a new ministry position called: Minister to Adults. Sensing His leading in this matter, we responded positively to the call of the Lord and the church in April of 2001.

    For the last seven years, we have been blessed to serve the Lord and the people of this great church and community in a new capacity. We have been strengthened and our lives have been enriched by the people of our church family. Our sincere prayer has been that God would simply use us to help make a difference in people's lives, in whatever capacity that may be. God has blessed North Monroe with steady growth, both spiritually and numerically. It is a joy to be a part of this ministerial team and wonderful family of believers.

    For leisure, Ashley and I enjoy working in the yard; having friends in our home; traveling; being with our son, Lane; and singing with "Southern Sound." I also make attempts to be an amateur writer of worship songs, as well as enjoy the wonderful pastime of golf. We are grateful to God for His call upon our lives, and for all of the precious congregations where He has allowed us to serve over these last 36 years. We know that there is yet still more to do in our own church and community. With His strength and grace, we pray we can fulfill His purposes for the years that lie ahead. May God bless you as you serve Him and as you live under His grace and mercy.

David