Pastor Robert considers himself a native of North Carolina. Though he was born in Indiana and moved around a bit in his youth, the majority of his childhood was in North Carolina where his parents, grandparents, and a long line of ancestors are from.

Robert graduated from Pembroke State University (now UNC Pembroke) with a BA in Philosophy and Religion and he earned his MA in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1990.

He has served in ministry since in 1985. For nine years he served as a youth minister before accepting the call to his first pastorate in 1993. He has served as the Senior Pastor of established churches, Baptist and non-denominational, and has experience in church planting.

Pastor Robert is a dynamic teacher, in love with Jesus, and is in pursuit of His presence. Worshipping Him in Spirit and Truth is a central part of his life. He motivates and leads with God’s gift of teaching and by example. He is passionate about spiritual awakening leading people into a personal relationship with Jesus, and the Spirit-filled life. He is honored to disciple the spiritually hungry, equipping them to implement their own God-given gifts for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.

He met the love of his life, Jackie, while attending Pembroke. They married in December of 1984. They have two children, who are happily married, and two grandchildren (so far!).

Robert accepted the call to Bethany in August, 2016. He and Jackie are honored to serve this precious church family and are excited about its promising future. They thank God for His promise in Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart…”