Our Lead Pastor
A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
Robert has served in the ministry since 1985. During his first nine years he served as a youth minister in Texas. Since 1993, he has served as the Senior Pastor of three Baptist churches, also having experience in church planting in North Carolina and Colorado. 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 not, only with God’s gift of teaching, but by example. He is passionate about spiritual awakening leading people into a personal relationship with Jesus, and the Spirit-filled life. It is his honor to disciple the spiritually hungry, equipping them to implement their own God-given gifts for the advancement of God’s Kingdom.
Robert graduated from Pembroke State University (now UNC Pembroke) with a BA in Philosophy and Religion. He met the love of his life, Jackie, while attending Pembroke. They married in December of 1984 and moved to Fort Worth, Texas in 1985 in order that Robert could attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Robert received a MA in Religious Education in 1990. Robert and Jackie’s daughter, Heather, married Brian Albin in 2011, and in 2021 had their son David. Heather, Brian, and David live in Aurora Colorado. Robert and Jackie’s son Stephen married Amber McCarty in 2018, and in 2020 had their son Caleb. Presently they live with Robert and Jackie in Monroe.
Robert accepted the call to Bethany in August, 2016. He and Jackie consider it a privilege to serve this precious church family and are excited about its promising future. They thank God for the promise of 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…