I’ve been part of the Buford community for over 14 years as the Pastor of Ivy Creek Baptist Church. Originally from Gainesville, GA, I joined the U.S. Navy after high school, serving in Florida, Japan, Diego Garcia, and South Carolina during my four-year enlistment. After my time in the Navy, I earned degrees from Bryan College in Dayton, TN, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX, and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Since 1994, I’ve dedicated myself to full-time ministry, serving churches across Georgia and Tennessee.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I have been married to my lovely wife Caroline since 1998. We have four children: Presley, Maggie, Chloe, and Charlie.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I’ve served in the local church for thirty years. For the past 17 years, I have served as pastor. I have the privilege of sharing the greatest news ever: there’s hope for the hopeless, help for the helpless, and forgiveness for the fallen—and it all comes through Jesus Christ!
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Bravo, Aqua Terra, Rico’s
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
14 years
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Ted Williams. We’ve been best friends for over 25 years and I still find him to be incredibly interesting!
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
The countries of the United Kingdom. I would love to experience the varied cultures of those countries, and I wouldn’t need an interpreter…though they might not be able to understand me with my southern dialect!
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Top Gun. Both of them!
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Trust in and obey Jesus because life is short and eternity is long…really long.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Big game hunting out west.
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
Lynyrd Skynyrd or Allman Brothers…and maybe Stevie Ray Vaughan
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Peoples Bank and Trust. It’s been there for 40 years, and many of its employees have spent their entire careers serving this community.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
I’d love to have lunch with Alistair Begg. He’s a Scottish pastor and writer who has influenced me greatly. I’ve never met him personally, so I would love to be able to talk with him and quiz him about how he goes about being a husband, a father, and a pastor. Plus, I simply enjoy listening to him speak. I’d take him to Rico’s just to see what he would order off the menu.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
It is that word – community. It is special to go to so many different events like school functions, sports, concerts, etc., and know so many of those in attendance. Feeling a part of a community is a blessing.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Continuing to serve the Lord in His church. Hopefully by then there will be a grandchild or two around that I can spoil.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
Though I am right-handed, I regularly practice writing with my left.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
The Colorado Rocky Mountains were pretty spectacular. So were the coastal beaches of Maine.
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
December. Christmas. Christmas Day.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Caroline Dale
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
The men in my small group Bible study. Hopefully, we are inspiring each other to live godly lives.
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Bacon. The exhaust coming from my ’73 Z28.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Comfort. Happiness. Love.