Tim Watson- Interim Pastor

Tim Watson was born in San Francisco, California, but spent his formative years growing up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  When he was 17 he began a career in radio broadcasting and by the time he was 19 he was a Sports Director at a Baton Rouge radio station. Tim’s life ambition was to be a full-time broadcast journalist . However, when he was a 19 year old college student  he had a life transforming experience with Jesus Christ which totally changed the trajectory of his life.

As a result, he left Louisiana State University(LSU), broadcast journalism, and his hometown and moved to Central Louisiana to attend Louisiana College in Pineville. By age 22, Tim was a senior in college and the pastor of a church in nearby Alexandria.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana College in Pineville (1986). When Tim was 24, he moved to Texas to continue his education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) in Fort Worth. He completed his Master of Divinity(1993) and Doctor of Ministry(2006) degrees at SWBTS. Tim had the privilege of pastoring churches in Decatur, Mart (Waco area), Canton, and Longview, Texas. Tim’s last pastorate was the historic First Baptist Church of Longview. Tim has over 30  years experience as a pastor of small, medium, and large congregations.

In 2010, Tim transitioned from pastoral ministry to working as the Assistant to the President for Outreach at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas.  He also served as a Development Officer raising kingdom funds for students to fulfill their dreams of attaining a college education. Tim also taught Business Ethics as an Adjunct Professor at LeTourneau University.

In 2014, Tim began work with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, (BGCT) serving as a Congregational Strategist and Church Starter. He serves over 500 congregations in the greater East Texas area on behalf of the BGCT. Tim is blessed to preach almost every Sunday in churches across racial, denominational, and cultural lines.

Tim’s greatest source of joy is his three children: Kelley, born in 1990, (Daughter), Taylor, born in 1993 (Daughter), and Karson, born 1997 (Son). Tim also is blessed with the best and brightest granddaughters in the world, Caroline Grace and Ruby Keller.

David Mathis - Associate Pastor Worship/ Education


  David grew up in a pastor’s home and so, early on, was able to observe the unique joys and challenges of a minister’s life. David gave his life to Jesus Christ at the age of eleven and as a young college music student was called to full time Christian service. 


     David earned his Bachelor of Music from Houston Baptist University in 1985, then continued his education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, earning his Masters of Church Music in 1989.

     He has served as Minister of Worship in a number of Baptist churches, often serving in additional areas of Youth, Outreach, Education, Senior Adults, and Spanish Language Ministry.


     David recently celebrated his 45th wedding anniversary with his wife Barbara.  They have two daughters - Claire, an educator who lives in San Antonio and Caroline, a fashion model who lives in New York City.


      In his spare time David enjoys reading, walking, composing, and collecting.  

Vacant- Youth Minister

Secondary Title




Amy Sanford- Interim Family Minister