LEAD PASTOR

Joe and Debbie have been part of Decatur Baptist Church for a long time; Debbie attended here as a child, and Joe started attending in 1987. They met in the singles ministry here and married in 1989.  Both were discipled through the church’s discipleship ministry and completed Shepherd’s School of Ministry in 1990. In 1991, Decatur Baptist called Joe to serve as the Pastor of Students, a role he served in until 2004. At that time, God called Joe to lead Oakland Heights Baptist Church in Cartersville, Georgia, a role he served in until 2019, when God called Joe and Debbie back to Decatur Baptist Church. 

Since being back, they have enjoyed renewing old relationships and building new ones. Joe and Debbie are honored that God will allow them to serve this great body of believers and look forward to all that God has in store. Decatur Baptist Church has such a rich history of taking the gospel to the world; they look forward to leading the church forward in its mission of taking Christ to the world by loving God, loving others and serving both.

 Joe and Debbie have two adult children, Drew and Lauren, who live out of state. They enjoy traveling to see them as well as traveling with them to destinations around the world.