Education:

Bachelor of Arts, Samford University, Birmingham, AL

Master of Divinity, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC

Doctor of Ministry, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, LA

Family:    Married to the former Anita McCaghren of Danville, Alabama, June 6, 1981

Daughter, Leah Miller Simpson of McMinnville, TN | Son-in-law, Casey Simpson

Grandson, Casey John Simpson II, born November 30, 2012

Granddaughter, Anna Lee Fayeth Simpson, born September 16, 2014

What I love about First Baptist Church:  What I love about FBCC is that this is a family of believers who genuinely love God and love each other. This is why I’ve been here since 1992!  FBCC is a loving, caring, forgiving, encouraging, and empowering group of people. When you have a need, they are there for you. They will pray for you, believe in you, and enable you to reach your fullest potential in Christ. This is what church is all about. We are far from being a perfect church, but we are earnestly striving together to become more like Jesus and to share his love with a broken world.

Hometown: I was born in Red Bay, AL, lived for several years in Anniston, AL, and consider Decatur, AL my home town. I graduated from Austin High School in Decatur in 1978.

Best childhood memories: It’s difficult to choose just one. I enjoyed playing sports as a kid, especially baseball and football. I later learned to enjoy tennis and golf. There are a lot of great memories connected to those sports. More importantly, I was blessed to grow up in a home with loving and supportive parents. I never had to wonder if my parents loved me or whether I was a priority in their lives. I always knew that, and it gave me a great deal of stability and assurance during my formative years. I also had the privilege of participating in a loving and supportive church family. They taught me the importance of fellowship and worship and learning more about God’s Word and His will for my life. I remember publically professing my faith in Christ and being baptized. I later shared my calling into the gospel ministry with my church family. It’s hard to describe just how much their love and support have meant to me through the years.

Favorite Bible verse:  Of course, John 3:16 is everybody’s favorite because it summarizes the Good News so well.  I also have a few others:

Mt. 11:28: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. I like this verse because it reminds us that Christ is always available when we’re tired and discouraged, to lift our burdens and to give us strength.

Mt. 28:19: Go and make disciples of all nations. I like this verse because it reminds us of our mission. God calls us to join him on his mission to spread the Good News to the ends of the earth. God loves every person in the world. Our mission is to get that message out, starting where we live.

Rev. 22:7: Behold, I am coming soon! I like this verse because it reminds us of our destiny as the people of God. No matter how tough life gets, a better day is coming for those of us who are in Christ. Life on this earth is short. It’s also temporary. One day Jesus will come again and take us to that perfect place called “heaven,” where there will be no more sadness, no more sorrow, and no more suffering. That is our hope in Christ. And that is what spurs us on to love and good deeds here and now, while we have the opportunity!

Favorite book:  I wouldn’t be much of a pastor if I didn’t say the Bible, right?! Other than the Word of God, a few books I’ve recently read are The Character of Leadership by Jeff Iorg, Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Bradberry and Greaves, and Making Sense of Who God Is by Wayne Grudem. On the lighter side, I also enjoy novels, especially those by John Grisham.

Favorite food: I like all kinds of food. My Grandpa Miller used to quote Luke 10:8: “Eat what is set before you.” I guess I’ve always pretty much followed that instruction from Jesus to his disciples. In other words, I’m not a “picky” eater. That being said, I do enjoy fresh vegetables probably more than any other food. A close second would be fresh seafood, especially shrimp.

Favorite movies:  I haven’t been to the movie theater all that much in recent years, except to watch a couple of Christian-oriented films. My wife and I used to go to dinner and a movie two or three times a month on our date night, but it seems not many movies have captured our imaginations lately. I prefer some of the old black-and-white films. It’s a Wonderful Life, starring Jimmy Stewart is probably my all-time favorite because it’s so uplifting and because of what it teaches, namely, that every person’s life matters.

Favorite vacation spot:  I truly enjoy the outdoors and being in God’s wonderful creation. I love the mountains as well as the beach, but probably my favorite spot is Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. It’s just a special place to be up close and personal with breath-taking geological features, incredible beauty, and amazing wildlife that’s not found anyplace else. It makes me wonder about the beauty of God’s new creation in heaven.

Habit I want to quit:  Late night snacking.

Hidden talent:  I haven’t found it yet.

Hobby:  Reading, historical documentaries, yardwork.

What music would you find on my IPOD or IPHONE: This is one of those awkward moments when I’m forced to reveal my lack of technical savvy. The fact is, I don’t have an ipod and the only music I have on my iphone is the radio. I do love music, however, and what I most listen to is contemporary Christian and seventies pop and folk. I also enjoy some blues, jazz, and bluegrass.

Proudest moment:   The birth of Casey John and Anna Lee, my two grandkids.

Strangest thing I have done: I’m not prone to high-risk behavior. I haven’t done any bungee jumping or sky diving and don’t have any plans to do so in the immediate future. My biggest fear is stepping into the pulpit on a Sunday morning and forgetting my sermon. I came close to realizing that fear one Sunday several years ago. As I sat on the platform during the worship service, just before time to preach, I recognized that I had forgotten my sermon notes. Panic-stricken, I slipped out of the sanctuary while the choir sang, quickly ran to my study, found the notes on my desk, and ran back into the sanctuary just before time to preach. For me, that was a strange and scary moment!

Way to relax:  See hobbies.

Weirdest thing I’ve eaten:  I ate fish eyeballs while on a mission trip to Senegal, West Africa. I don’t recommend them.

What I wanted to be when I grew up:  Growing up in the late sixties and early seventies, in the hey-day of NASA, every boy’s dream was to be an astronaut, and I was no exception. They were the heroes of the day! As I entered college, I had plans of going into pharmacy or optometry. Strangely enough, however, I was in the middle of a college chemistry class when I saw the light from above and heard the voice of God calling me into ministry. God knew better than I what he had made me to do, and it had nothing to do with chemistry!