Our current pastor is Bro. Steve Shepherd. He has a desire to present the gospel to all who will listen. He was born in E. Hartford, CT in 1952, a son of Floyd (deceased) and Gloria Shepherd and was the middle of 3 sons with a younger sister as well, and moved to Houston, TX in 1956, where he stayed until he graduated from Sam Houston High School in Houston in 1970. He spent the next 8 years in the Navy, serving in differing capacities as the Lord allowed at the various churches in areas where he was stationed. He and his wife Becky, the former Becky Groom of Morrilton, AR who's father, Elder R. E. "Buddy" Groom, was a Missionary Baptist preacher, have been married since 1971, having 3 boys along the way - Russell Wayne of Morrilton, AR, Steven Christopher of Nampa, ID and Terrence Shepherd of Houston, TX. In 1978, he and his family moved to Houston/Spring, TX, where they lived until 1982. Sister Becky was the youngest of the three children of R. E. and Lena Groom. They are blessed with 7 wonderful grandchildren - 4 boys and 3 girls. and a "granddog".
In 1982, Bro. Steve was undergoing many changes in his life. He realized that he is an alcoholic. While never actively seeking help, except from the Lord, he was able to overcome by reading his Bible and praying to God and answered the call to the Lord's service on November 7, 1982 (it took a longer time for the surrender to occur). He attended the Missionary Baptist Seminary from 1983 to 1989 and graduated with a Bachelor's of Theology. He has pastored churches in Chimes, AR (Liberty MBC), Garland, TX (Golden Meadows Baptist), Smackover, AR (Sandyland MBC), Broaddus, TX (Harvey Creek MBC), McCrory, AR (Faith LMBC), and currently at Marianna, AR (Wall Chapel MBC).
Other than his family and church, his passions include helping people with Alzheimer's Disease and their families, those with prostate cancer, the elderly, veterans (currently Post Chaplain and Post Adjutant for the Marianna American Legion Post), and teaching the Bible to the great students at Oxford Baptist Institute in Oxford, MS and/or doing promotions work for the school. He enjoys helping others and sharing what knowledge that he has. He takes seriously what it says in II Timothy 2:2 - "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."
In 1982, Bro. Steve was undergoing many changes in his life. He realized that he is an alcoholic. While never actively seeking help, except from the Lord, he was able to overcome by reading his Bible and praying to God and answered the call to the Lord's service on November 7, 1982 (it took a longer time for the surrender to occur). He attended the Missionary Baptist Seminary from 1983 to 1989 and graduated with a Bachelor's of Theology. He has pastored churches in Chimes, AR (Liberty MBC), Garland, TX (Golden Meadows Baptist), Smackover, AR (Sandyland MBC), Broaddus, TX (Harvey Creek MBC), McCrory, AR (Faith LMBC), and currently at Marianna, AR (Wall Chapel MBC).
Other than his family and church, his passions include helping people with Alzheimer's Disease and their families, those with prostate cancer, the elderly, veterans (currently Post Chaplain and Post Adjutant for the Marianna American Legion Post), and teaching the Bible to the great students at Oxford Baptist Institute in Oxford, MS and/or doing promotions work for the school. He enjoys helping others and sharing what knowledge that he has. He takes seriously what it says in II Timothy 2:2 - "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."
