Pastor Lanny has served as our Transition Pastor since July 3rd, 2022. As our, "Transition Pastor" he is leading us through a multi-year process of "Starting Over" as an evangelical Christian congregation in Decatur, Illinois.
He has been involved in Local Church and Denominational ministry for 40 years serving as Pastor in Paragould, Arkansas; Waukegan, Illinois; and, for 15 years as the Pastor-Teacher and Chairman of Elders at the First Baptist Church of Atwood, Illinois. He also served for 18 years as the Missions Strategist for Central Baptist Association in Decatur, Illinois. During his ministry with Central Baptist Association, he served as Interim Pastor in 9 Churches and has conducted revivals and/or conferences in 140 Churches.
He holds a Diploma in Theology and a Bachelor of Religious Education degree from Tennessee Temple University, Master of Religious Education and Master of Theology degrees from Covington Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Theological Studies from Louisiana Baptist University.
His doctoral dissertation is entitled, "Pre-Tribulational Pre-Millennialism: The Chronology and Characteristics of Eschatalogical Events."
He served 8 years in the U.S. Air Force serving in Texas, Cam Ranh Bay Viet Nam, Oklahoma, Florida, and Guam. After college, he served 1 year in the Oklahoma Air National Guard and 2 years as a Chaplain in the Air Force Auxiliary.
When his wife Lin passed away in 2015, they had been married for 43 years. He has two sons and a daughter all of whom are married and he has six grandchildren and two great-children.
Worship Leader
Christine Granda
Mrs. Chris Granda has served as our Worship Leader for more than 10 years now.
Chris and Dale have been married for over 30 years. They have 7 children between them
and have been blessed with 15 grandchildren.
She's been serving as the Ministry Assistant for the Central Baptist Association for 20 years.
Chris enjoys singing specials at various churches and events as requested, and
with the Greater Decatur Chorale for over 25 years. She enjoys crocheting, knitting, sewing, reading,
and visiting her family.
She also serves as the Church Clerk.
Our Deacons
Whereas Pastors/Elders in a Local Church are called to be the, "Servant Leaders" in the Church, Deacons are called to be the "Lead Servants" in the Church!
God has raised up three faithful men to serve our Church as Deacons:
Mr. Dean Conaway, Chairman of Deacons
Mr. Harold Dillow, Deacon
Mr. Gene Hopkins, Deacon
