Virtual Summit
On January 30th, Tony Evans’ tweet fully encapsulated the mission of OG Pastor.
He said, “God is looking for servants, not celebrities.”
We believe the best way to raise a new generation of “servants” is to give a dedicated platform to those who have faithfully served long and well.
The purpose of the OG Pastor Virtual Summit is to provide a forum for faithful, seasoned pastors (hence the term “OG”) to pass to the next generation of pastors the kind of character required to be a good shepherd to God’s people.
There will be no worship sessions or sermons.
This is not a conference on strategy, methodology, philosophy, or programs.
It is simply a handful of faithful pastors having an honest, authentic conversation about what it means to be a pastor. It will also include a dedicated conversation of pastor’s wives for encouraging other pastor’s wives.
It is a living room conversation of fathers speaking to their sons about the “kind” of men they are called by God to be. It is a room of battle-worn pastors making themselves vulnerable to a group of young recruits, ready and willing to impact the Kingdom of God, but often lacking a clear picture of what it actually means to do so.
Join us for this raw and unfiltered online gathering of a look into the heart of some of God’s choicest servants.
Streaming online Tuesday, October 25
Your Virtual Summit
Hosts

Dr. Jeff Spooneybarger
Lead Pastor, FBC Gulf Breeze and Storypoint Church

Dr. Larry Reesor
Founder and Global Ambassador of Global Focus

Craig Bonelli
Local Missions Pastor, FBC Pensacola
Who will I hear from?
Speaker Lineup

Dr. Gary Coleman
Pastor Emeritus, Lavon Drive Baptist Church
Dr. Gary Coleman
Dr. Gary Coleman was born in Dallas, Texas on Dec. 26, 1939. Raised in a Christian home, he was saved as a 7-year-old at a church revival where his grandfather was preaching.
He surrendered to preach in his early teens and accepted invitations anywhere he could find them… youth meetings, nursing homes, jails, and in street gatherings. While attending Baylor University, he accepted his first pastorate at Friendship Baptist Church. It was during this time that he married Judy Harris. Judy was a talented pianist and organist and played a vital role in his success as a Preacher. After the death of his granddad, he was called to be the new pastor of his home church. The Lord used him mightily to increase attendance and baptisms. In November of 1964, Brother Gary (as he was affectionately called by his members) was called to pastor Lavon Drive Baptist Church of Garland, Texas.
At the time, the church was 3 1/2 years old with 200 members on the roll. He had the joy to see the church grow to more than ten times that size while also creating a vision for incredible growth in Sunday School attendance and ministry capacity. He had the privilege of pastoring these dear people for 49 years and in his tenure as pastor, there were thousands saved and hundreds of Missionaries who were faithfully supported. A Christian School was established in 1972 that has gone on to see its graduates succeeding, thriving and leading all over the world. In addition, several of his staff, deacons, and members are now serving the Lord in full-time ministry.
After stepping down as Lead Pastor in 2014 so that he could stay by his wife’s side during her long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s, Brother Gary lost the love of his life in 2021. She was a wonderful homemaker, a great pastor’s wife, and a devoted mother to their four children. Dr. Coleman is now the Pastor Emeritus of Lavon Drive Baptist Church where he still preaches occasionally for his pastor and former long-time staff member, Brother Robbie Green.
These days you will find Brother Gary breaking bread with neighbors and friends, and enjoying more time with his family, especially his grandkids. He continues to preach in churches and other venues across the country.

Dr. Bob Cook
Senior Pastor, The Church at Grace Park
Dr. Bob Cook
Pastor Bob planted The Church at Grace Park (formerly known as Tri-County Baptist Church) in October of 1976.
He is passionate about encouraging pastors and local churches to partner together to help the community. He has been married to his beautiful wife, Wanda, for 44 years and they have 4 children. Pastor Bob’s favorite Bible passage is Ephesians 2:3-10. His vision for Grace Park is a thriving church with multiple and creative options in instruction, fellowship, and evangelism, and one that is committed to discipling the next generation.

Dr. Fred Luter
Senior Pastor, Franklin Avenue Baptist Church
Dr. Fred Luter
Pastor Fred Luter, Jr., the first African American President of the Southern Baptist Convention, is the Senior Pastor at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Fred began his ministerial journey on what he refers to as his “Damascus Road Experience.” In 1977, a motorcycle accident seriously injured his body but ultimately saved his soul. As a result of the accident, he made a conscious decision to surrender his life entirely to Christ. Every Saturday, on the street corner of Galvez and Caffin Avenue in the Lower Ninth Ward, Luter would preach the gospel to all who wanted to hear. In 1983, God elevated Luter and equipped him to preach his first sermon at the Law Street Baptist Church in New Orleans. Years later, while preaching at the Greater Liberty Baptist Church, Luter learned of the opening at
Franklin Avenue Baptist Church and applied for the pastoral position. In September of 1986, the small but faithful 65 members of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church elected Fred Luter, Jr. as their pastor. This young street preacher from the Lower Ninth Ward was humbled and honored to serve this church as his first pastorate. This first time pastor committed himself to encourage the people by preaching, teaching, and living the Word of God. Dedicated to saving the family, Pastor Luter purposely sought unique ways to draw men to the church. His belief has always been that if you save the man, the man would save his family. The blessings in the next few years were truly
the hand and grace of God upon his life and the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church.
By 1989, Pastor Luter had grown FABC to over 300 members. By 1994, the church could no longer accommodate the crowd in their current building and Pastor Luter challenged his congregation to increase their tithes and offerings to build a
larger sanctuary. In March of 1997, God rewarded their faithfulness and Pastor Luter moved his growing membership into a 1,700 seat sanctuary. By 2005, prior to Hurricane Katrina, Pastor Luter grew FABC to over 7,000 members. Currently,
FABC is still growing and in December 2018 the congregation moved into a brand new 3,500 seat sanctuary with separate areas for children and youth worship services.
Pastor Luter says Franklin Avenue’s mission statement is simple: To spiritually impact our families, neighborhoods, city and state by Exalting the Savior, Equipping the saints and Evangelizing the sinners. Pastor Luter’s strategy for congregational growth is embedded in his concept he calls “FRANgelism”;—the acronym “FRAN” standing for friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors where he encourages his congregation to invite them to come to church with you. Pastor Luter’s passion for the people of God, commitment to his family and his love for God’s Word led him to be unanimously elected as President of the Southern Baptist Convention in June 2012. Many have referred to him as a man after God’s own heart that is known for his humility and powerful, lively preaching style. One of Pastor Luter’s famous sayings at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church is “It’s Not About the Pastor, It’s All About the Master”. When asked to say a few words after being elected, his response was simply “To God Be the Glory for the Things He Has Done.” On June 11, 2013 Pastor Luter was unanimously elected for the second time as President of the Southern Baptist Convention. Pastor Fred Luter, Jr. was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on November 11, 1956. He has been married to his “Prime Rib” Elizabeth Luter since 1980. They are the proud parents of one daughter Kimberly Luter- Terrell, one son Pastor Fred “Chip” Luter, III, son-in-law, Howard Terrell, daughter-in-law Jasmine Luter and grandparents of one grandson, Fred Luter, IV and two granddaughters, Zoe Grace and Gabrielle Sierra Luter.

Dr. John Marshall
Former Pastor of Second Baptist Springfield, MO
Dr. John Marshall
John Marshall married Ruth Huey in 1971. Their two children, John II and Rebekah, have given John and Ruth seven wonderful grandchildren.
Born in 1951, in Sikeston, Missouri, Dr. Marshall is a sixth-generation preacher who was called to the ministry at age 15.
He graduated from Central High School in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and earned a degree in Mathematics from Southeast Missouri State University. He graduated from New Orleans Baptist Seminary as the youngest man ever to earn a Doctor of Ministry degree from a Southern Baptist seminary (age 23).
While in seminary, Dr. Marshall and Ruth served Airport Baptist Church in Grenada, Mississippi. From there, they went to Gosnell Baptist Church near Blytheville, Arkansas, to serve three years. In 1978, the church was Arkansas’ fastest growing church. In 1979, the Marshalls moved to First Baptist of St. John, Missouri. For several years, this church was one of the fastest-growing churches in St. Louis County.
In 1985, the Marshalls began serving at Garden Baptist in Bridgeton, Missouri. The Marshalls went to East Side Baptist in Fort Smith, Arkansas, in 1991. While they were there, East Side went to two Sunday Schools and two worship services to help accommodate their growth.
The Marshalls came to Second Baptist, Springfield, Missouri, in November 1995, and retired from there 22 years later. While Dr. Marshall was Pastor at Second, the church was annually the highest contributor in Missouri to the Cooperative Program and one of the state leaders in baptism. The church began giving over a million dollars a year to missions, plus in the Marshalls’ last seven years at Second, the church gave $2.6 million to church planting and started 51 churches.
In 2004, Dr. Marshall was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award for his Alma Mater, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, one of the largest seminaries in the world. That same year he had the privilege to preach the annual sermon for the Missouri Baptist Convention, his state’s largest denomination. In 2009 he was honored to preach the annual sermon at the Southern Baptist Convention, a denomination that has over 45,000 churches and is the largest non-Catholic denomination in the USA.
After having served as Second Vice President and First Vice President of the Missouri Baptist Convention, Dr. Marshall became President in 2010. A month later, Second honored Ruth and him on their fifteenth anniversary at the church by giving them a mint condition 1962 robin egg blue Ford Falcon.
In 2011, Midwestern Baptist Seminary named Dr. Marshall their Honorary Alumnus of the Year. In 2019, he celebrated 52 years in the ministry, and 48 years in marriage. The Marshalls desire to continue ministering to churches, pastors, pastors’ wives, and lay leaders in the years to come!

Dr. Gene Mims
Pastor, Gathering@840
Dr. Gene Mims
Dr. Gene Mims is the pastor of the Gathering@840, a church plant he started in Franklin, Tennessee.
Prior to the Gathering, he pastored Judson Baptist Church in Nashville and First Baptist Church in Cleveland, Tennessee. He also served churches in Virginia, Alabama, and Texas. Additionally, he has a broad range of other ministry experience. From 2004-2006 he served as president of the International Baptist Network, A global Baptist missions network of individuals and entities from over eighty nations. From 1991-2004 he was Vice President of Lifeway where he led a division with 650 employees and annual revenue of over $170 million delivering products, programs, services, and events to contribute to the health and growth of churches. He also worked as president of a media and publishing ministry called 1-5-4 Ministries, and as a consultant for the Mim’s Group specializing in assisting not for profit companies. As an author, Gene has written more than a half dozen books and currently serves as a trustee for Liberty University and Kingstone Media Group. He formerly was a trustee for the Baptist Sunday school Board in Nashville. He received his M. Div and D. Min from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and has honorary Doctor in Law degrees from Liberty University, Covington Theological Seminary, and Newburg Theological Seminary. He married Ann Ross in 1973 and together they have two children, Jeff and Marianne.

Dr. Dino Pedrone
Founder and President of DPM Ministries
Dr. Dino Pedrone
A native of Binghamton, New York, Dr. Dino Pedrone was the ninth president of Davis College.
In 2018 he transitioned from the president to chancellor. Before his role of leadership, Dr. Pedrone pastored two churches over a forty-year period, including The Open Door Church of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. While ministering in Florida he was the president of the Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, an association of nearly 60,000 educators and Christian leaders. Dr. Pedrone is the author of over 20 books and booklets and has had national radio and television ministries. He is passionate about the priority of training men and women to serve Jesus Christ through accredited Biblical higher education. Presently, Dr. Pedrone is the founder and president of DPM ministries LLC Foundation— a 501(c)3 family outreach that spreads the Gospel and Biblical teaching through conferences, life groups, trips, and media.

Dr. Randy Ray
Former Senior Pastor, North Florida Baptist Church
Dr. Randy Ray
Born in Gallatin, Tennessee, Dr. Randy Ray is the youngest of nine children and the son of a Baptist minister.
He is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor’s in business administration. In 1975 he received his Master of Religious Education degree from Temple Baptist Seminary in Chattanooga, Tennessee and in 1988 a Doctor of Divinity degree from Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, Florida.
He was the chairman of the board of directors for Tennessee Temple University for several years. In 1997 Dr. Ray received the Roberson Faulkner Pastoral Leadership award from Temple Baptist Seminary. In 2006 TTU recognized him with the Prestigious Trustee Award.
In 1976 he founded the Metro Baptist Church in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. In February 1992, Dr. Ray moved to Tallahassee, Florida, to become pastor of the Temple, later North Florida Baptist Church and president of North Florida Christian School. He was on regional radio daily for twenty years and local television during that time with programming.
In May 2017, after more than forty-two years of pastoral leadership, he refocused his ministry to preaching and missions. He was president of the Capital City Republican Club from 2017 through 2018.
Currently residing in St. Augustine, Florida, Dr. Ray is married to the former Janice Dozier of Nashville, his fifth-grade sweetheart. The Ray’s were married in 1972 and have three adult sons and five grandchildren.

Dr. Rick White
Former pastor of The People’s Church in Nashville, Tn
Dr. Rick White
Rick White’s passion is best summed up in the mission statement of the church
he pastored for nearly 33 years. The People’s Church, “To transform ordinary
men and women into passionate followers of Christ.”
Rick’s focus is on equipping Christians to share the good news of God’s love and
forgiveness with people across the street and around the world. for more than three decades The People’s Church grew from 300
members meeting in downtown Franklin (where the church had been located
for 150 years) to a nearby 65-acre campus with more than 5,000 members. A
second campus in the exploding community of Spring Hill, just South of Franklin, is home to 1000 of these members. Today Rick serves as the Director of Platform Guests Church Relations for Bill Glass Behind The Walls, taking the good news of the gospel to prisons across the nation.
*He and his wife, Patti, have three daughters: Carrie, Tori, & Hope. He is a grandfather to 7 grandchildren. He is also President of Rick White Ministries Inc. RWMI is the umbrella organization for Rick’s national and international ministry. He spends several weeks a year on the continent of Africa training pastors in South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland, Malawi, Botswana, Uganda, and Namibia. Rick is known for his encouragement to pastors, both at home and abroad.
A hallmark of Rick’s ministry has been his willingness to lead change to keep the
church’s focus and ministry fresh for the culture it seeks to reach. Although
Rick’s Southern Baptist roots are deep he has been able to bridge the gap with
believers from multiple faith traditions.
He grew up in the Birmingham, Alabama area and attended Southeastern Bible
College and graduated from Samford University. He received a Masters of
Divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville,
Kentucky. Rick has been active in the Southern Baptist Convention, and served a ten-year tenure on the Board of Trustees at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the only man in the seminary’s history to be elected Chairman of the Board for
three consecutive terms. Rick is a frequent speaker in major churches across the country and at conferences helping others to go to the next level in reaching their world. He and his wife, Patti, have three daughters: Carrie, Tori, & Hope. He is a grandfather to 7 grandchildren.

Dr. Danny Wood
Pastor Emeritus of Shades Mountain Baptist Church
Dr. Danny Wood
Dr. Danny Wood is the Pastor Emeritus of Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL.
After graduating from Auburn University in Marketing, Danny returned to Birmingham to work at South Central Bell (now AT&T). It’s there that he met his wife, Janice. The two of them joined Shades Mountain where Danny taught in the singles ministry and was ordained as a deacon.
After 8 1/2 years years at AT&T, he accepted the call to ministry in 1984 and attended
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary earned his Masters of Divinity. After seminary, he became pastor at First Baptist Church Ruston, Louisiana, where their daughter, Lauren, was born. Shades Mountain called him as senior pastor in 1997 and he completed his DMin from
Beeson Divinity School in 1999.
In August 2021 Danny retired as Senior Pastor after strategically leading Shades for 24 1/2 years. During this time Shades Mountain conducted evangelistic and compassionate justice ministries in 50 states, 80 countries, and 21 time zones. They have supported 15 church plants
internationally and 40 church plants in North America and have sent out over 200 people to serve in missions full-time around the world. The church completed a 20-year campus master plan investing $38 million in facilities while at the same time giving $42 million to missions and is debt-free.
Danny is presently serving on the Board of Trustees of the North American Mission Board and of Samford University. Danny also served on Samford’s Task Force on Racial Justice and on the Presidential Search Committee. He is also the grandfather of two-year-old Brantley!