Pearces to Be Celebrated
BT Staff
by Casey Pearce
After 51 years of ministry, Roger Pearce is retiring. Grace Baptist Church of Russellville, where he has served as pastor since 1995, will host a celebration for Bro. Roger and his wife, Debbie on Sunday, Dec. 4 from 2-5 p.m. in the church’s Family Life Center.
Pearce grew up in the Old Liberty area of Vilonia and was saved and baptized through the ministry of Old Liberty Baptist Church in June of 1968. Three years later, he surrendered to the ministry during a revival service led by A.D. Livingston. Early in his faith, Pearce was mentored by Jesse Thomas and Jurl Mitchell, both of whom recommended that Pearce attend Central Baptist College, where he earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree.
While studying in Conway, Pearce met Debbie Carter, and the two married at Emmaus Baptist Church in New Edinburg on June 1, 1974. They are the proud parents of 4 children and have 10 grandchildren.
Over the last five decades, Pearce has served on staff at eight BMA churches in four different states. His first pastorate was at Mountain View Baptist Church in Woolverton Mountain from 1972-73, and he served part-time as the youth pastor at Rose City Immanuel in North Little Rock from 1974-75.
He became pastor of Harmony at West Helena in 1975, moved to White Oak Grove in Potosi, Mo. in 1978 and served at Grace at Bryant from 1980-83.
In 1983, Pearce became a full-time BMA interstate missionary when he moved to Tacoma, Wash. to become pastor at Grace Baptist Church. He and his family remained interstate missionaries when they moved to Columbia, Tenn. in 1992 to work with Heartland Baptist.
The Pearces moved to Russellville in June of 1995, where he has served for more than two decades. Pearce’s last message as pastor at Grace will be on Dec. 4.
Throughout his career, Pearce has held a number of leadership roles in the BMA, including president of the BMA of Arkansas, treasurer of the United Association, chairman of the Board for the BMA Youth Camp and a trustee at BMA Theological Seminary.
Bro. and Mrs. Pearce have relocated to Conway. He is available for preaching appointments and can be reached at (479) 264-5423. Their address is 58 Hardin Lane, Conway, Ark. 72032.