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Pastoral Staff
My story begins in 1946 when I was born
in Clarksville, Arkansas, the son of Lee and
Beth Newton. I grew up on a small farm in
the edge of the Ozark National Forest, 10
miles north of Clarksville.
Two miles from our home was the East Mt.
Zion Trinity Baptist Church, where we
attended regularly. At very young ages, my
sister and I began singing duets in church
while dad played the guitar.
At the age of 9, I accepted Christ as my
personal Savior and was baptized. I
surrendered my life to go into the music
ministry when I was in high school.
I met April Bridges while we were both
working at the Ben Franklin store on the
courthouse square in Clarksville. We married
when I was 18, but I was very mature for my
age, and 125 pounds of pure muscle! Our
first child, Paul, was born while we were at
Baptist Bible College in Springfield,
Missouri. My first music directing job was
in our hometown at the Landmark Missionary
Baptist Church. Our daughter, Jill, was
there.
We moved to West Texas where I worked at
the Fundamental Baptist Church in Sweetwater
for 3 years. From there we worked in
Albuquerque, New Mexico with Brother Curtis
Goldman. Our second daughter, Jana, was born
there.
Our next move was to Midland, where we
worked with Revered Frank Johnson and the
Kelview Heights Baptist Church for 9 years.
After that, it was Odessa and CrossRoads
Fellowship, where I have served since 1984.
(Except for the 1 ˝ years I left to pastor
in Arkansas. I’ve written two books about
that experience, if you are interested. The
titles are: “Honey, I Shrunk the Church”,
and “Gullible’s Travels”.) Paul and his
wife, Mary Ellen, live in Longview. Jill
married Lance Johnson, they have two
children, Michelle and Davin. Jana married
David Duckworth, they have three children,
Dakkota, Kamryn, and Allie. Both families
attend CrossRoads, so life is good. I am
honored to be a staff member of this great
Church!
I now serve as CrossRoads Pastor of
Discipleship. This involves overseeing all
of our home small group Bible Studies and
the orientation of new members and new
believers. I also teach the Calvary Adult
Bible Fellowship that meets each Sunday at
10:10 A.M in Building J.
So now, more than ever,
I cherish the cross;
More than ever I sit at His feet —
All the miles of my journey have proved my
Lord true —
And He is so precious to me.
Gloria Gaither |
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