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For more than a year, the Senior Pastor Search Committee has been meeting and working and talking and praying. They have asked for and received the prayers of the whole congregation. It is now clear that the prayers have been answered. With praise and thanksgiving to the glory of our Lord, Park Cities Baptist Church is ready to call a new senior pastor: Dr. Jeff Warren.
Dr. Warren will, in a sense, be returning home. He served at PCBC for more than a decade. He began as youth minister and added responsibilities as associate pastor of evangelism, ministering to young couples, married adults, men, and business leaders. While on staff at PCBC, he began FastBreak, a ministry for bringing biblical truth and application to the business community.
Most recently, Dr. Warren has served as lead pastor at First Baptist Church of McKinney, Texas. Under his leadership there, the church has been named one of the fastest growing churches in America, known for its mission engagement both locally and internationally. In addition, he has been a popular speaker and preacher, and he has reached thousands through his Live Forgiven Ministries, which includes a book, a blog and teaching materials. Dr. Warren has also written extensively, including articles in numerous publications, and Be Ready, a Christian apologetics guide for youth.
Altogether, Dr. Warren spent 12 years in youth ministry in Texas and in his home state of North Carolina. He graduated with a degree in commercial art from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. He went on to earn a master’s of divinity and a doctorate in ministry from Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. At Southwestern, he was named one of the best preachers and his doctoral project, which focused on Christian apologetics, was recognized for merit.
Dr. Warren was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He accepted Christ at the age of nine, and was deeply influenced by his godly parents and Christian heritage, especially his grandfather, Dr. C.C. Warren, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention. As a youth, he was active at First Baptist Church of Charlotte, and in Young Life and Campus Crusade.
Jeff has been married to Stacy Warren since 1985. They have twin daughters, Emily and Whitney, and a son, Travis. He is a sports enthusiast, and trains as a tri-athlete.
Our thanks to the Pastoral Search Committee for their months of self-sacrifice and prayer.
Barry Pryor, chair; Deborah Sutton, vice chair; Laura Dronzek, Hilton Hemphill, Mike Mason, Mike McCullough, Jr., Debbie Price, Larry Richardson, Scott Robinson, Carol Strong, Mary Stuart. In addition, Stephanie White served on the committee through March 2010 when she and her family moved to Florida. David Harper, past chairman of the fellowship of deacons, served ex officio.
Comments from the Search Committee and others:
I love that Jeff desires for us not to be the best church in the city, but the best church for the city. – Barry Pryor
It is impossible to find words to fully express my gratitude to God for leading us to Jeff and for calling this Spirit filled man and his special family to PCBC. The prayers of our Church family made all the difference. – Deb Sutton
I have enormous respect for Jeff. God has gifted him with immense energy and creativity and his passion for serving God’s people is contagious. He has a core message that we are called to live forgiven and I can’t wait to hear him share his heart with the PCBC family. – Mike McCullough
Jeff is a passionate leader with a strong vision for the mission of the church, and I’m looking forward to exciting days ahead in the life of this body. – Carol Strong
We have been led to a spiritual leader whose worth is found in Jesus Christ. Our church will benefit greatly from Jeff’s strong preaching, his love of people and his missional view of the church. – Scott Robinson
I am thrilled that Jeff will be PCBC's new pastor! He is a dynamic pastor and leader. I can't wait to see what God has in store for His church. I wish Frank and I could be there to experience Jeff's leadership. It will be amazing! Thank you for all your prayers for the search committee. God is so good! – Stephanie White
In my prayer life I have learned to pray that God would do "immeasureably more than I could ask or imagine" so that all would know that HE has answered. Jeff Warren is the answer to that prayer and God alone gets all the praise and Glory for what HE has done and will do." – Debbie Price
Jeff and his family sought God's will in their decision and listened. Praise God! – Mary Stuart
Luke 18:27 tells us that, "The things that are impossible with men are possible with God." In Jeff Warren being called to PCBC as our Senior Pastor, that verse has been made real to us. – Laura Dronzek
Jeff has deep spiritual insight and humility in his walk with God. He has a strong calling to lead others to experience a vibrant relationship with God and to share their faith. We are excited about his coming and what God will do through Jeff's leadership. – Hilton Hemphill
Jeff is a godly man who loves Jesus and His Church. A man who clearly has been touched by our Lord Jesus Christ. A humble servant whose life demonstrates his love for the Lord and for people. A strong family man who has bold leadership for the church at the same time patiently leading the flock. – Mike Mason
I was struck by the purity of Jeff’s reliance on GOD for Clarity in all the matters we discussed. I was impressed how Jeff’s clarity on these matters began to give clarity to us individually and as a committee. The clarity he has for his call and role as a pastor. The clarity he has of his call to PCBC. The clarity he has of his responsibilities to his family in his role as a pastor. – Larry Richardson
Jeff was uniquely prepared by the Lord for Park Cities at this time. From his experience serving here, he knows us and loves us. From his experience as a senior pastor over the last decade, he knows how to lead a great church. Through all those experiences, God has prepared him for this time and assignment. He understands that Park Cities has a great calling, and responsibility, from the Lord to be a strategic, kingdom building, Christ-glorifying church that literally impacts the world. – David Harper
Janet and I are delighted that Dr. Jeff Warren has been nominated by the pastor search committee to become the senior pastor of Park Cities. We believe he is the perfect choice for this congregation we love. We have been glad to call Jeff our friend for more than 20 years, and know him to be a gifted communicator and courageous leader. His passion for Jesus and burden for the lost are clear and contagious. He and Stacy are anointed and godly servants of Christ and his people. As they begin their ministry with Park Cities, we will pray daily for God to empower and use them to advance his Kingdom in Dallas and around the world. – Jim Denison
Jeff is a gifted communicator, a phenomenal leader, and proven servant of the Lord. Jeff’s theology, his commitment to the local church, and his desire for mission expansion throughout the world is evident in everything he does. Park Cities and Jeff Warren truly is a marriage made in heaven. I could not be more pleased with this prayerful selection. – Ken Hall
Betty and I got to know and appreciate Jeff and Stacy Warren when I served as interim pastor at Park Cities 1997-1998. We also were privileged to have him as a student when I was president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth where he graduated with two degrees. We have appreciated his ministry at First Baptist McKinney from a distance, and believe he will bring the right combination of pastoral leadership and preaching for this important time in the life of our church. His Christian character, commitment, calling, gifts, experience, personality, and theological and denominational convictions point to a meaningful future for Park Cities. – Russell Dilday
Jeff Warren is a very capable leader with a wonderful heart for the church to make a difference in the world. He will bring vision, passion, and competent leadership to the ministry and people of PCBC. – Reggie McNeal
Dr. Jeff Warren is a true servant leader who is dedicated to the Lord Jesus. For many years, he has been one of the favorite chapel speakers for our students. Dallas Baptist University and Alicia Landry recently presented Jeff with the Tom Landry Leadership Award because of his integrity and in tribute to his outstanding leadership in Collin County. Stacy has always been right beside him as a committed partner in ministry. I am so happy that Jeff has been selected to be our new pastor. – Gary Cook
