Staff
Dr. Ken Shaddox – Senior Pastor
Blog: Life Notes
My name is Ken, and I began serving at Park Hill in February of 2008 as the Senior Pastor. I’m excited to be a part of such a great church.
Family: My wife, Judy and I have been married since August 19, 1983. We have one daughter, Laura (16) and our golden retriever, Sweetie.
Birthday: May 21
Education: Ouachita Baptist University – B.A. in Christian Studies; Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary – Master of Divinity; Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary – Doctor of Ministry
Interests and Favorites:
Sports Teams: Arkansas Razorbacks. Dallas Cowboys. And even though it’s not a team sport I love watching the Masters Golf Tournament.
Movies: Rocky series, Remember the Titans, The Chronicles of Narnia.
Favorite Places: Glacier National Park, The Smoky Mountains, Augusta National
Hobbies: I like to play golf, run and workout, ride my mountain bike, travel, and read.
Books: “The Celebration of Discipline” by Richard Foster, “A Resilient Life” byGordon MacDonald, and of course the Bible. I also like to read books on spiritual growth, leadership, and best ministry practices.
Life Scripture: “He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease.” - John 3:30
Kent Farris
Job Function at PHBC: Executive Pastor
Family: Wife, Dorothy; sons, Alan (29) and Marty (23)
Birthday: June 27
Education: Psychology, Sociology, and Business, Southern Illinois University; Master of Arts in Education, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Interests and Favorites:
Books: “His Needs, Her Needs” (for counseling), Harley; “Becoming a Contagious Christian” (for witnessing), Strobel; “My Utmost for His Highest” (devotional), Oswald Chambers
Movies: “Cassablanca”; “ The Shawshank Redemption”;“The Bourne Series”; Any World War II film
Hobbies: Golf and watching Basketball, Baseball, and Football
Favorite Places: The Grove at Ole Miss; Augusta National; Orange Beach, Alabama
Life Scripture: John 10:10; Matthew 28:19-20
Dr. Garrick D. Conner
Blog: Expressions and Insights
Job Function at PHBC: Discipleship Pastor
Family: Wife, Michelle; son, Jackson (9) and daughter, Caroline (4)
Birthday: September 22
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Mississippi; Master of Arts in Religious Education, Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling, and Doctor of Educational Ministry, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Interests and Favorites:
Books: On the Anvil, Max Lucado; The Kingdom-Focused Church, Gene Mims; Upside Down: The Paradox of Servant Leadership, Stacy T. Rinehart
Movies: School Ties; What's Eating Gilbert Grape?; Facing the Giants
Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, people-watching, writing/blogging, social networking, exploring the great outdoors, photography, playing piano, following the Ole Miss Rebels
Favorite Places: TVictoria, British Columbia; Oxford, Mississippi; Fort Worth, Texas
Life Scripture: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." - Philippians 2:3-5
"So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?" - Ecclesiastes 3:22
Dr. Bob Harper
Job Function at PHBC: Associate Pastor
Family: My wife, Welda and I have been married since December 20, 1975. We have three children. Stephanie Ann Kees is married to Dak Kees and they have one (really grand) son, Jackson. Lyndsey Jo is married to Bert Sanders. Drew is a junior at Ouachita Baptist University.
Birthday: October 12
Education: Ouachita Baptist University – B.A. in Christian Studies; Southern Baptist Theological Seminary – Master of Divinity; Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary – Doctor of Ministry
Interests and Favorites:
Sports Team: Arkansas Razorbacks.
Movies: Westerns, Remember the Titans, Bambi
Favorite Places: Destin, Florida, Arkansas.
Hobbies: I like to hunt and fish, do anything outdoors, travel, exercise and “watch” people.
Books: “In The Grip of Grace” - Max Lucado (most anything he writes), “Heaven” - Randy Alcorn; Bible.
Life Scriptures: “He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease.” - John 3:30 “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, is the rock eternal.” – Isaiah 26:3-4
Dr. Gary Gerber
Job Function at PHBC: Interim Worship Pastor
Family: Married 20 years to Linda; Sons, Nathan 13, Nicholas 10
Birthday: November 9
Education: Bachelor of Music from Tarleton State University (1987), Masters of Music (1990) and Doctor of Musical Arts (1993) from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Interests and Favorites: Pen turning, photography
Favorite Books: The Shack, Tales from the Dad Side, The Mr. and Mrs. Happy Handbook
Favorite Movies: Any World War II movie
Favorite Places: Italy, Austria, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon
Life Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17
John Cowling
Job Function at PHBC: Student Pastor
Family: Beautiful wife Courtney, Baby Jacob and Beari our Maltese.
Birthday: September 7
Education: Graduated from Arkadelphia High in 1998, Attended OBU from 1998-1999 and graduated Louisiana Tech 2004.
Interests and Favorites:
Hunting, riding four wheelers, watching and playing sports, reading.
Books: Spiritual Leadership by Oswald Sanders, The Barbarian Way by Edwin McManus, No Perfect People Allowed by John Burke, Visioneering and Communicating for a Change by Andy Stanley, Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels, 360 Leader by John Maxwell, and the Fred Factor by Mark Sanborn.
Movies: Superman, Tombstone, Rocky, Princess Bride, Indiana Jones, Remember the Titans, Gladiator, Fried Green Tomatoes, E.T. Passion of the Christ, Braveheart, Patriot, about anything with Chris Farley, National Treasure, Night at the Museum and (for my more sensitive side) The Notebook.
Life Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction.”
Ted Grove
Job Function at PHBC: Singles Pastor
Family: Bobetta and I have been married since 1988. We have two children, Jesse and Grace, both a joy and an inspiration.
Birthday: March 26
Education: Southwest Texas State - B. A. Guidance Studies; Trinity Evangelical Divinity School - M. A. Counseling Psychology; Dallas Theological Seminary - M. A. Christian Education.
Interests and Favorites:
Hobbies: Reading, Fishing, Hiking, Canoeing and Geocaching.
Favorite Books: Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands by Tripp; The Pursuit of Holiness by Bridges; The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien; and the works of Louis L’Amour.
Favorite Movies: World War II movies; Westerns; Mission Impossible; Tom Clancy movies.
Favorite Places: Ouachita and Ozark National Forests, AR; Gila Wilderness, NM; and Home.
Life Scripture: So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).
Susan Bumpas
Job Function at PHBC: Children's Minister
Family: Husband, Bill; Children: Joshua, 10; Jacob, 7; and Emilee Anne, 1 1/2.
Birthday: December 23
Education: Bachelor of Science in Family and Community Studies (specialty in early childhood) from Liberty University; Master of Arts in Religious Education (preschool and children's ministries) from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Interests and Favorites: Camping, hiking, spending time with family, and working with families and children.
Books: Any Max Lucado books!
Movies: The Sound of Music; the Love Comes Softly series
Hobbies: Swimming, biking, and spending time outside doing yard work.
Favorite Places: Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia
Life Scripture: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
