John resides in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. John has served in the local church most of his adult life as an Executive Pastor, Senior Pastor, Pastor of Global Outreach and Senior Adults, Pastor of Singles as well as Evangelism and discipleship. John has served in the local church in Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Florida. John also served as Vice President of North America for Global Focus in Acworth, Ga. John served at the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in the Development Office. His area covered 17 states. John has also served as a Trustee for the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention from 2000 through 2008. During his last two years of service, he was elected as First Vice Chairman of Trustees for the International Mission Board. He also served as President of the Global Reach Foundation, a church planting partner with First Baptist Church of Lakeland. In 2020, John joined the team at PhilanthroCorp. A native of Bessemer, Alabama, John attended Troy State University and Samford University and is a 1983 graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. John is married to the former Marianne Gaston of Selma, Alabama. They have three children: Tray, married to Whitney; Shay, married to Jason Hamrick, and Wade, married to Kailee. John and Marianne have eight grandchildren.