Dr John Batson, Pastor

I was born July 8, 1950 in Bloomington,IL. I was a product of the streets and spent my time in and out of trouble. At fourteen I was arrested for robbing a gas station which could have been my undoing. I had a no nonsense probation officer who didn’t mince words: “Stay out of trouble and report to me every Monday and I’ll back you 100%. Lie to me and I will come down on you like a ton of bricks."

I graduated high school in 1968 and married my high school sweetheart. Two years later I was drafted then enlisted in the Army. I spent three years as an automotive engineering instructor at the United States Military Academy.

When I left the Army I felt a huge void in my life. A friend invited us to his church and the pastor ended his sermon with “Sin is real and hell is hot" and I received Christ as my Savior at twenty three years of age.

I worked different jobs but the Lord had something else in store for me. I went to Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music. Graduated but I wanted to make money and serve the church. In 1989 we were Awana Missionaries to KS and part of MO. During that time I went back to school earning a Master’s and then a DMin in Christian Counseling. I left Awana and wanted to serve a church. Shawnee Heights Baptist Church called us in August 2008. Prior to leaving Awana I began school again and in 2010 earned my PhD in Christian Psychology with a focus on marriage and family counseling.

We have two beautiful daughters Veronica and Holly who married godly men. God gave us eight grandchildren, four who are married, and six great grandchildren. 

After 54 years of marriage God has given us a family who loves Jesus unconditionally.

The theme of forty eight years in ministry has been: Preach the Word and love the people. 

Because of Calvary,

Pastor John Batson 

(Affectionately referred to as PJ)