Larry was born in 1958 in the hills of Eastern
Kentucky in Leslie County. He is the son and
grandson of a coal miner. His parents were
divorced when he was a baby and was reared by
his mother and grandparents.
During the early years of his life, he was exposed
to a very religious upbringing. His mother and
grandparents were Pentecostal Holiness faith.
During his teenage years, he wandered far from
God and the church or anything associated with it.
At the age of 18, he married his wife Margaret. She came to this country from England coming to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky to work with the Frontier Nursing Service as a nurse midwife. She is very supportive of Larry in his ministry, and continues her nursing career at an area hospital.
In 1988, their son, Richard, came home from a church related outing and declared that he wanted to be baptized. Larry immediately tried to discourage this as he felt Richard was too young to know what he was doing. However, one month later, Richard was baptized. This began to have a profound effect on Larry. Through this, along with an illness in which Christian people showed him God’s love by what they did, he began his journey home.
Larry soon committed his life to the Lord and His service. Almost immediately, he knew the Lord had more for him to do. He felt the calling to preach almost from the beginning.
In April 1991, Larry attended the Appalachian Local Pastors School along with six other students. It was a totally new concept for training of pastors, indigenous to this area. Larry had worked in the coal mines for 13 years, but in July 1991, he was appointed as a local pastor. He is the part-time pastor at The Joy Center, one of Red Bird Missionary Conference’s four outreach center; and works at the coal mine during the week and pastors evenings and weekends.
Larry thanks the Lord for the leadership and fellowship in Red Bird Missionary Conference. He is reminded of Johns’ Gospel, fourth chapter. Jesus’ disciples were trying to get him to eat and Jesus said, “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work.” May that be the meat for all of us in His service.
Larry and Margaret now have three adult children: Michael, Richard and Becky.
Missionary Advance #773971
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