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Tommy Crider
 I
was born on
December 18,
1949 to the
best parents any son could have. My parents, Erwin and
Stella
Crider, have
always been
a strong influence in my 1ife. They faithfully carried me
to Church as far back as
I can remember. During my
dad’s pastorates, I was
constantly exposed to
some of the
best preaching in the pulpit, not only from him, but from the many
visiting
preach -ers
dad
would
have
in
his Church.
These
men
greatly influenced my life both from hearing them preach and listening to them
speak in our
home.
However,
in spite
of all
the exposure
to Church, preachers,
and godly parents, I was not saved until January 11,
1975. My
father baptized me a few weeks later at the Rocky Face Baptist Church.
It
was
during
my dad’s
pastorate at Poplar Springs Baptist Church
that I
met and
even-tually
married Mary
Lynn
Holloway in
1968. For
the past 41
years 1 have
had the
wonderful
privilege of
sharing my life with
her. God has
not blessed us with
children so Mary Lynn
and I only
have each
other. She
is the most fantastic person in all the
world.
Mary Lynn
and I bought
a small
retail
floral business
right after
we were
married and
we literally
grew up in
the business
world. The florist business
grew into a
large company and eventually we
diversified
into the
interior decorating
and furniture business. In
2000 we sold
the floral
company and
invest our
time and
effort in
the interior
design
business. Since then
we have greatly reduced our time and involvement
in the
decorating
field and
present-ly we only do consulting work for a select group
of clients. We recognized that the
ministry would
never
fully
flourish
until
we reduced our involvement in the business world.
I am a graduate of West Side
High School (1967), Tennessee Temple University (1986) with a BA. in Psychology, and accomplished several hours of
post graduate work on a
Master of
Divinity degree at Temple Baptist Seminary.
I
have served
as intern
pastor of
the
New
Life
Baptist
Church and Center
Hill
Baptist
Church. I
had the
wonderful
opportunity
of pastoring
Maranatha
Baptist
Church in
Calhoun,
Georgia for
over thirteen
years (1986-1999).
My preaching
and
teaching
ministry
present-ly
involves
Revivals,
Bible
Conferences,
Family Life
Seminars,
Family
Revivals,
Couple’s
Retreats,
and
Men’s Ministries.
Mary Lynn
and I enjoy
traveling
and we have
had the
privilege of visiting
over 30
countries
and all 50 states in America.
My goal in
Life is to bring honor
to Christ through my
life and to
proclaim His message of hope through
the preaching
and teaching ministry that God has given to me. With His help I
believe 1
can
accomplish
these goals
and make a
difference, not only for myself but
for others with whom I
come in
contact with
in life.
Mary Lynn and I presently make our
home in Rocky Face, Georgia. We are members
of the Grove Level Baptist Church in
Dalton, Georgia. Dr. Charlie Bridges is
our pastor.
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