Dr. Yount has been in the ministry for thirty years and became our pastor in July,1993.  Since that time, the Lord has honored the vision and teaching ministry of our pastor adding over two thousand new members to our fellowship.

Our pastor is a native of Catawba County.  He was born in Hickory, North Carolina and grew up only ten miles from our church, in the home where his parents continue to reside today. He gave his life to Christ at the age of eight at Temple Baptist Church in Hickory. He was later licensed to the ministry by Temple and ordained by Central Baptist Church in Hickory.

He is a graduate of St. Stephens High School and Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory. In addition, he received the Master of Divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, and the Doctor of Ministry degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

Denominationally, our pastor has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina where he also served as First Vice President, a member of the Board of Directors at Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute and moderator of the Catawba Valley Baptist Association. Dr. Yount is currently serving as President of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.

Dr. Yount is a man of conviction and compassion.  His genuine love for the Lord and his concern for people are the hallmarks of his ministry.  His messages are timely and convicting, with practical applications designed to assist and encourage the believer in daily life.  Dr. Yount is a man who stands lovingly but uncompromisingly upon the inerrant Word of God.