Dr. Hargrave

Dr.Hargrave's philosophy of ministry includes a strong commitment to solid expository proclamation from the pulpit. "The Lord builds His own church" is one of Dr.Hargrave's favorite sayings, and he believes that the means He uses to build it is the clear, God-annointed preaching of the "whole counsel of God. "Evangelism is important to him, but it is not the priority of his ministry. The glory of God is the priority, and all the important things, including evangelism, flow out of that chief end.

Dr. Hargrave was born in Kennett, Mo., in 1954 and grew up in nearby Rector, Ark. Dr. Hargrave attended Southern Baptist College (now Williams Baptist College) in Walnut Ridge, Ark. He transferred to and received his bachelor's degree with a double major in philosophy and religion from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo. In 1987, Dr. Hargrave received a Master's Degree in theological studies from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., in December 2002.

Dr. Hargrave, who was licensed into the ministry in 1974 and ordained in 1975, pastored five churches prior to coming to Riverbend (then Ormond First Baptist) in 1989. He began in 1974-75 at Tipperary Baptist Church in Knobel, Ark. He pastored First Baptist in Holcomb, Mo., in 1977-78 and Alexander Baptist in Paragould, Ark., in 1979-82. Then he spent seven years as pastor at Philadelphia Baptist in Jonesboro, Ark., before heading to the same role at Trinity Baptist in Memphis, Tenn. Dr. Hargrave became senior pastor at Riverbend Community Church, then known as Ormond First, in 1989.

Riverbend's campus includes over 112 acres and includes a pre-school and a private school that gives students a classical Christian education (grades K-12). In the year 2000, the church insistuted a theological traning school for church members and non-members, with an average of 150 attending each semester in a wide variety of theological based classes.

Dr. Hargrave is married to the former Marki Mosley of Rector, Ark. and they have four children: Nathan, Rachel, Jordon and Roy Alton II (also known as "R.A."). He now has three wonderful grandchildren: Delaney, J.D. and Mason.