Monticello’s First Baptist gets new pastor

Bruce Venable

He has completed a marathon. He likes to hunt and fish. He loves the Razorbacks. And he is the new pastor at First Baptist Church, Monticello.

His name is Bruce Venable, and he is a native of Arkansas, born in Jacksonville. He comes here from First Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas, where he served as associate pastor of university life.

Venable accepted Christ when he was 8 years old and was later called to vocational ministry. He received a bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and a master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
He has held ministry positions on two university campuses, a state convention and in several churches, including First Baptist Church, Paragould.

“God has graciously led Rita and myself to serve a healthy family of faith in Southeast Arkansas,” Venable said. “We are grateful for this opportunity and extremely excited for what He will do as we seek to live missionally.”

Venable and his wife, Rita, have two children, Chris, 23, and Ashley, 20.

- Story and photo courtesy of Arkansas Baptist News