Meet the Leadership

Clarence Hardison Jr.

Senior Pastor

Born in Morehead City, N.C., Clarence Hardison, Jr. is passionate about preaching and teaching God’s Word.

An alumnus of East Carolina University in business administration, Clarence enjoyed playing shortstop for the Pirates baseball team. After working several years in the business sector, Clarence began post-graduate work in accounting at North Carolina State University. It was during this time that God gave him a desire to help people understand the Bible. Clarence and his family moved to Dallas, Texas, in 1989 so he could pursue a Master of Theology degree at Dallas Theological Seminary.

After graduating from seminary in 1993, Clarence faithfully served as an associate pastor and a senior pastor in Indiana. In 2012, he became senior pastor of Rawls Baptist Church. Clarence provides the Rawls church family a leadership style grounded in the Word of God. He also brings to the pulpit a teaching ministry that enables people to learn the Bible and to grow in their Christian walks.

Clarence is married to Debra, a Fuquay-Varina native. The couple has one adult son, Will.

Josh Bovee

Youth Leader

Born in Fayetteville, N.C., Joshua Bovee is a young man passionate about teaching and leading the next generation to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ now. 

Josh has grown up in the church and gave his life to Christ at the age of 12 and has always had faith in Jesus Christ that He would bring His people through the hardest of times. Josh’s faith has been tested many times throughout his life as he was born with a birth defect called Vacterl Syndrome that effects 1 in 10,000 people which led to over 20 surgeries throughout his life.

After graduating high school Josh had spent 5 years in the youth ministry and was given the opportunity to lead a young adult ministry where he taught God’s Word, who God is, and many Christian apologetic subjects. 

He has always had a passion for teaching the next generation how to be a Biblical Christian in our ever fallen world. Josh decided after he graduated from Fayetteville Technical Community College that Bible College was the next step God wanted him to take. Josh then attended Carolina College of Biblical Studies where he is a recent graduate with a Bachelors in Biblical Studies & Bachelors in Apologetics. He is currently a student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary studying to earn an Advanced M.Div. 

Josh’s hobbies are watching soccer, spending time with his fiancé, family, and continuously learning. 

Melissa Cates

Children’s Director