Gary Furr recently retired after forty-one years as a pastor. The last twenty-seven years he was Pastor of Vestavia Hills Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Prior to that he pastored churches in Georgia and Texas. Dr. Furr is a graduate of Carson-Newman University, Southeastern Baptist Seminary and earned his Ph.D. from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Currently he is a speaker, retreat leader, writer and performing musician. He recently completed his fifth album of original songs. He has served as an adjunct professor at Samford University. He and his wife, Vickie, have three daughters and enjoy more than anything being with their grandchildren. They continue to make their home in Birmingham. Gary is the son of two of our members, Al and Shirley Furr. He has edited, written for and co-authored 17 books, including Ties That Bind: Life Together in the Baptist Vision, The Dialogue of Worship, For Faith and Friendship, Theology in Service of the Church, and Encountering God in the Prayers of Others. Most recently, he has published Poems, Prayers and Unfinished Promises with Mossy Creek Press. He is working on a forthcoming book called Shadow Prayers: On Being a Shepherd in a Solitary Time.
For 16 years, Dr. Prosser served on the senior staff of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. He led the Ministries division in resourcing churches across the nation and across the world in striving for excellence. Since his “retirement “ he continues an Ambassador for CBF, resourcing church leaders, and sharing as a catalytic coach to pastoral and corporate clients. Bo and Gail also lead the work of the center for Christian Education. He is a popular author and inspirational speaker. Bo and Gail have two adult daughters and two sets of boy-girl grandchildren.