Larry McCallister and his wife Betty have served as pastors of the Dunbar First Church of
God since December of 1997.Pastor: Larry M. McCallister,
Sr., Th.D.
Pastor From 1997 - Present
Larry McCallister and his wife Betty have served as pastors of the Dunbar First Church of
God since December of 1997.
Pastor McCallister was born on April 23, 1948 at Madison, West Virginia and lived at Yawkey, West Virginia through his high school senior year. He is a 1966 graduate of Duval High School and a 1970 graduate of West Virginia State College with a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education. He also is a 1981 graduate of West Virginia College of Graduate Studies (now Marshall University) with a Master of Arts degree in Counseling and Guidance. In 1981, Pastor McCallister also became a graduate of International Seminary with a Doctorate in Religious Theology and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity from the seminary. While in graduate school, he was named to the National Dean's List.
In 1968 Pastor McCallister married the former Betty Jarrett of St. Albans, WV. God has blessed them with two children: Melissa Ann Hagan and Larry McCallister, Jr.
During Pastor McCallister's senior year in high school, he felt his call to the ministry and was ordained in 1971 by the Ministerial Association of The Church of God in West Virginia.
| Pastorates: | ||
| Associate Pastor | Chandler Drive Church of God, Charleston WV | 1970-1971 |
| Pastor | Hurricane Heights Church of God, Hurricane WV | 1971-1977 |
| Pastor | Southwest Church of God, South Charleston WV | 1977-1983 |
| Pastor | Meade Station Church of God, Ashland KY | 1983-1990 |
| Pastor | First Church of God, New Martinsville WV | 1990-1997 |
| Pastor | Dunbar First Church of God, Dunbar WV | 1997-Present |
Local Service:
Chairman, Putnam County Ministerial Association
Secretary and Treasurer, New Martinsville Ministerial Association
Secretary and Treasurer, Dunbar Ministerial Association
Member, Ohio Valley Habitat for Humanity Board
Member, Multi-Cap (anti-poverty organization) in West Virginia
President, Putnam County Community Action Council
President, Jefferson District Community Action Council
Chairman, Chaplain's Association of Wetzel County Hospital
Member, Chaplain's Association of Thomas Memorial Hospital
Statewide Service:
Chairman, State Ministerial Assemblies of West Virginia and Kentucky
Member and chairman of many subordinate committees in West Virginia and
Kentucky
National Service:
Member, Commission on Christian Higher Education of The Church of God
Member, Board of Directors of Hope Hill Childrens Home
Member, Steering Committee for the Pastor's Fellowship
Organizations:
Charter Member, American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC)
Member, Association of Pastoral Care Specialists (Church of God)
Honors:
Pastor McCallister has his biography listed in Who's Who in Religion,
International Biographical Dictionary (Cambridge, England), and Personalities of
the South.
Hobbies:
Pastor McCallister enjoys golf and other sports, but his great love is amateur radio. He
currently holds a General License as a radio operator and enjoys his contact throughout
the world.
Fun Facts:
When he's not performing his church duties, Pastor McCallister can often be found in his
basement eating M&Ms, communicating with the world on his amateur radio.