Pastor Hunter to lead Baptist church in Farrell, Pa.

Staff report

farrell, pa.

Troy D. Hunter of Youngstown will be installed as pastor of Community Missionary Baptist Church during an installation service at 4 p.m. Jan. 12 at Robert E. Chavers Community Center, 211 Federal St.

Pastor Hunter graduated from The Rayen School in 1980, then attended Arizona Western College on an athletic scholarship, majoring in psychology and physical education. In 1981, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. After an honorable discharge, he lived in California and worked as a corrections officer.

In 1990, he returned to Ohio and continued his career in corrections. He accepted a call to preach at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, where he also was baptized. In 2001, under the leadership of Pastor Kelvin E. Turner, he was licensed to preach. At Tabernacle, he served as coordinator of youth ministries and Christian Men United. He also was involved in Evangelistic Outreach Ministries.

Pastor Hunter graduated from Youngstown State University with an associate degree in humanities and studied community ministry at Geneva College. He also has completed his second unit of clinical pastoral education at St. Elizabeth Health Center, where he volunteers as a chaplain. He is a student at Bradley Bible College and plans to attend Ashland Theological Seminary.

He served as associate minister at the Christ Centered Church in Youngstown, where he also was ordained under the leadership of Bishop Kenneth W. Paramore. He is the founder of the Up-Front Youth Mentor Program and the Alternative Support Achievement Program (ASAP), which is meant to stop youth violence.

He has three children and three grandsons.