D.J. has been the Senior Pastor of Church at The Mill since 2004. He often says his job as our shepherd is to focus on four P’s; prayer, preaching, people, and purpose. An Alabama native raised in a pastor’s home, he came to know Christ personally as an eight-year-old boy. His call to ministry became very clear during college. Growing spiritually but struggling with feelings of unworthiness to pastor people, D.J. began to really grasp the greatness of the grace of God. This revelation set his heart on fire to use his gifts of preaching and leadership to help others know and experience the amazing reality of God’s grace in Christ.

For his training, D.J. earned a B.S. from Auburn University, where he was a member of the football team. He received an M.Div from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctorate degree in preaching from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

He’s been happily married for 20 years to his wife, Laurel. They are proud parents of six children: Ty, Micah, Lily, Grey, Rhett, and Evy. When he is not preaching or pastoring, D.J. is a passionate outdoorsman and an average golfer.

D.J. also founded Living Worthy Ministries to share his preaching, teaching, and other content to encourage and equip people to live lives worthy of The Lord. Check out livingworthyministries.com for sermons, blogs, podcasts, and free resources, or to book him for a speaking engagement.