Worth Baptist Church

Missions Pastor, Worth Baptist Church, and Missionary to Ghana West Africa

Pastor Stephen Volante was born just outside Boston, but was raised in both Rhode Island and Western Massachusetts. He married his high school sweetheart Laurel Towne from Northampton, and trained to be an engineer at Holyoke Community College in Holyoke, Massachusetts. After working ten years in many types of building construction, Steve felt God’s call to the ministry. He received his training at Heritage Baptist Institute of the Bible, in New England.

During a mission’s conference in his home church pastored at that time by his father, John Volante, he surrendered to serve the Lord as a missionary wherever God would call him. On a mission’s trip to Ghana to visit John Hayes, God spoke clearly to Steve’s heart. He and Laurel left to serve the Lord in Ghana in August of 1995. God was mightily blessing the work, and many were receiving Christ as Savior. However, in March of 1997, God called Laurel home to glory. Steve returned to the USA broken wondering how God would help him raise their three dear children alone. Like only God can do, he brought Missionary Michelle Tilson into Steve’s life to help him live and dream again. They were married on August 29, 1998, and returned to Ghana a year later to continue the work God had entrusted to Steve’s care.

Steve is currently serving as the mission’s pastor here at Worth Baptist Church, while serving as the General Director and African Director for Mount Abarim Baptist Missions. Steve still serves as the senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, in Techiman dividing his time between the USA and Africa.

Pastor, Worth Baptist Church

Pastor Tyler Gillit was called to be Worth’s Senior Pastor in January of 2016 after he served on staff for eight years. During that time, he served as the Youth Pastor and Associate Pastor, founded the WBC chapter of Reformers Unanimous, and developed our short-term missions program.

Pastor Gillit graduated with a Bachelor of Biblical Studies Degree from The Crown College in 2006 and a Master of Ministries Degree from Crown Seminary in 2007. He and Tori were married in 2006 and they have two children, Will and Anna. He is passionate about expository preaching and making disciples in Fort Worth and around the world.

Pastor Emeritus of Worth Baptist Church

Dr. Raymond Barber has been in the Gospel ministry for more than sixty years. He pastored Worth Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas for thirty-five years and now serves as Pastor Emeritus. Additionally, Dr. Barber has taught Bible college classes, founded the Independent Baptist Fellowship International and the Norris Bible Baptist Institute. He served as President of the Independent Baptist Fellowship International and the Norris Bible Baptist Institute for twelve years.

Currently is President Emeritus of the IBFI, serves on the Executive Board of the IBFI, and is chancellor of Crown Southwest Norris Seminary. He is a member of the Executive Board of the Sword of the Lord Foundation and the Mt. Abarim Baptist Evangelistic Association.

He is the author of several books, booklets, and pamphlets, among which are: What the Bible Teaches, A Dozen Diamonds from Daniel, Family Portraits, Family Success, Profile of a Preacher, Golden Moments with God, Heaven's Hymnbook.

Barber continues to travel extensively throughout the nation preaching in revival meetings, Bible conferences, mission conferences, Bible colleges, fellowship meetings, and gatherings such as the national Sword of the Lord conference and the national meeting of the Independent Baptist Fellowship International.

Pastor of Worth Baptist Church

Dr. Willie W. Weaver was born in Fort Worth, Texas, but spent his formative years in Louisiana. He resides in Burleson with Carolyn, his wife of fifty years. God has blessed Dr. and Mrs. Weaver with two children and five grandchildren.

With a keen heart for missions, Dr. Weaver has always led strong, missions-minded churches known for innovative leadership of missions conferences. His desire is to continue pastoring, to win precious souls, and to take the Gospel to every creature.

Answering God's call thirty-five years ago, Dr. Weaver first pastored People's Baptist in Harrisburg, Virginia for seven years; then Calvary Baptist in Connersville, Indiana for twenty years, and beginning in 1997 through the present, Worth Baptist in Fort Worth, Texas. His local church background includes time as a youth director, and twenty and twenty-seven years in television and radio ministries respectively.

Dr. Weaver has served as Secretary, Vice-President and a three year term as President of the Independent Baptist Fellowship International (IBFI). He was also the President of the Norris Bible Baptist Institute (NBBI) for three years and has served as editor of the "Searchlight", the official publication for the IBFI. Dr. Weaver is presently an instructor at the Crown Southwest Norris Seminary, teaching various courses. He holds a B.D. degree from the Bible Baptist Seminary and an honorary D.D. from Louisiana Baptist University.

Dr. Weaver faithfully served as pastor of Worth Baptist Church from 1997 to 2015.

Taylor Gillaspie was born and raised in Cleburne, TX. He was brought up in a Christian home and attended public school. He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour when he was eight years old at his church. As a teenager, he began distancing himself from God, his parents and his church. At sixteen, he returned to the Lord and began to grow spiritually, serve at his church and witness at his public high school. A year later he was called to preach. Through Bible college and summer ministries God confirmed in his heart the specific call to full-time evangelism and revival work. Today he travels the country preaching the Bible in churches, Christian schools and camps. Taylor and his wife, Jessica, have been married for five years and are sent out of Gospel Light Baptist Church in Rogers, AR.