Worth Baptist Church

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.

Bill and Sharon Smith are IBFI missionaries to the country of Brazil.

Dr. R. Terry Riggsby, Senior Citizen's Minister of Worth Baptist Church

Dr. R. T. Riggsby served as Associate Pastor of Worth Baptist Church from 1999 to 2014. He and his wife, Peggy, have been members of Worth Baptist since 1984 when Bro. Riggsby came to Fort Worth, Texas, to begin the Norris Bible Baptist Institute, a ministry of the Independent Baptist Fellowship International.

Dr. Riggsby is currently serving as administrator/teacher of the Norris Bible Baptist Seminary. He served in that post from its inception in 1984 until 1999. During this time, he also served as Managing Editor of the "Searchlight" publication, and office manager of the IBFI. He became administrator again in 2014.

Prior to coming to Fort Worth, Bro. Riggsby, served as administrator and teacher of Calvary Baptist School in Holland, Michigan, which he began in 1978, and served on staff at Calvary Baptist Church for six years.

His first full-time ministry was at his home church, Dayton Baptist Temple, Dayton, Ohio, where he served as administrator and teacher as Temple Christian School, which he helped establish in 1967 and later served as administrator from 1974-1978.

Dr. Riggsby served in the public school system for ten years in his home town of Vandalia, Ohio, where he was teacher, assistant principal at the Morton Junior High for six years, and then became principal of the Vandalia Elementary School for four years.

He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Ohio University and Master's Degree from Wright State University. He was awarded an honorary Doctor's Degree from Louisiana Baptist University in 1997.

Bro. and Mrs. Riggsby were both saved in 1965 and have served the Lord in many capacities over the years. They have been in Sunday school work for thirty-eight years and currently teach the Liberty Sunday School class. They have four children, Mark, Amy, Rebekah, and Joshua and ten grand children, all of whom live in the Fort Worth area.

Dr. Dan Knickerbocker

Dr. Bill and Marcy Patterson's main focus has been Bible translation and church planting, but they have also worked in training Bible translators, establishing Bible institutes, developing ministries for youth and children, and speaking in conferences. Dr. Patterson is the President of Mount Abarim Baptist Mission International and the Director of the Bethesda Children’s Homes in Tlapa, Mexico. They are member missionaries of Worth Baptist Church.

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.