Our Pastor

Ike has served at Piedmont Church since January 2006 (as Interim Pastor) and became the Senior Pastor in February 2007. Prior to Piedmont, over his career he was the Founding Pastor of NorthStar Church in Kennesaw, Georgia; he was the Lead Pastor at the North Campus of First Baptist Church of Atlanta; he was the Senior Pastor at New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Georgia (recognized as the 2nd fastest growing church in the Southern Baptist Convention under his leadership.) While serving at NorthStar Church and Piedmont Church, Ike was the Chief People Officer of Homebanc Mortgage in Atlanta, Georgia (recognized for four consecutive years as one of Fortune Magazine's Best Companies to Work For while he was the CPO.)

Ike is the author of four books - Treasures from the Dark, Discovering Your Northstar, Discovering Your Northstar Journal and he co-authored a daily devotional book with Zig Ziglar, Daily Insights.

Ike is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Mercer University (B.A. - Religion.) He earned his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Luther Rice Seminary. Ike and his wife Robin have two daughters - Danielle and Abigail and a beautiful granddaughter, Addison Ruth.

Favorite Old Testament Bible verse:
"Delight thyself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." - Psalms 37:4

Favorite New Testament Bible verse:
"All things work to the good for those who love God and are called apart according to His purposes." - Romans 8:28

Favorite quote:
"If you truly want to measure the true success of any man or woman, do not measure it by the position they have acheived, but by the obstacles they have overcome." - Booker T. Washington

Favorite movie:
It's a Wonderful Life

Favorite books:
The Bible, Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell, See You at the Top by Zig Ziglar, Good to Great by Jim Collins, any book by John Maxwell, Charles Swindoll, or Max Lucado.

What's on your iPod (favorite music):
Hillsong, Amy Grant, Leona Lewis, James Taylor, Sheryl Crowe, Maroon 5, John Mayer, Michael W. Smith, Casting Crowns, Third Day, Charles Billingsley, and the Matt VanZant Band...just to name a few.

What's your secret ambition:
To author a best-selling book! One day Ike would like to start playing golf. One day, he will sky-dive and fly in a fighter jet. One day he will take his wife, Robin, to Malta.

What would you do with a day off:
I would start my day by sleeping in a little later than normal, reading a couple of newspapers, then go to breakfast with Robin and Abigail. Then go shopping with them, catch a movie, and then stop by Houston's on the way home for dinner. Then kick back with a good book, great music, and a legal pad to take notes on good ideas. Then maybe surf the Internet for new ideas and information (Ike is an information junkie.)

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