Bill Garner
Bill Garner was born in Texas but raised in Memphis. With the exception of his college years at Baylor, Bill has lived in Memphis since he was 6 and as you can see he's been here for a while. Bill became a Christian through the influence of his mother, Gwendy Garner, who has gone on to be with the Lord.
After graduating from Baylor with a degree in Business Administration, Bill went to Seminary at Mid America and received a Masters of Divinity. During his Seminary Days, Bill was approached by Steve Collums about working as a teacher and a coach in a local private school. He spent two years there before taking a job with Central Church. Bill worked there for four years in youth, college and couples ministries. He left Central to start a church in the Memphis area with Dr. Jimmy Young. Together they began Grace Evangelical Church in 1990. Bill acted as the Executive Pastor at Grace until 1998 when he left Grace and took a job as Director of Membership Operations in his family's business.
Bill and his family began attending Fellowship Memphis in December of 2006 and realized immediately Fellowship was not just another church. In the Fall of 2008, Bill enrolled in a local Discipleship program called "Downline". God began working through the Ministry of Fellowhip Memphis and Downline to bring about a healing in Bill's life that led him back to vocational church ministry again. Bill says he's not where he wants to be but, praise God, he's not where he was anymore either. "We're all a work in progress, some of us just need more work than others. Thankfully God is the God of another chance."
Throughout Bill's experience his four children, Megan, Becky, Will and Kelly have stood by his side and been a constant source of joy, strength, love and support. He is looking forward to serving at Fellowship with his experience, skill set, gifts and talents.