Caleb became our Student Pastor at Westside Baptist Church in February of 2017. Prior to Westside, he served as Youth Pastor at Freedom Fellowship of Roanoke, Texas from 2014-2017. While serving at Freedom Fellowship, Caleb attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he began studying to receive his Masters of Divinity. Caleb will graduate from SWBTS in December 2017 with his MDiv with a concentration in Student Ministry. Caleb is also a 2011 graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education. From the beginning, Caleb has believed that teenagers have potential to change the world. When challenged and given a platform, teenagers will do great things!
Caleb married his wife, Kerri, on October 1, 2011. They have one daughter, Anna, who was born in February 2016. Kerri is a 2011 graduate of Mississippi University for Women with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. Caleb and Kerri love spending time with family and visiting nieces and nephews. Caleb loves watching all Mississippi State sports, as he is a second generation graduate of MSU.
Caleb’s favorite verses:
1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” Esv
James 1:22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Esv
Rev. Steven B. McAlister
Steve has been the pastor of Westside Baptist Church since November of 2014. He previously served as pastor at Pineville Park Baptist Church, Pineville, Louisiana from 2010 to 2014 and at Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria as Assistant Pastor and Minister to Young Married Adults from 2003 to 2010. Steve was an active member, deacon, praise team singer and Sunday School teacher at Calvary when God called him to full-time vocational ministry in August of 2002. He had been a trial attorney for 7 years and an Attorney-Mediator for another 8 years. Steve converted his mediation practice to part-time status, enrolled in New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s Masters of Divinity program and became a staff member at Calvary. He graduated from NOBTS with a Masters of Divinity in 2006. Steve earned a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, in Criminal Justice from Northeast Louisiana University in August, 1987, a Juris Doctorate degree from Louisiana State University in May, 1990 and a Master of Divinity degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary on May 3, 2006.
Steve is married to Dr. Kimberly McAlister. They have one daughter, Sarah, a graduate of Louisiana Tech University, and one son, Andrew, a junior at Northwestern State University. In November, 2013 Steve & Kim adopted Steve’s great nephews. Cameron is in 8th grade at NSU Middle Lab and Kaleb is in 5th grade at NSU Elementary Lab. Kim is an Assistant Professor at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches where she chairs the department of teaching, leadership & counseling in the College of Education & Human Development.
Steve is an avid duck hunter and was a high school football official for 20 years. He loves to cook and owns well over 50 cookbooks! He claims gumbo as his specialty but loves to cook Italian. He is the proud owner of a Kitchen Aid stand mixer with pasta attachment!
Bro. Johnnie Dunn, our Minister of Music and Senior Adults/Pastoral Care, came to Westside in September, 2003. Bro. Johnnie is a Man of God with a heart for Worship. He and his wife of 36 years, Sandy, have three children. Bro. Johnnie's oldest son, Dustie and his wife Jenni serve the Lord as Pastor of Petal Harvey Baptist Church in Petal, Mississippi. Dustie and Jenni have three sons, Jax , John, and Jeb. His daughter, Jennifer and her husband, Clint Tipps of Bossier City. Louisiana., have three children Jace, Stella and Elliot. Jessie, is the youngest son of Bro. Johnnie and Sandy. Jessie is 21 years of age and has recently come on staff at Westside as Media Director.