Pastor Taylor is a native of Pine Bluff and a graduate of Pine Bluff High School. He attended Ouachita Baptist University and received his B.A. in 1967. He did graduate Work at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, California. He received his Master of Divinity degree from there in 1970 and the Doctor of Ministry degree in 1980. While attending Seminary, Pastor Taylor served as a Student Chaplain at San Quentin State Prison for two years. He has served as Pastor in Arkansas, Chicago and the San Francisco Bay area. Pastor Taylor and his wife JoAnne have two grown children and twelve grandchildren.
One day I heard a story that made a deep impression on my heart. The man sharing it was a pastor. This is his story:
When I was a boy growing up I had a little dog. My parents didn’t like to have pets around because there was very little money…and animals cost. But I remember talking them into letting this one stay. He was a stray and just showed up one day. My Mom said Okay, but he’s your responsibility. You’ll have to take care of him…and all he can have is table scrapes. We became friends and went everywhere together. But one day as he was crossing the road he was hit by a car and hurt pretty bad. I tried to get him to come to me, but he refused. He was bleeding and I knew he needed help. But he refused every entreaty I made. I chased him, trying to catch him…but he ran from me. Once I cornered him and as I tried to catch him…He bit me hard and ran again. I was crying…my dog was suffering…but I couldn’t do anything to help. My dad came out with a blanket and going up to the dog threw it over him…wrapped him up…and held him. Soon he was being treated…and following the treatment began to get well…and fully recovered.
There are times in our life and family…that we have so much pain and hurt…fear and uncertainty…that all we can do is…THROW A BLANKET OF PRAYER OVER ONE ANOTHER…and Just hold on. Most of the time in life our vision is not complete. We are seeing only the surface of life. And because of our limited vision and lack of faith we are prone to cry out…Why God? Why me? Why are you letting this happen to me? What have I done to deserve this? And this plays right into the hands of the enemy. Jesus reminds us of the importance of keeping our eyes on Him and trusting that He is at work. In Matthew 11:28 we read: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”