Assistant Pastor ~ Ronnie Palmer
Q. When did you come to Parkway and what events led you here?
A. In September 2007 our family was looking for that specific fellowship God wanted us to spend the next season of our ministry and service to Him. We had just ended a six year Pastorate at a smaller church in the city, and we were praying for God's direction. After visiting several churches in the area we made our way to Parkway House of Prayer. We had heard of the vision of Parkway to plant 10 new churches by 2010, and it happened to be that our first visit was on the Sunday of the sending off service for the Salem church plant. During this service I felt the Holy Spirit impress upon me to call PHOP home.
Q. Where have you come from? What are some of your previous ministry experiences?
A. I have lived most of my life in Roanoke, VA. Now prior to 1992 that life was one of sin, but through the wonderful mercy and grace of God I was saved in the fall of '92. Shortly thereafter I began to feel the call to preach the gospel. I evangelized for several years from Virginia to Texas. During that time of evangelizing I made my way to Joplin, MO where I spent some time at Messenger Bible College. In 1996 the Lord led me back to the Roanoke area where I worked as a youth pastor and an assistant pastor. Now it was during this time the Lord began to cultivate in me a deeper desire for pastoral ministry. It was also during this time I started a small youth ministry called Broken Ministries which existed for the purpose of calling young sinners to repentance and young saints to worship. In 2001 the Lord had led us from the place we had been ministering and led us to start a small church for a scattered group of believers we knew had no church home at the time. We pastored The Father's House, which was later changed to Wildwood Christian Fellowship, for 6 years.
Q. Tell us about your family.
A. I have a wonderful wife, Carmen Ann that I have been married to for almost ten years now. I met her at a high school football game in 1996. We got married in December 1998. She currently works part time at PCA and is working on her teaching degree at Virginia Western. We had our first kid - Gavin Uriah - on August 11, 2001. We had our second child - Aidan Ezekiel - on June 23, 2004.
Q. What are your major responsibilities at Parkway? (Tell us what you do).
A. Since I am giving this bio before I officially begin my service at PHOP, my major responsibilities, other than assisting in pastoral duties, have yet to be clearly established.
Q. What excites you most about your ongoing ministry here?
A. I am totally excited most about joining the ministry team here at Parkway because of the mindset that says, "Only what's done for Christ will last." I am convinced this is a team that wants nothing more but to spend and be spent for the glory of God. The fact that this church has illustrated it's understanding of moving forward and advancing the Kingdom of God through apostolic ministry, extensive missionary efforts, and many other ministries has stirred my heart to no end. I am excited to see what God does next through this local body of faith.
Q. Name one highlight over the past five years. Your favorite Parkway moment.
A. Seeing that our family has only been a PHOP for a few months, I can only answer from what we have experienced and witnessed so far. The moments that mean the most to any minister are those moments when a soul is saved. Since our arrival at PHOP many souls have been saved - Praise to the Lord. Now beyond that great joy, I found the last Missionary Conference to be one of the highlights since our arrival.
Q. What are your hobbies/interests? What are some things you especially like to do in your free time?
A. I find great joy in working around the yard, especially when it comes to planting new plants and flowers. I enjoy my front porch swing and studying God's Word. Reading is one of my favorite pass times. Some other interests are basketball, skateboarding, and almost all water related activity. Our family as a whole immensely enjoys time at the ocean every year. Carmen is an avid runner, and enjoys a good cup of java. Gavin plays soccer and loves to be in the water, and Aidan likes to do whatever his brother is doing except getting in the water at the ocean - he'd rather play in the sand.
Q. What is your favorite food?
A. My favorite food would probably have to be crab stuffed mushrooms, and my favorite desert would be either blueberry and chocolate Munchkins from Dunkin Donuts or an Almond Joy candy bar. My favorite beverage is iced tea. Now my favorite place to eat would be On the Border.
Q. What book(s) have you read recently that you'd like to recommend. Do you have a favorite book?
A. I love to read! My short list of recommended reading would be as follows:
Dr. Michael Brown's Revolution (The Call to Holy War)
Leonard Ravenhill's Revival Praying
John Bevere's The Fear of the Lord
Morton Bustard's Magnificent Meekness
John Zumwalt's Passion for the Heart of God
Q. What do you anticipate in the near future?
A. My future is entirely in God's hands, and I look forward to what He is going to do with it. I have many dreams and visions of ministry, but they are all subject to God's will and the Spirit's leading. I am excited to get behind the vision(s) of PHOP and to continue to win, build, and send.
