Meet Our Speakers

            J.O. Purcell has been a pastor for over 42 years and is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute. J.O. and Juanita are the parents of three married sons. J.O. has been the pastor of two other churches before Tri County Baptist. Both churches began as small groups, meeting in temporary places and growing to over 700 members. When J.O. retired from his church in Lakeland, Florida eleven years ago, he and his wife Juanita, traveled part of the year doing itinerate ministries and spoke at retreats, conferences in the states and overseas.

Tri County Baptist Church started with eleven people five years ago when J.O. was called to be the pastor. The church just moved from their temporary location into a new building on Rolling Acres in Lady Lake, Florida—one mile beyond The Villages. The church attendance has grown to an Sunday morning attendance of 250, 135 at the Sunday evening service and about 90 at the midweek Bible study and prayer service. Steve Poludniak, was called to be the Administrative Pastor one year ago.

Pastor Purcell has served on many boards throughout his ministry on the state and national level. He has served, and is presently serving, on the Council of Eighteen for our GARBC churches for over 30 years. He served on the Evangelical Baptist Missions board for 20 years.
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            J.O. and Juanita have written two books together. Juanita is the author of eight ladies Bible studies published by Regular Baptist Press.