Pastor Roger Lee Ballard

Roger was born and raised in the Stratford, Pauls Valley and Ada areas of Oklahoma. He was saved at the age of ten on a Sunday evening at the Pauls Valley Free Will Baptist Church.  After the family moved to Ada, they attended the Gaar Corner Free Will Baptist Church and when Roger was sixteen his family helped to organize the Center Free Will Baptist Church west of Ada.

At the age of 19, Roger’s father passed away and he surrendered to preach the gospel, all in the same month.  He then transferred from East Central University to Randall University, formerly Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College in Moore, Oklahoma and changed his major from Business to Theology.

In June of 1977 he married his sweetheart, Vickie Freeman and two months later on August 21, he was ordained to preach the gospel.  He continued his educational training at Hillsdale, graduating in December of 1978.

Roger began his ministry at the Ada First Free Will Baptist Church in January of 1979 where he served for four years. He has pastored churches in Wilburton, Choctaw and Tecumseh.  It was during this time he and Vickie were blessed with their two daughters, Jamie and Jennifer.

Roger and his family moved to Catoosa in January of 2000 to Pastor the Woodcrest Free Will Baptist Church. In addition to his Pastoral duties, he also serves as Chairman of the Executive Board for Oklahoma Free Will Baptists. Roger describes the congregation at Woodcrest as the most loving, giving and serving group of people he has ever known.

Roger and Vickie’s oldest daughter Jamie is the wife of Daniel Sweet, Senior Pastor of Calvary Free Will Baptist Church in Norman, Oklahoma. They have four children: Lukas, Karis, Selah and Zoe. Younger daughter Jennifer and husband Daniel attend church here at Ozark Free Will Baptist in Ozark, Missiour.  They have four children:  Ava, Asher, Ariana, and Azzan.

Roger’s wife Vickie has 29 years experience in public school and currently teaches at Regents Preparatory School in Tulsa.  She considers teaching an integral part of her ministry and is actively involved in the Kids Ministry on Sunday mornings.

In addition to his Pastoral duties, Roger enjoys reading, running, hiking, traveling and adventure. He also loves to spend time with family and friends.