Pastor Jessie Tharpe has served as pastor since September 2003. He and his wife Betty have been residents of Clarksville since 1987. They have six children, 15 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He and Betty met while in the United States Air Force and were married in Oct 1974. Upon retirement from the USAF in 1981, began working in a Christian school in Louisiana. In 1983 began working for the United States Army as a civilian and retired after 34 years of service.He was called to the ministry and ordained in July 1986 at Beulah Baptist Church, Licking, MO. Pastor Tharpe also pastored in Kentucky and Tennessee.