Pastor Berry came to Southland in July of 2004. He graduated from Baptist Bible College of Springfield, MO in 1988, with degrees in Bible and Pastoral Theology. He served in Grace Baptist Church in Sedalia, Missouri as Youth and Music Pastor, Southeast Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as Youth Pastor, Music Minster, Bus Director, Sunday School  Director  and Associate Pastor, and  he is the founding pastor of Desert Springs Baptist Church in Tucson, Arizona. Pastor Berry was married to Carol Kronke for 17 years before she went home to be with the Lord after a 5 1/2 year battle with breast cancer. In April of 2005, Pastor Berry married Charlotte Lewis from Pontotoc, MS. They have four children John, Brian, Grant, and Sierra. Pastor Berry has been the in ministry for over 23 year. 

Pastor has been in many areas of ministry over the years and count it a joy to serve the Lord.

 Other areas of ministry our Pastor has in served in:

·         Director of Mid-West Junior Youth Camp

·         Property Director of Sagmount Youth Camp

·         Former Chairman of the Arizona Baptist Bible Fellowship

·         Former Vice-Chairman of the Arizona Baptist Bible Fellowship

·         Former Secretary of the Arizona Baptist Bible Fellowship

·         Co-Founder and Director of Grand Canyon Baptist Camp

·         Vice-President of the National Alumni Association for Baptist Bible College.

·         Founder and Chairman of the Arizona Chapter of Alumni and Friends of Baptist Bible College.

 Pastor – Dr. Gerald L. Berry

Pastor holds a PhD in Biblical Studies from Louisiana Baptist University. He has been in the ministry for over 40 years and has pastored churches in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, having started three churches. He started Southland Baptist in 1991. He is married to Jan and they have five children who are all serving the Lord. 

Youth Director - Daniel Lopez

I grew up the fourth child of six in a strong and faithful Christian home with parents who were raised in Catholicism, but were saved in their mid twenties.  As a result of my parents’ prayer and Godly example, as well as the recognition of my need of salvation, I accepted Christ as Savior at the age of fifteen.  I graduated from high school with a strong academic record and subsequently received scholarships to attend Truman State University in Kirksville, MO, where I received a BA in Finance in 2002. 

After graduation, I went to work for Ford Motor Credit and joined Southland Baptist Church shortly after moving to the area for my new position.  I was married to my lovely wife Jaime in July of 2003 and we were asked by Pastor Gary Berry to assume the role of youth leaders and did so in September of 2004.  Working with the youth at Southland Baptist for nearly five years has been a challenging and enriching experience in which I have grown in my own relationship with God and developed a love and burden for both churched and unchurched teens.  Also during that time, Jaime and I have had two adorable girls and I completed a BS in Accounting from the University of Phoenix.  I currently work as a commercial risk analyst for Bank Midwest. 

My ultimate desire for the youth at Southland Baptist Church is that they will first accept Christ as Savior, grow in their relationship with him, and then go on to serve him faithfully as adults.