Elders for the Fairview Park Congregation
Tim Copeland, Todd Castleberry, Carey Fortenberry
Tim Copeland
When my family moved to Little Rock in 1974, I was eleven years old and began meeting with the church of Christ on Arch Street. When we moved, I knew what I needed to do in order to be saved, but I hadn’t done it. Being the new kid in the congregation and somewhat shy and very socially awkward, it was very difficult for me to get up the nerve to confess my faith in Jesus and be baptized. Time went by, and it became easier for me to stay in the pew when the invitation was being offered.
On Sunday, April 11, 1976, as I was getting ready to attend services with my parents, Dad came into my bedroom, sat down next to me, and said, “Tim, have you ever thought about obeying the gospel?” The floodgates opened. A world of stress and anxiety was lifted. I said, “Dad, I’ve wanted to for a long time, but I just haven’t done it.” That evening, I was baptized in Christ. What that would mean for me, I wasn’t sure. But I was happy to be getting started with my life in Christ.
In 1977, J.B. Williams approached me about preaching a sermon. Actually, I don’t remember him asking me. I really think he just informed me it was going to happen. When I was reluctant, he made arrangements for Tom Hamilton to help me develop the lesson, and the two of us presented it in tandem. Over the summers of 1981 and 1982, I served as a preaching intern for the church. Attending college, I pursued a degree in Medical Technology and later Health Services Administration. And while that has been how I made my living, that was not what I considered to be my “life.”
It took some time, but in 1984, I finally convinced Paula Carlon to marry me, and in the span of about six years, we had three children, Aaron, Aubrey, and Kayla. During all that time, I continued preaching wherever and whenever I was given the opportunity. It was probably more work for Paula than it was for me, something I’ve only recently come to appreciate. I thank the God who sees in secret for her support and patience through the years. For the better part of forty years, most Sundays, I was somewhere preaching the gospel.
The decision to discontinue preaching and serve as an elder at Fairview was not an easy one. I am very thankful to all who encouraged me to refocus my service to the Lord. I decided that serving as an elder at Fairview would give me the opportunity to serve more people in a more intimate way. I believe Fairview’s lampstand burns bright in the presence of our Lord, and my hope and prayer is that I can be somewhat influential in it continuing to do so.
Todd Castleberry
During high school, growing up in Searcy, Arkansas, I was not interested in spiritual things. However, I had many family members who were members of the church of Christ. I obeyed the gospel in August 1991 and had the opportunity to preach at the Central church of Christ in Searcy, where my mom and sister attended. Since then, I’ve always taken advantage of the opportunity to preach or teach a bible class.
In 2005, I became a deacon at Fairview and began serving as an elder In February 2022. I enjoy laboring at Fairview because of the many talented Christians eager to work for the Lord and the numerous opportunities we have to teach and serve others. The power of Jesus Christ’s message changes lives. It changed mine. Now, I have the privilege of helping others obey the gospel and grow spiritually.
I met my wife, Becky, in 1997, and we were married in November 1998. Becky has been an enormous encouragement to me and always supports any opportunity we’ve had to serve God’s people. She also teaches children’s bible classes. We have two children, Will and Lindsey, who are both Christians.
By serving as an elder at Fairview, I hope to help others grow stronger spiritually and better equip them to serve God and His kingdom.
Carey Fortenberry
I was not raised in the church, but was introduced to it by my wife Donna. After years of procrastination I became a Christian in 1988 and found out what joy I was missing in a life with Christ as my Lord. I was living in Greenville, Mississippi. at the time, then moved to Stuttgart, Arkansas, where we attended a very small congregation in Humphrey, Arkansas. It was here that I began to grow stronger in the Lord. I spent a few years working in the Middle East, then moved to Little Rock and began attending Fairview Park church. This was a great blessing, and the first time I had attended a church under an eldership. I had never experienced such dedication to God’s word. Soon I became a deacon here, and after a few years I was asked to become an elder. I am humbled and joyful to have this opportunity, and am excited with all the work that is before us here. The best spiritual advice I ever received was from a man named Jesus, and I commend this advice to all. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thess. 5:21-22
I have been married to my wife, Donna, for 41 years. We have 2 children: Kellie and her husband Stephen, and their children Emily, Spencer, and Macy (they attend Fairview Park) and Layne and his wife Crissy, and their children Lilly and Gabbriella.