Greater Springfield Missionary Baptist Church Installs Shontaviar S. Beasley as Its New Pastor

Reverend Shontaviar S. Beasley led Greater Springfield Missionary Baptist Church into a new era when he was installed as the church’s 24th pastoral leader on Sunday, April 14, 2024. God had a plan for Pastor Beasley at Greater Springfield that started almost 30 years ago when He first led him to join the church in 1995 at the age of 14 years old.

“I knew that I always had a special calling in my life but had to grow into what God wanted me to be,” said Pastor Beasley, whose early spiritual home was May’s Baptist Church in Hickory Valley. “I believe those who are truly called by God want to preach and lead God’s people.”

More than 200 guests attended Pastor Beasley’s installation that included several pastors from the West Tennessee region. The regular church service was held in the morning with Reverend Robert A. Parham, Pastor Emeritus sharing the message and Reverend and Doctor Quill James Brabham, Jr. of the Morning Star Baptist Church sharing the message in the afternoon at the installation.

“The messages by Pastor Emeritus and Pastor Quill Brabham were dynamic,” said Pastor Beasley, who shared another highlight from the day that moved him. “Zion Wilkes, an eight-year-old second grader at Bolivar Elementary School, said a prayer.”

Pastor Beasley, who accepted his call into ministry in 2004 and preached his first sermon on Sunday, January 13, 2008, at Greater Springfield follows the legacy left behind by Reverend Parham who led Greater Springfield for 37 years. Pastor Beasley shared his transition into the role of lead pastor has been smooth and exciting. His years of experience in pastoral leadership roles at several churches that include Mt. Tabor Baptist Church (Clifton, Tennessee – 2009 – 2014) where he was the youngest pastor in the history of the church; Johnson Grove Baptist Church (2015 – 2016); and Smith Chapel Baptist Church (2017 – 2023) prepared him for leading Greater Springfield where he was elected on Monday, December 4, 2023, as its 24th pastor.

Pastor Parham was named as Pastor Emeritus and Pastor Beasley regularly meets with him during the week for fellowship.

“We talk at least three to four times a week and I go to his house every Wednesday before Bible Study,” said Pastor Beasley. “He shares a word of wisdom anytime you are in his presence.”

As Pastor Beasley continues to lead Greater Springfield Missionary Baptist Church, one of his goals is to work on relationship building within the congregation and the community.

Reverend Shontaviar S. Beasley, a native of Hardeman County, was raised by his mother, Betty Beasley, and grandmother, the late Bessie Beasley. He is a 1999 graduate of Bolivar Central High School. His education includes a B.A. in history from Lane College (2004) and an M.A. Ed from Bethel College (2008) with an emphasis in school leadership. He currently serves as an Associate Professor of Education at Lane College and part-time chaplain at the West Tennessee healthcare while pursuing a Master of Divinity in Healthcare Chaplaincy at Liberty University.

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