Donnie Burford has been the pastor of South Irvine Baptist church since March of 2007. He and his wife Karen were married in 1988, and have three daughters; Kati age 18 (recently married to Ryan Hardy), Emily age 16, and Abby age 12. Before being called to South Irvine, pastor Burford served as pastor of Purity Baptist Church in Maysville Kentucky for sixteen years; where he and his family labored as the founding missionaries of the church.
Pastor Burford was saved at the age of thirteen and is thankful to have been raised in church and in a Godly home with Christian parents. He attributes much of what He knows and practices today to his parents and Godly childhood teachers who loved him and patiently taught him the word of God.
From the time he was saved, pastor Burford has always had a servant’s heart. Before being called into the ministry he served the Lord in many different capacities. He worked as a Sunday School teacher and Youth Director… as well as in Singles ministry, Bus ministry and Nursing Home ministries. He also served as professor and Dean of Admissions at the Kentucky Mountain Baptist School under Bro. Carl Sadler in 2004-2005.
It was while attending Lexington Baptist College that the Lord called Bro. Donnie into the ministry. After graduated from Lexington Baptist College in 1989 with a Bachelors Degree, Bro. Donnie felt led to further his education and training for the calling that God had placed on his life. He earned a second Bachelors Degree from the Kentucky Mountain Baptist College in 2002, and then in 2007 he earned a Masters Degree in Theology from Landmark Theological Seminary, where he is still currently enrolled in pursuit of a Doctorate.
Pastor Burford has said; “My greatest blessing and privilege as a child of God is that God has called me to pastor one of His churches. My personal goals in life are to know and love my Lord more every day, and to encourage His people to do the same. I hope to accomplish His will for my life and to always be missionary-minded with a heart to spread the Gospel of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
He feels his philosophy of ministry is best stated in 1 Peter 4:7-11: “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: That God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
