Dale is married to LeeAnn, who works as an Administrative Assistant at Mississippi State University. Dale and LeeAnn have been married 24 years and have three children, Joshua, Emily and Abby.

Joshua is a senior at Mississippi State University pursuing a degree in Music Education.  Emily is a freshman at Mississippi State University pursuing a degree in Biological Science and Abby is in the seventh grade at West Point Junior High School.

Dale is a graduate of Blue Mountain College and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is in the final stages of pursuing a Doctorate of Educational Ministries. 

Before joining the First Baptist family, Dale served the Grace Memorial Baptist Church in Gulfport, MS for almost ten years.  In addition, Dale has pastored for more than 25 years in Mississippi in Gulfport, Columbia, Booneville and Ripley.

Philosophy of Ministry:

Ministry is not a word that can easily be set apart for only academic definition or understanding.  Ministry must be seen through the directives of the Word of God, and how those directives are translated into the lives of people.  People called to minister are uniquely made, as individuals by God with different variations of ministry styles.  Each must have the Scriptural instruction given from God's Word as his guideline which must be manifest through the spiritual gift which he is given to channel ministry.  Ministry has the primary purpose of glorifying God by pointing people, in their  faith, confidence, needs, joy, worship and accountability to Jesus. 

I believe the primary mandate of the church is to proclaim to a lost world the good news message of salvation through the only way: Jesus.  I also believe Christians should live daily lives which validate their spoken witness.  To comfort and encourage one another in love, discipleship, and fellowship is our second goal and is commanded of the church.

The Bible says that Jesus is the Great Shepherd.  Therefore as Pastor, I am called to be the Undershepherd of the local flock of God.  The Pastor / Teacher is to be an example to the flock.  The pastor must be a loving, patient, understanding man with a desire to be the husband, father, son, witness, friend, and preacher that God calls and equips him to be.  The only way for this to be fulfilled is by the power of the Holy Spirit upon the surrendered life.  As a Christian, I must stay fresh in the infallible Word of God and constant in prayer for my personal development in spiritual formation.  As a pastor, I am to share what God teaches me, and use the gifts he has given me, in order to help maintain and develop the spiritual health and harmony of the church family and to equip the saints.

Dale Funderburg

Pastor of First Baptist Church, West Point

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