OUR ELDERS
SCOTT WEST - SENIOR PASTOR
Scott was born and raised in Wichita Falls, attending Rider High School and Midwestern State University. Raised in a Christian home, he accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of nine and has attended Fairway for more than 50 years. During that time, he has served in various ministries and capacities in the church ranging from an Awana worker in the Children’s Ministry to teaching adults in Sunday school. He also served as a Deacon for many years and was ordained an Elder in 2011. He was called to be the Senior Pastor in 2018 where he is primarily responsible for the preaching and teaching ministry as well as the leadership of the Elder Council.
Scott is married to his wife, Danna, and they have one son, Matt. Scott enjoys reading and classic movies. He and Danna also enjoy day hiking (although allegedly, Scott enjoys reading about day hiking, but Danna enjoys the actual hikes. Scott endures them.) His son, Matt, works as an architect in Wichita Falls and attends Fairway along with his wife, Meredith.
Influential Authors/Speakers/Theologians: R.C. Sproul, John MacArthur, Sinclair Ferguson, Jerry Bridges
Influential Books: Dust to Glory by R.C. Sproul, Deserted by God? by Sinclair Ferguson, Knowing God by J.I. Packer, and Barney Fife’s Guide to Life, Love, and Self-Defense
MARK CARTER
As the son of a pastor, Mark’s world has always revolved around the church. While he grew up in such a godly home, Mark says he did not come to treasure Christ until he was 18. He attended a small bible college, Southwestern Assemblies of God University, in Waxahachie, Texas, graduating in 2003 with a Church Ministries degree. It was there he met his wife, Sheila. They were married shortly after graduation before serving as full time youth pastor / associate pastor immediately following college for 4 years. Mark next attended and served a church plant in Tyler, Texas, in a non-vocational role, which merged with an Acts29 church plant, Living Acts Church, in 2011, where he was an Elder until moving to Wichita Falls, Texas. The Carters have been members at Fairway Baptist since 2015. Mark and Sheila have 2 sons, Eli and Josiah. They strongly believe the local church, and the strong gospel community therein, is essential to the believer for knowing Christ and treasuring Him to the fullest. Their hope is that the body at Fairway Baptist will be used to make much of Christ by loving God and loving each other well.
Authors/Speakers/Theologians: C.S. Lewis, John Piper, Timothy Keller, Charles Spurgeon
Influential Books: Mere Christianity and The Weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis, Desiring God, John Piper Onward, Russell Moore.
JEREMY WATKINS
Biography coming soon...
DAVE OTTO
David was born in Colorado, but his family soon moved to Minnesota where he grew up and graduated from high school. He attended Colorado State University, then graduated and entered active duty in the Air Force. The Air Force brought him to Wichita Falls several times during his career, and he finally retired from the Air Force in 2022. David is married to his wife Rhonda, and they have four children.
He grew up in a Christian home and learned the tenants of Christianity, but says he wasn’t saved, and was always planning to “live right” later on, when he got older. After college, once in the Air Force, David met some mentors who were committed Christians and lived a life that reflected it. He started to attend their church with them, and through their friendship, the church’s teaching, and the Holy Spirit, he finally understood the utter Holiness of his Creator. He saw his errant, sinful self for what it was and the punishment and wrath that he deserved. It was then that David truly repented and received Christ as his savior and rescuer. After being born again, his life wasn’t perfect – in fact, David’s equally important testimony is how God has been faithful through the trials he’s experienced in his life. Though there have been very difficult times, he’ll adamantly say about God that through it all: He is good; He is faithful.
David has attended Fairway since 2019, and has served as Sunday School teacher, Deacon, and Elder.
Authors/Speakers/Theologians: CS Lewis, Oswald Chambers, John Piper, John MacArthur
Influential Books: Mere Christianity, CS Lewis, Streams in The Desert, LB Cowman, A Grace Disguised, Jerry Sittser