About the Author and Pastor – Joshua A. McClure, was called to pastor the Pleasant Street Baptist Church, Westerly, RI in 1986, after having served five years as associate pastor.
Before arriving in Westerly he served five years as associate minister of Pond Street Baptist Church, Providence, RI. Joshua graduated with a BA in Biblical Studies from Barrington College, Barrington, RI in 1983, receiving the school’s Biblical studies award. He attended Andover Newton Theological School in Newton, MA, until the fall of 1986.
He was elected president of the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island in 1980, along with receiving the denomination’s Man of the Year Award.
Joshua is co-founder of the North End Crime Watch and Community Development Inc, and has been cited as a major force in the revitalization of the historic North End of Westerly.
Joshua is currently vice-moderator of The Greater Fellowship Baptist Association of Rhode Island and Vicinity, and is the author of Can These Bones Live? A highly acclaimed book on church renewal published in 2006. His second book, Almost Persuaded, Now to believe is now available in e-book download by Tate Publishing. Listen to the podcast.
Joshua A. McClure is a man with an ardent love for Jesus Christ and His church. His personal observations of the stagnation of the church, coupled with God’s prodding, compelled him to share what happened when God made His presence known to him in a vision in December of 1976. At that moment God revealed His heart, and called him to leave his comfortable home and business to become His hands and heart for hurting people. McClure’s passionate love of Christ and people resonates throughout his writings and life.
Joshua has four children and eight wonderful grandchildren. He presently lives in Bradford, Rhode Island with his wife Ida.