Dr. Connell brings extensive ministry experience to Countryside. He has pastored churches in Alabama, Louisiana, and Georgia. At one of those churches he was superintendent of a 1,000 student Christian school. Dr. Connell also served as Chairman of the Christian Studies Department at Shorter University in Rome, Georgia. Holding a BS in Business Administration from the University of North Alabama, he also earned a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Theology from New Orleans Baptist Seminary. He, joined by his wife, Donna, became Senior Pastor at Countryside in January 2015.