By GINNY COOPER MCCARLEY / Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO—University Baptist Church in Montevallo will have a new pastor beginning Sept. 2.

Reverend Daniel Stallings, a native of Alabama, will be leading the church. Currently, Reverend John Harris serves as interim pastor at UBC.

Stallings grew up in Mobile and is a graduate of Samford University and McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University in Atlanta. Stallings served as associate pastor of Druid Hills Baptist Church in Atlanta for the past six years.

“In addition to preaching and worship leadership, Rev. Stallings comes to UBC with experience in youth, young adult and music ministry,” according to a press release about the announcement.

Stallings has also served as youth minister and interim music minister at Southside Baptist Church in Birmingham.

Stallings will preach his first sermon on Sept. 7, with a celebration of his installation as pastor slated for Oct. 5.

“After nine years of coping with Atlanta’s overwhelming traffic and underwhelming playoff teams, I am thrilled to be moving back to my home state of Alabama,” Stallings wrote in comments about the move.

Stallings also praised the reputation of the church and noted he looked forward to his time with the institution.

“With an inclusive spirit, a progressive voice and diligent hands, (UBC) has been an integral part of Montevallo for 43 years. I am excited to enter into the next chapter in its story, and am honored to become the next senior pastor of University Baptist Church as we work towards its mission,” Stallings said.

University Baptist Church is located at the corner of Shoshone and Overland in Montevallo. For more information about the church and its programs, call 665-1825.