Dr. Gil Lain has been Senior Pastor of Paramount Baptist Church since 1991, and is only the third pastor in our church’s history. Gil grew up in Hamlin, Texas, where he graduated in 1969 as high school salutatorian. He received a B.S. in Business Administration and Religious Education from Hardin-Simmons University in 1973. He then went on to earn a Master of Divinity and a Doctorate of Philosophy from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. Before coming to PBC, Gil served as pastor at several Baptist churches throughout West Texas.
An avid outdoorsman, Gil’s number-one hobby is deer, wild hog, and turkey hunting (with a little flyfishing thrown in for good measure). Had God not called him to preach—he was licensed on July 20, 1969, right before the moon landing—he thinks he might have been a veterinarian or medical doctor.
Gil is married to Mary Lain, author of the book God Loves You No Matter What. They have three children. Their oldest, Caleb, is Associate Pastor of Singles and Contemporary Worship at Northside Baptist Church in Weatherford, Texas.
Cody Lain is enrolled at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth in the Master of Divinity program. He is married to Elizabeth, who works from their home, serving as an Admissions Counselor for Grand Canyon University. Cody and Elizabeth are the proud parents of Gil and Mary's first grandchild, Luke, who was born in the fall of 2010.
Their daughter, Krissie, is completing her licensure hours in counseling while serving with her husband Eric Garland. Eric is the Children's Minister at First Baptist Church in Conroe, Texas.