Billy is originally from Missouri. He came to Texas in 1979 to go to Seminary and, with God's guidance, made the Central Texas Annual Conference his home. Billy recieved his License To Preach in 1976 and has been in the Ministry since 1974, having served a number of Churches in both Missouri and Texas. He is:

• Currently serving as Lead Pastor of First United Methodist Church of Joshua, Texas
• Part of the start up teams for Dublin Emmaus 1 & 2, 2005 in Dublin, Ireland.
• A Veteran of the United States Coast Guard
• A Graduate of Perkins School of Theology - Southern Methodist University
• A Graduate of Central Methodist College, Fayette, Missouri
• Former Spiritual Director for the Central Texas Annual Conference Chrysalis Movement
• Former Associate Editor for Parables, Etc & The Pastor's Story File from Saratoga Press, now a new publication.
• Former Arlington - Mid Cities Emmaus Community Spiritual Director
• Former Spiritual Director for the Central Texas Annual Conference Emmaus Movement
• Married to Mary (a 5th grade Public School Teacher).
• The father of two sons:
  • Paul - married and gainfully employed
  • Joshua - a graduate of Texas A&M, Working on his PHD and Emory, University.
• The Grandfather of two beautiful Grandsons:
  • Zachary David Strayhorn
  • Nathan Paul Strayhorn
• The Proud owner of Cookie (our own little cookie monster, a rescue dog)
• The Proud owner of Midnight the Wonder Dog (after 14 faithful years, Midnight the Wonder Dog, died of breast cancer)
• The Proud owner of a Rocket eBook, a great way to read (Formerly RCA: Reb 1100, Now sold by eBookwise)
  • My Rocket eBook original is still working well by the way, so is my wife's and I still us it every day.
• A dyed in the wool Eric Clapton fan
• His Favortie Movie: "It's A Wonderful Life"
• His Favorite Book (Besides the Bible): "To Kill A Mocking Bird"
• His Favorite Quotes: (Biblical)
  • "The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Romans 8:16)
  • "See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are." (1 John 3:1)
  • "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. (John 15:13-15)
  • "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." (John 3:16-17)
  • "Those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)
• His Favorite Quotes: (Non-Biblical)
  • I'm not going bald, I'm just getting taller than my hair.
  • "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." Groucho Marx
  • "There comes a time in every person's life, and I've seen plenty of them." Casey Stengel
  • "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing."
  • "You can't walk on water if you don't get out of the boat."
• A fan of the Jazz musician of the same name who wrote "Take The A Train" and arranged for Duke Ellington.
• Has Various Works and Sermons Published in:
  • "A Hope That Does Not Disappoint" a book of sermons from CSS Publishing
  • The Preaching Magazine Annual Survey of Software for Preachers
  • Various sermons in Dynamic Preaching Magazine
  • Thirteen Winning Sermons for Advent and Christmas with Rev. Timothy J. Smith
  • Various sermon briefs in Preaching Magazine
  • 1995 Abingdon Preaching Annual
  • 1996 Abingdon Preaching Annual
  • 1997 Abingdon Preaching Annual
  • 1998 Abingdon Preaching Annual
  • 1999 Abingdon Preaching Annual
  • Pastor's Story File
  • Parables, Etc

  
  

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