Born in Fort Smith, Arkansas on May 7, 1963, Samuel Scott Lee never imagined that he would one day be a pastor. In fact, it was the furthest thing from his mind. As far as he was concerned, the only reason a man ever had for wanting to become a "preacher" was if he wasn't good for anything else!

Early on, Scott's life was shaped by two main interests, sports (specifically football) and science. It was this interest in science that had the greater impact on his thinking, and by the eighth grade he was, as he says, "well on my way toward atheism."

But God has a wonderful sense of humor in the way he sometimes chooses to draw people to Himself. Even as Scott's interest in Christianity began to wane, his interest in meeting girls his own age was growing. And in his home town, the best place to do that was in one of the ever-growing church youth groups.

To say his motives for being there were less than pure would be an understatement. Nevertheless, God is bigger than our foolishness! While sitting in the pew at First Baptist Church of Fort Smith, Scott began to actually listen for the first time to the Gospel of Christ.

The impact was far from immediate. In fact, it would take several more years for the message to really get through. But the work had begun. The Holy Spirit was acting through the Word to break through this young man's sinful pride and bring him into a humble faith!

The result of all this was that Scott's seemingly happy teen years masked a deep internal struggle. On the surface all seemed well. He was an All-State athlete, a good student, even an Eagle Scout. In fact, he was what most would call a "fine, upstanding young man." Yet inside, this battle raged between agnosticism and faith!

The question that plagued his mind for more than a year was this ? Is this Jesus Christ who he said he is, or is he not? Is he the Son of God who died to set people free from sin? Or is he nothing but a teacher of religion? Will I stand before Him one day and give an account for my life? Or can I simply ignore him? That was the issue that burned in his heart!

Not that anyone who was looking on could see this struggle. Nevertheless, it was there! It resulted in an almost schizophrenic lifestyle. Going to church on Sunday, but living for self Monday through Saturday. Looking like a clean-cut All-American kid on the outside, but hiding dark and wicked thoughts on the inside.

All this reached a fever pitch for Scott the summer after his senior year in High School! His mind was consumed with the thought that either Jesus was who he said, the Son of God mighty to save, or he was not! If he was, then Scott knew he owned Him his whole life, not just part of it. If he wasn't, then Christianity was at best a fool's myth, unworthy of two minutes notice.

It was in the middle of these thoughts that some friends invited him to go with them on a weekend camping trip that was nothing more than an excuse to "party." But there in the midst of the revelry, God brought the truth home powerfully to his heart! "Here I am," Jesus seemed to be saying," Come follow me with your whole life, or go your own way into destruction!" Then and there Scott turned from his sin and pride to embrace Jesus Christ alone as Lord and Master of His life.

Now the question was, "What to do with that life?" God began to make that clear over the next few years.

Within a few weeks of coming to faith in Christ, Scott began studies for a degree in chemistry at Arkansas Tech University. Within days of coming onto the campus he met Amy Hughes, a dark-eyed, spunky redhead who would become his wife, and along with her became involved in the ministry of the Baptist Student Union. There, he began to sense that God's plan for his life might include something other than chemistry and research.

Immediately after graduation, he and his new wife moved to Fort Worth, Texas so that he could attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and prepare for a career in foreign missions (He still was not convinced he would be a pastor!). Yet through that training, and by working with an inner-city ministry that sought to disciple young men who were saved out of homelessness on the mean streets of that town, Scott came to see the great need and value of being a "shepherd" to God's people in the local church.

After graduation from seminary and a brief stint as Manager of Research for a small research firm, Scott and his family (which now included daughters Stephanie and Kimberly) moved to Arnold, Missouri in 1991 to begin serving as, of all things, pastor of Rockport Baptist Church.

That was several years ago, and Scott now admits that he would be content if God never had him do anything else! He feels He has been blessed beyond measure to be able to pastor this church, be a husband to Amy, and be the father of Stephanie and Kim (now in their teens!).

In addition he is privileged to serve as Adjunct Professor of Old and New Testament History with Missouri Baptist University, and (not forgetting missions!) he is a Teacher/Trainer for HeartCry Missionary Society, traveling each spring to Romania and Ukraine to provide theological training for pastors and church-planters.

His goal in life and at Rockport can be summed up by these words from the apostle Paul in Colossians 1:28:
"We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ."

Sola Deo Gloria (to God alone be the glory)!