For Bob Hatfield, serving as minister of music for nearly 36 years at one church has been a “tremendous blessing and grace gift” from God.
In October 1978, Hatfield and his family moved to Birmingham to begin serving Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Birmingham.
Prior to Dawson Memorial Baptist, Hatfield served in music positions at First Baptist Church, Pinson; First Baptist Church, Scottsboro; Lakewood Baptist Church, Gainesville, Ga.; Buckner Children’s Home in Dallas, Texas; as well as churches in Arkansas and Texas.
He earned an undergraduate degree from Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, Ga.; a master of music degree from Samford University in Birmingham; a master of church music degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas; and a doctor of ministry degree from Beeson Divinity School at Samford.
At age 16, Hatfield was asked to lead the music for a youth revival in Walker, La. After that summer he served in similar roles every summer until he started serving in a part-time position at Lakewood Baptist.
At Dawson, Hatfield served as administrator for all music ministries but specifically directed the chapel choir and sanctuary choir. His main role, he said, was to plan and lead worship.
“(At Dawson) I’ve been able to work with fine pastors and great staff. The people here have been so gracious to me and to my family and allowed us to invest in their lives as well,” Hatfield said.
He will begin a part-time position at Dawson in October as minister to adults 55 and over, something he said he is “really looking forward to.”
He and his wife, Polly, have two children and five grandchildren.
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