Pastor Doyle R. Adams, Sr.
Doyle R. Adams, Sr. is a native of Benton, LA and a 1981 honor graduate of Benton High School. He was an all-star athlete in both football and basketball at Benton and went on to play football at the collegiate level at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA, where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance in 1985. At Tech, Doyle was a two-time All-Conference and honorable mention All-American defensive back who was named Team Captain and the recipient of the university’s President Award. He still holds the school record for most interceptions in a career and in 2001 was named to the Louisiana Tech All-Century Team. In 2018 he was honored as one of the 50 greatest players to ever play for Tech in Joe Aillet Stadium.
Doyle accepted his call to the ministry in May of 1988 and began pastoring Elizabeth Baptist Church (EBC) in March of 1989. God has used him to implement several outreach ministries at EBC to meet the spiritual needs of His people. Additionally, Doyle has been blessed to be able to reach young people in the school system and has led many to Christ through his work with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, where he serves on the Board of Directors. He is the host for “The Manifested Word” radio broadcast, heard on 12 stations throughout the southeast region of the U. S. each weekday.
Doyle spent 17 years in the banking industry, last working as Vice President in the Business Banking lending area for Regions Bank in Shreveport, LA. He handled the bank’s nonprofit and church commercial loan portfolio for the Shreveport/Bossier market, financing and overseeing several new church construction projects. He also financed and handled the banking needs of many small business owners in this market sector. He was instrumental in growing this diverse portfolio from $9 Million in loans outstanding to over $28 Million before transitioning into a full-time ministry role as Pastor and Business Administrator for the Elizabeth Baptist Church in Benton, LA.
Doyle has been actively involved in the community by serving on the Board of Directors for several nonprofit organizations. On a historical note, he was elected to serve as the 2007 President of the Bossier Chamber of Commerce, the first African-American to serve in that capacity in the 60-year existence of the Chamber organization. Other board appointments include: Fellowship of Christian Athletes (President); CenterPoint Community Services (President); Red River Revel; Shreveport/Bossier Mayors’ Prayer Breakfast (Chairman); Shreveport/Bossier Sports Commission; Benton MPC Board of Appeals (President); Strategic Action Council; Bossier Council on Aging (Treasurer); Barksdale Forward; Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation; Junior Achievement of North Louisiana; Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce; Better Business Bureau (President); David Raines Community Health Center (Treasurer); Crime Stoppers of Shreveport (Treasurer); The ARC Caddo-Bossier.
He is married to Mararia Kirk Adams of Haynesville, Louisiana. They have three children, Tonya, Sondra and Doyle, Jr. and a grandson, Ethan Jeremiah Hamilton.
He is married to Mararia Kirk Adams of Haynesville, Louisiana. They have three children, Tonya, Sondra and Doyle, Jr. and a grandson, Ethan Jeremiah Hamilton.
First Lady Mararia Adams
Mararia Adams is a native of Haynesville, Louisiana, where she was a 1983 honor graduate of Haynesville High School. She went on to further her education at Louisiana Tech University and later to the University of Louisiana at Monroe, where in 1988 she received her bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems. In 1994, she received her Master’s Degree in Library Information Systems from LSU in Baton Rouge, LA and is currently employed as the Assistant Director/ Head of Systems for the LSU Health Science Center’s (LSUHSC) Medical Library in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Doyle accepted his call to the ministry in May of 1988 and began pastoring Elizabeth Baptist Church (EBC) in March of 1989. God has used him to implement several outreach ministries at EBC to meet the spiritual needs of His people. Additionally, Doyle has been blessed to be able to reach young people in the school system and has led many to Christ through his work with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, where he serves on the Board of Directors. He is the host for “The Manifested Word” radio broadcast, heard on 12 stations throughout the southeast region of the U. S. each weekday.
Mararia and Doyle have been married for 38 years and have three children: Tonya, Sondra and Doyle, Jr. and a grandson, Ethan Jeremiah Hamilton who is the light of their lives. In their years of marriage, raising their children and growing a ministry, they have walked out the the benefit of keeping Christ at the center of their family. So much so, that they conduct Marriage Enrichment fellowships throughout the year to help strengthen and build strong marital relationships among Christian couples.
In addition to being our First Lady, Mararia is an ordained minister and serves as the Minister of Music for the congregation at EBC, is the New Members Orientation Director and Overseer for the Women’s Ministry. To say she is a busy lady is certainly an understatement, but Mararia Adams is thankful to be used of the Lord in any capacity He chooses. We are thankful for her example.
In addition to being our First Lady, Mararia is an ordained minister and serves as the Minister of Music for the congregation at EBC, is the New Members Orientation Director and Overseer for the Women’s Ministry. To say she is a busy lady is certainly an understatement, but Mararia Adams is thankful to be used of the Lord in any capacity He chooses. We are thankful for her example.
