Department of Religious Studies

Our Distinguished Faculty

Three leaders whose combined experience spans decades of pastoral ministry, academic scholarship, and Christian formation — united by a single conviction: purpose is not found. It is formed.

Dr. Phillip L. Pointer, Sr. — Dean, McKissic School of Christian Studies Dean

Phillip L. Pointer, Sr., D. Min.

Dean, School of Christian Studies

Pastor P, as he's affectionately known, joined the Saint Mark family as senior pastor in 2012. Pastor Pointer earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He earned a Master of Divinity with honors from The Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia. He currently leads a Doctoral Cohort at United for a collective of doctoral candidates. Pastor Pointer has served in ministry for more than 30 years.

Dr. Pointer believes in solid, biblical, and practical teaching of God's Word in a way that helps the hearer grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. His sincere desire to remain true to the explanation and exhortation of the Bible is a product of his earnest seeking of wisdom and clarity in the furtherance of his studies.

D.Min. · United Theological Seminary M.Div. w/ Honors · Virginia Union 30+ Years Ministry Saint Mark Baptist Church
Dr. Nathanael A. Palmer I — Associate Dean, McKissic School of Christian Studies Associate Dean

Nathanael A. Palmer, I, D. Min.

Associate Dean, School of Christian Studies

The Reverend Dr. Nathanael A. Palmer I is a native of Detroit, Michigan. He is a proud alumnus of Arkansas Baptist College and deeply believes in the value of higher education. In 2010, he received his Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies, graduating summa cum laude. In 2016, he earned his Master of Divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary, once again graduating summa cum laude. In 2021, he completed his Doctor of Ministry with a specialization in Christian Preaching from Samford University's Beeson Divinity School. His dissertation was titled, Has God Spoken? Equipping Members to Identify, Hear, and Respond to God's Word.

His educational journey also includes graduate studies at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (School of Social Work) in the area of Marriage and Family Therapy; completion of Levels I and II of the Clinical Pastoral Education program through Baptist Health Medical Center–Little Rock, an affiliate of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.; and an immersion study in the Elements and Essentials of Expository Preaching at West Africa Theological Seminary in Lagos, Nigeria.

Dr. Palmer has been blessed to exercise his love for and gifting in preaching and teaching at conferences, college campuses, and seminars. He has been recognized as the "Minister of the Year" by the Greater Little Rock Baptist Pastors and Ministers Conference and is the recipient of a congratulatory Senate Citation from the Arkansas State Senate.

Dr. Palmer currently serves as Pastor of First Baptist Church Highland Park. He also serves as Associate Dean for the School of Christian Studies at Arkansas Baptist College and as a Behavioral Health Program Trainer for St. Francis Ministries.

He is the author of Giving God the Best That I Have.

Dr. Palmer is married to Janay L. Palmer, and together they are the proud parents of Nathanael A. Palmer II, Gabrielle M. Palmer, and Josiah R. Palmer.

D.Min. · Beeson / Samford M.Div. Summa · Memphis Theo. B.A. Summa · ABC 2010 Sr. Pastor · FBC Highland Park Unto Others, Inc.
Dr. Maurice Watson, Ph.D. — Distinguished Visiting Professor, McKissic School of Christian Studies Distinguished Visiting Professor

Maurice Watson, Ph.D.

Distinguished Visiting Professor, School of Christian Studies

Dr. Maurice Watson is a distinguished preacher, pastor, and visionary leader whose ministry has influenced congregations and communities across the nation for more than four decades. Called to preach at the age of sixteen and entering pastoral ministry at twenty-one, Dr. Watson has devoted his life to faithfully proclaiming God's Word with clarity, excellence, and conviction. Known for his dynamic expository preaching, he brings biblical truths to life in ways that inspire, challenge, and nurture Christian maturity. Each week, his sermons reach thousands within and beyond the walls of the churches he has served.

A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Dr. Watson currently serves as Senior Pastor of Second Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. Under his visionary leadership, the church has experienced remarkable growth — spiritually, numerically, and in its impact on the surrounding community. Dr. Watson's pastoral leadership is marked by a commitment to biblical integrity, discipleship, and equipping the congregation to fulfill their God-given purpose.

Dr. Watson is a highly sought-after preacher and speaker, having delivered messages at major revivals, conferences, and denominational gatherings throughout the United States. His preaching gift has taken him to pulpits across multiple states, where he consistently challenges believers to live out their faith with passion and purpose.

In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, Dr. Watson is deeply committed to theological education and leadership development. He understands that a well-equipped ministry requires both spiritual depth and academic preparation, and he has invested significantly in mentoring emerging ministers and leaders. His involvement with the McKissic School of Christian Studies reflects his passion for equipping the next generation of ministry leaders with the tools they need to be effective servants of God and agents of change in their communities.

Dr. Watson's influence extends beyond the pulpit. He is a devoted family man, a respected denominational leader, and a voice for justice, compassion, and transformation in the broader community. Whether standing before thousands at a national conference or investing in a single aspiring minister, Dr. Watson remains committed to his calling — to preach, pastor, and prepare the next generation.

Ph.D. 40+ Years Ministry Senior Pastor · Second Baptist LR National Conference Speaker
From the Associate Dean
"I graduated from ABC. I came back to teach at ABC. And I'm still in the pulpit every Sunday. If ABC could do this for me — it can do it for you."
— Dr. Nathanael A. Palmer I, D.Min.  ·  ABC Class of 2010  ·  Associate Dean
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