My name is Bob Hayton. I was raised a conservative (KJV-Only, no pants on women, strict music, etc.) independent fundamental Baptist. I graduated from Fairhaven Baptist College in Chesterton, IN (BA Pastoral Theology, ‘01; MA Bible, ‘02), and married Carolyn (Barnard) from SD, whom I met & courted in college. We moved to the San Francisco area to teach in a church/school, as conservative as Fairhaven. There, God further convinced me of the need for careful Biblical exegesis and expository preaching. God used the influence of my younger brother Dave (who graduated from Northland Bible College, Dunbar, WI), various books and some circumstances to alter my thinking gradually concerning theology/religion.
We later moved to MN, where our reform came to a head. We ended up leaving independent Baptist fundamentalism altogether, and joining John Piper’s church (Bethlehem Baptist, Minneapolis) where we sensed both an embracing of the fundamentals of the faith/conservative theology and an emphasis on treasuring Christ. I currently have a supporting wife and 3 beautiful girls. I hope to get out of debt, fully acclimate to our radical reformation, pursue more education, & ultimately pastor a church for God’s glory.
My Story
For my complete story along with a critique of fundamentalism and defense of my positions, check out this post. It is lengthy but many have said it really blessed them and it has helped others who are struggling with similar problems relating to fundamentalism. I hope you’ll go check it out. (And if you are going to write me off as a compromising liberal, please make sure to read my letter first. Let it inform you as to my motives and thoughts behind my drastic changes.)
About My Family
Carolyn and I (Bob) are blessed to have come from families where virtually every immediate family member for two or three generations back profess Christ as Savior. More than that, both sets of our parents raised us in loving and thoroughly Christian homes.
Carolyn grew up in Yankton, SD where her family attends an IFB church faithfully. I grew up in the Detroit area, but spent my last year of high school in Zambia, Africa (where my parents have been IFB missionaries now for 11 years).
Our sisters, both graduated from Pensacola Christian College. My brother, after graduating from Northland Bible College (Dunbar, WI) has served as a pastor, and now a missionary. He and his wife have three children.
Carolyn and I have been blessed with four darling daughters: Emily Grace (6), Megan Faith (5), Amber Joy (4), and Rachel Charity (2) [ages current as of February 2010 
]. We are truly blessed with healthy and happy children. We also recognize the responsibility to raise them for Christ.
Bob works at Boston Scientific, providing advanced technical support for patients on home monitoring devices for defibrillators. We hope to enter full time ministry at some point in the future, after paying off bills and finding God’s direction.
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