Dr. H. D. McCarty, Ecclesia College, Board of Regents

Dr. McCarty spoke at the dedication of  Crystal Bridges.
Among many other duties and roles, he is a brigadier general chaplain.

Board of Regents Member, Dr. H. D. McCarty


After thirty-nine years as Senior Pastor of the University Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas he initiated a new and wider ministry through Ventures For Christ, Inc. The message of the Christ Life that energized his pastorate into a spiritual revolution for students and community in the last decades of the century has been refined and deepened. The message is now offered to hundreds in our churches who are seeking the liberating precision and radical release of "the rich mystery of Christ in you, your confidence of significance" (Colossians 1:28).

His effective pastorate, touching thousands, brought a famed reputation nationwide. Over 300 impacted by UBC have entered full-time vocational ministry. Some of these now lead national ministries and some of America's largest churches. They range from high ranking military chaplains, missionaries, seminary professors and key influencers in local church and para-church ministries. Between 18,000 to 20,000 University of Arkansas students were positively touched with the magnificence of Jesus Christ, as well as hundreds of adults and children. UBC became one of America's foremost mission and sending churches. He served as Chaplain of the Razorbacks for thirty years, and he had a distinguished thirty-three year career in the United States Air Force/Reserves/Air Guard, serving as both a pilot and chaplain. He retired as a Brigadier General (only the second Chaplain General in the 350 year history of the American Militia/National Guard). He wears fifteen decorations including the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, the Combat Crew Readiness Medal and the Arkansas Distinguished Service Medal. He holds the degrees of B.A., M.Div., D.Min., as well as the Honorary D.D. and Litt. D. He did further doctoral work in philosophy and Greek and has served as an adjunct lecturer/professor at two seminaries, two universities, and two Bible institutes.

He has spoken in numerous venues throughout the nation and maintained a thirty-year television ministry with an audience of thousands. He wrote a weekly newspaper column, "Live It Up," for over twenty years which appeared in over a dozen newspapers. He has traveled broadly and led seven worship tours to Israel. In 2004, two special honors came as he opened the U.S. Senate in prayer on the National Day of Prayer and spoke at the Normandy Memorial in France commemorating D-Day's sixtieth anniversary. His community involvement included the presidency of the Fayetteville Kiwanis Club and serving as a board member of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce. He also served on the board of governors of the Washington Regional Medical Center. He recently finished a ten year term on the board of trustees at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He continues to serve on the board of reference for Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee, and is a board member of the Priority Bank, Fayetteville.

He has been married to his wife, Shirley, for over fifty years, and their daughter and son have given them five wonderful grandchildren. Next to honoring his family, Dr. McCarty's remaining ambition in life is to help as many people as he can to explore and experience the wonders of the Christ Life (Psalm 119:32 and John 8:51).