MEET RICHARD ALLEN FARMER

Dr. Richard Allen Farmer is known and admired around the world as a vibrant communicator, concert-level pianist, eloquent theologian and impassioned man of God. A native New Yorker, Dr. Farmer began piano studies in New York City at the age of 11 and accepted Christ into his life a year later. As his faith and musicianship grew, the two became blended. Dr. Farmer now uses his music as a unique vehicle to inspire, motivate and entertain diverse audiences everywhere.

AN ACCOMPLISHED PASTOR AND COLLEGE CHAPLAIN

A graduate of Nyack College in Nyack, NY, where he received his Bachelor of Music degree, and Princeton Theological Seminary where he earned a Master of Divinity degree, Rev. Farmer has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by Gordon College (Wenham, Mass.) in 1986 and an honorary Doctor of Sacred Theology degree from Houghton College (Houghton, NY) in 1999.

An accomplished pastor and college chaplain, Rev. Farmer accepted a call in December 2013 to be the Senior Pastor of Crossroads Presbyterian Church in Stone Mountain, Ga. Previously he has served as Senior Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Pittsburgh (1980-88) and as Dean of the Chapel at both Gordon College (Wenham, Mass., 1988-1992) and Taylor University (Upland, Ind., 1999-2002).

Away from the pulpit and the keyboard, Dr. Farmer is an instrument-rated pilot, certified SCUBA diver, motorcyclist, Segway rider and vintage automobile enthusiast. He also is a devoted animal lover, having owned six monkeys, a chimpanzee, a ferret and a colony of 26 hamsters.

Dr. Farmer has spoken to thousands of people in conference, campus and religious settings, freely sharing his wit, wisdom, Biblical insights and musical gifts. Dr. Farmer and his wife, Rosemary, now live in suburban Atlanta; their son, Timothy, is a college student in south Texas.