Larry E. Schultz, Minister of Music

In 1992, while sitting in my office at the church I served following seminary, I read an article about Pullen in my copy of Baptists Today – and I vividly remember thinking out loud: “I’d like to be a part of such a brave and autonomous congregation someday.” Nine years later I had the privilege of becoming Pullen’s Minister of Music!

Since 2001 I have enjoyed the opportunity of equipping Pullen for an expansive music ministry that seeks to engage all persons in the church’s worship and congregational life. It is fulfilling to discover ways in which Pullen’s distinctive identity can be explored and expressed through congregational, choral and instrumental music.

I developed an interest in music ministry at an early age, and was nurtured in that interest by the Baptist churches of my childhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After the happy surprise of winning the high school division of a choral anthem contest sponsored by Oklahoma Baptists, I decided to study music theory and composition for use in my ministry. I graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1986 from the Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts at Oklahoma Baptist University.

In continued preparation for music ministry, I moved to Louisville, Kentucky, to attend The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where on the first day I met Cindy Smith. Three years later, in 1989, we walked the aisle of the seminary chapel for two joyful occasions: to receive our Master of Church Music degrees and to marry!

After our time in Kentucky, Cindy and I served together in music ministry in South Carolina where our children, Ryan and Kelly, were born. The timing of our move to North Carolina provided us the meaningful opportunity to raise them from early childhood among the people of Pullen.

The new art installation that adorns the Pullen sanctuary exclaims our congregation as “ever embracing” and “ever becoming.” I have found these significant descriptions to certainly be true and find in them inspiration for my ongoing ministry in this place.

Who would’ve known in 1992 that my spontaneous, wishful prayer would come to be!

Contact: lschultz@pullen.org