October 1, 2026
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Five months ago, Dr. Jimmy Carter returned to Atlanta from Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, to be considered as pastor of the church he once called home, Dunwoody Baptist Church.
On Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, Carter preached as the search team’s candidate for pastor of Dunwoody Baptist. It was at this very church, located in DeKalb County just north of I-285 near Ashford-Dunwoody and Mount Vernon roads, that Carter trusted Christ as his Savior and was nurtured in his faith.
“I could have never imagined leaving Lexington to serve another church, but this is not just another church,” Carter said. “This is the church where I was saved, where I was grafted into the body of Christ. Believe me when I say that there are no words to express how sacred this moment feels to me and to my wife, Carrie, and to our daughter, CA (short for Christy Ann).”
Preaching from Hebrews 12:1-3, Carter warned the church about the danger of drifting.
“In a fallen world, our faith naturally drifts, but we will not drift if we run the race and follow in the path of the faithful,” he declared.
As Carter reflected on the meaningful influence of the past and anticipated the blessings of a fruitful ministry in the years to come, he said, “Every day is like Christmas morning to me!”
Dr. Carter’s return to Dunwoody has become a blend of divine fulfillment and sacred nostalgia. He occasionally visits the nursery department in the church’s educational building and reflects on the days when his mother served in the preschool ministry. He also recalls with gratitude the ministry of Dr. James S. Chavis Jr., who was his pastor during his childhood and teenage years, and Pastor Allen Jackson, who later became a significant role model.
Carter said Chavis remains a treasured figure from his past, while Jackson helped shape him in later years.
“I am eternally grateful for faithful Sunday School teachers and ministry leaders who patiently poured into my life and helped lead me to Christ, for the preaching ministry of Jim Chavis and the faithful shepherding of Pastor Allen Jackson,” he said.
Carter’s years in Dunwoody helped shape not only his faith but also his early opportunities in athletics. He attended Dunwoody High School, where he was the punter for the Wildcats football team. He went on to the University of Kentucky, where he punted for four years and set school records. After his junior year, he received Atlanta’s Peach of an Athlete award at a banquet sponsored by the Atlanta Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Carter earned a Master of Science in physical therapy from the University of Kentucky and later earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Regis University in Denver, Colorado.
He initially dreamed of helping athletes in the National Football League recover from injuries. But as he assisted people dealing with significant physical pain, he wrestled with deeper issues of life. Walking with people through real pain helped him lead with empathy, patience, and hope, and it began to shape a pastoral heart.
As his compassion for hurting people became increasingly evident, Carter continued his education at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where God continued to confirm his calling to the ministry.
For 10 years, Carter served as lead pastor of Mosaic, a multi-ethnic church plant in Lexington, Kentucky. During that time, he also taught as an adjunct professor at Southern Seminary and Boyce College and had the opportunity to teach future leaders in foreign countries. Students and faculty alike noted the quality, strength, and faithfulness of his teaching.
In 2020, Carter was called to serve as young adults pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, where he later served in various pastoral roles in the multi-campus church.
The pastoral heart Carter developed has also been shaped by trials within his own family. His beloved wife of 30 years, Carrie, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2020, with a recurrence in 2023. By God’s grace, following two surgeries, there is currently no detectable evidence of cancer. Carrie remains active in several ministries at Dunwoody Baptist Church, where she regularly shares her testimony to encourage others walking through seasons of suffering.
Jimmy’s hobbies include running, swimming, working out, enjoying the family labradoodle, and caddying for CA.
Jimmy and Carrie have one daughter, CA, who is a student at the University of Kentucky and on the school’s women’s golf team. She publicly committed her life to Christ when she was 10 years old.
Those experiences have helped shape Carter into a compassionate shepherd and a gifted, biblical preacher with an uncompromising allegiance to the Word of God.
One of his most evident gifts may be that of a visionary leader, and it is the duty of a pastor to set before his congregation God’s vision for the church.
Now, back at the church where he came to faith, Carter is asking God to give Dunwoody Baptist a renewed vision for families, students, and the community.
“I want us to strategically craft our plans to return to what we have always been,” Carter said. “We want to reach families and bring them into our fellowship. We have an amazing preschool ministry and want families to trust us with their children. We have a dynamic student ministry that is not only appealing but spiritually edifying.”
Carter said the church also is developing a community that emphasizes the priesthood of believers, encouraging members to see themselves as active participants in ministry.
“The truth is that God has given me some great ideas for our future, but I have no idea how to make them happen,” Carter said. “I will be depending on the continuous help of our executive pastor, Allen Taliaferro, my administrative assistant, Amanda Lofgren, and the wonderful staff I inherited to help fulfill our hopes and dreams.”
Carter told the church family he wanted to know them individually and understand their spiritual needs and aspirations. He asked members to invite him and Carrie into their homes for dinner. So far, he has been invited into 54 homes for fellowship and to hear how his vision resonates with key leaders in the church.
Dunwoody Baptist Church has two morning worship services: a more traditional service at 8:30 a.m. and a more contemporary service at 11 a.m. Carter said he sees opportunity in both.
“I love the early worship service, and I see great potential for the later one,” he said.
Five months into his ministry at Dunwoody Baptist, Carter is preaching with conviction, loving the church family that helped shape his faith, and seeking the wisdom of many counselors as he casts vision for the days ahead. For the pastor who returned home, it is a strong foundation for a fruitful ministry.
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