Dr. Lawrence is the Senior Pastor at the Faith First House of Hope, a multi-cultural, non-denominational church located Lubbock, Texas. The church began with 9 members and now embraces 100+ families each Sunday. He is also the founder of Justin Lawrence Ministries (JLM) where his daily encouragement reaches people around the world. Preaching, teaching, and leadership are Dr. Justin Lawrence’s life passions. Respectfully described as a “difference maker,” Dr. Lawrence is widely known for his practical and dynamic teaching style which helps people apply the timeless truths of Scripture to their everyday lives.
He gets great joy out of helping people to reach their full potential in Christ.
Dr. Lawrence is a devoted Husband and eagerly supports his beautiful wife Ofelia of 10 years. She is his best friend, a mother, and is Justin’s chief advocate. He is the father of two wonderful children Emily and Justin Jr.
Dr. Lawrence earned a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies from Texas Tech University and he went on to earn both a Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business and the Texas Tech School of Law respectively. Finally, he has also earned a Master of Arts in Religion in Pastoral Counseling and Master of Divinity in Pastoral Ministries from Liberty Theological Seminary.
Dr. Lawrence has been an educator for 13+ years and currently serves as the Associate Dean of the School of Behavioral and Sciences, Associate Professor of Justice and Public Administration, and Title IX Administrator at Wayland Baptist University. He is also a certified trainer, speaker, and coach with the John Maxwell Team. He has an abiding commitment to the church and the academy, relating with equal ease to both venues and using his influence to mentor ministers in both locations. He speaks perennially at colleges, universities and conferences across the Country.
Dr. Lawrence is a leader beyond his own church and serves on boards, agencies, trusteeships and committees at local, state and national levels. He is constantly in demand by fellow ministers for counsel and wisdom. On top of this, he pastors a mid-sized church as if it were a much smaller church, standing with people in exceptional times of crisis. As one congregant remarked, “He is unselfish with his time and utterly without self-regard
Through publications and the internet his messages are available across the world and are witnessed by thousands beyond his church each week. A perpetually demanded conference speaker, he has spoken multiple times numerous conferences and revivals. From the pulpit to the lectern he is sought for his preaching and speaking gifts.
Although Dr. Lawrence can boast of a number of degrees, honors and associations, those who sit under his preaching would most aptly describe his attitude using Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 2:1.
“When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.”
—1 Corinthians 2:1-5