Roy Dale Orr was ordained to the gospel ministry by Union Grove Baptist Church in Eldorado on March 25, 1984. Forty years later, Orr and his wife, Rita, returned for a celebration at the Southern Illinois church on March 24, 2024. IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams was on hand to present a plaque from Illinois Baptists marking the occasion (right).
Orr was called to ministry in 1982, then served as youth pastor beginning a year later. Since then, Orr has served nine churches: Wasson, Union Grove, Junction, New Hope, Junction, New Salem, Scott Street, Raleigh, and New Castle.
Orr earned a degree in business management from Southeastern Illinois College. He served as a bivocational pastor through much of his ministry, working as a miner until his retirement in 2007. He has been active in leadership with Saline Association, and since 1985 has been speaker on The Baptist Hour broadcast locally.
“Roy Dale is a very humble man and totally underestimates his value to God and to others,” said Union Grove Pastor Steve Nyberg. Orr was joined by pastors in the Saline Association for the celebration and a luncheon.