670-member Baptist church in Hoover elects new pastor

Shades Crest Baptist Church has officially welcomed a new leader to its congregation. The 670-member Hoover church, located at 454 Park Avenue in the Bluff Park neighborhood, announced the selection of the Rev. Dustin Ratcliff following a successful vote held on Sunday, May 17.

A New Chapter for Shades Crest

The church community shared its enthusiasm regarding the transition on social media, stating, "We rejoice in the Lord’s leadership throughout this process and look forward with excitement and hope to this new chapter in the life of our church." This transition marks a significant milestone for the longstanding Bluff Park institution, as reported by 205focus.com.

Background on Rev. Dustin Ratcliff

Rev. Ratcliff brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He has served as a staff pastor for Birmingham’s Iron City Church since 2016. His ministry path includes time spent helping to plant Portico Church in Monroe, Louisiana, where he served from 2009 to 2014.

His academic background is equally extensive. After moving to Birmingham in 2014, he attended Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School, eventually earning his master of divinity degree. He is also a graduate of Louisiana Tech University, where he focused his studies on communication theory and history.

Rev. Ratcliff and his wife, Tara, have been married since 2011. Together, they have two children, Daisy and Judah.