DR. W. R. DOWNING, SPEAKER/ELDER
William R. Downing was the founding pastor of Sovereign Grace Baptist Church of Morgan Hill, where he retired in 2021. Prior to his call to the gospel ministry in 1963, he worked as a commercial deep sea diver, construction worker and truck driver. By the grace of God he has faithfully served the Lord as a pastor in six different congregations since entering the ministry. He has also served as a credentialed school teacher and as a professor in several educational institutions, teaching at the college, seminary and graduate school level. His academic degrees include an M.A. in Ed., a Th.M., a Ph.D. in New Testament Studies, and an honorary D.D. He has authored 28 books and several pamphlets and papers. Pastor Downing married Adeline Mary “Cookie” Mica in 1967, and they have three children and eleven grandchildren.