Our Pastor

Rev. Bobby Tyson loves the people of North Carolina and the United Methodist congregations he has served over the past 39 years. A Duke Divinity School graduate with a Master of Divinity degree, he was ordained a Full Connection Elder in June 1995. As the 15th ordained United Methodist Elder in the Tyson family line, Pastor Bobby’s call to ministry runs deep. “As long as I can serve God, share the love of Jesus, and make a difference in a congregation, that is how long I’ll stay in the pulpit,” he says.

In June 2018, Pastor Bobby was diagnosed with end-stage congestive heart failure and feared he might never preach again. After a heart transplant at NC Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill and a difficult season of reflection and trust in God’s will, he recovered after nearly dying twice. God performed a miracle. Pastor Bobby returned to ministry as senior pastor at First UMC Laurinburg on May 1, 2020, and then to Camp Ground UMC on July 1, 2023, with renewed vigor and a compassionate awareness of how quickly health challenges can affect anyone.

Pastor Bobby is known for his empathy, encouragement, upbeat spirit, infectious smile, and twinkling blue eyes. He is blessed with two sons, a daughter, and two grandsons. His services often include smiles and laughter, while his sermons remain thought-provoking, direct, and easy to understand. Pastor Bobby has served congregations in Holly Springs, Williamston; Snead Grove, Laurel Hill; Black Creek-Lucama; Culbreath Memorial, Fayetteville; Lake Waccamaw; Salem, Simpson; Trinity, Troy; St. James, Tarboro; Wallace; First UMC, Laurinburg; Camp Ground, Fayetteville, and now Faith Harbor UMC.