About the Author and Pastor – Joshua A. McClure, was called to pastor the Pleasant Street Baptist Church, Westerly, RI in 1986, after having served five years as associate pastor.  Before arriving in Westerly he served five years as associate minister of Pond Street Baptist Church, Providence, RI.  Joshua is co-founder of the North End Crime Watch and Community Development Inc, and has been cited as a major force in the revitalization of the historic North End of Westerly. Joshua is currently vice-moderator of The Greater Fellowship Baptist Association of Rhode Island and Vicinity, and is the author of Can These Bones Live? A highly acclaimed book on church renewal published in 2006.  His second book, Almost Persuaded, Now to believe is now available from Tate Publishing in hard copy and as a E-book download.  Joshua has four children and eight grandchildren.  He presently lives in Bradford, Rhode Island with his wife Ida.    

Joshua graduated with a BA in Biblical Studies from Barrington College, Barrington, RI in 1983, receiving the school’s Biblical studies award. He attended Andover Newton Theological School in Newton, MA, until the fall of 1986.

He was elected president of the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island in 1980, along with receiving the denomination’s Man of the Year Award.