Hank Deslatte

History:

Henry “Hank” Deslatte was born November 22, 1949, to Henry and Nina Deslatte in Galveston, Texas.  Hank was raised in the Galveston area until the age of fifteen, when his family moved to Joplin, Missouri.

Hank graduated from Joplin Sr. High School in 1967 and continued his education at Missouri Southern State College for three and a half years before receiving Associate and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri.  In 1981, he received his Masters degree from Sacramento Baptist College in Sacramento, California.  Then in 1983, he received his Doctorate from Baptist Christian University in Shreveport, Louisiana. 

Hank served in the United States Army from 1969 to 1971, stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Fort Knox, Kentucky, and fought in Vietnam.

In 1974, Hank walked into Central Assembly, located on West 26th St in Joplin, where he met Jesus Christ, and has served Him since that day.

Hank joined the staff of Central Assembly in 1977, where he served his pastor, Dr. Mack Evans, for several years.  In 1980, a small church in Paragould, Arkansas contacted Dr. Evans looking for a pastor.  Brother Mack presented the opportunity to Hank, and after much prayer and reassurance from his pastor, Hank decided that God was calling him to Arkansas.

When the Deslatte family arrived in Paragould, they found a church with 35 members.  Hank, following the teacher of his mentor and pastor, Dr. Mack Evans, lead the congregation in phenomenal growth that saw them averaging 600 to 700 each Sunday, with a record high of over 1,500 on special occasions.

After serving the church in Paragould for seven years, he returned to Joplin where he owned and operated a very successful business, while taking an active part in Central Christian Center once again. 

In 2002, when Dr. Evans was fighting some health problems, Hank was asked to fill the pulpit at Central Christian Center for most of the year.  Under God’s direction and Dr. Evans’ guidance, Hank was groomed and destined to become the pastor of Central Christian Center, which he did in January of 2003. 

The mantle was passed form Dr. Mack Evans to Dr. Hank Deslatte in a special service at Central Christian Center in December of 2002.

Under the leadership of Pastor Hank, Central Christian Center continues to prosper.  Pastor’s love for the Lord is contagious and has spread throughout the Body of Christ and taken the Central family to a new level in our relationship with our Heavenly Father.

If you are looking for a new church home, come give us a try, we believe you will find just what you have been looking for here at Central.

John 4:12
Verily, Verily I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to my Father.