Tyler pastor David Dykes announces retirement

TYLER—After pastoring Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler for 30 years, Pastor David Dykes announced his retirement during the morning service at Green Acres February 28. Dykes is the longest-serving pastor of the church and the first pastor of Green Acres to retire. His retirement is effective Aug. 31 of this year and he plans in the coming months to help the church begin the process of searching for a new pastor. 

The church has grown to more than 17,000 members and is a perennial Cooperative Program leader in the Southern Baptist Convention. In 2008, Dykes was awarded the M.E. Dodd Cooperative Program Award during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting for his distinguished support of Southern Baptists’ unified giving plan. He led Green Acres to affiliate with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention in 2020. 

Dykes has served on several boards during his ministry including those for East Texas Baptist University and the Southern Baptist Executive Committee. His local involvement is extensive and includes being a volunteer chaplain for the Smith County Sheriff’s Department. He is a graduate of Samford University, and holds two degrees from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. 

He and his wife, Cindy, plan to remain in Tyler and stay involved in Green Acres as retirees. “I love Tyler and Green Acres,” Dykes said in a church release. “I am looking forward to handing the baton to the next generation of younger leadership.”