Dr. J. Michael Bates settled his salvation as a freshman at Tennessee Temple College in 1967. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Bible from Tennessee Temple College in 1971; his Master of Religious Education Degree in 1974 (Temple Baptist Theological Seminary); his Master of Divinity in 2002 (Emmanuel Baptist Theological Seminary); his Doctor of Divinity in...Dr. J. Michael Bates settled his salvation as a freshman at Tennessee Temple College in 1967. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Bible from Tennessee Temple College in 1971; his Master of Religious Education Degree in 1974 (Temple Baptist Theological Seminary); his Master of Divinity in 2002 (Emmanuel Baptist Theological Seminary); his Doctor of Divinity in 1991 (Ambassador Baptist College). Pastor Bates was ordained into the Baptist ministry by Faith Baptist Church of Avon, IN, in 1971 (June) just one month after his marriage to Linda Ackerle (May, 1971). His first pastorate was Trinity Baptist Church, Harriman, TN, 1973-1976; his second pastorate was Providence Baptist Church 1976-1992; his third pastorate was Emmanuel Baptist Church. | more | less