Willy Rice

William (Willy) Rice is the pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, Fla. In 2004 he returned to the Tampa Bay area where he was born and raised to lead the church he considered his home church. Willy spent his High School years at Calvary, responded to God’s call to ministry there, and met and married his wife Cheryl at Calvary.

Dr. Rice has been active in denominational leadership roles. He served as President of the Florida Baptist Convention from 2006-2008 and he served as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference in 2015. He has also served as Chairman of the SBC Committee on Committees (2010), Chairman of the SBC Committee on Nominations (2016), President of the Florida Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference (2004) along with other local, state, and national positions.

Before coming to Calvary Dr. Rice pastored the Hillcrest Baptist Church in Pensacola for seven years. During that time the church experienced great growth and more than doubled in size. The church built a new 2000 seat worship center in 2002.

Prior to pastoring Hillcrest Dr. Rice had pastored the Gladeview Baptist Church in Anniston, Alabama (1992-1997), the Cypress Lake Baptist Church in Tampa, Fla., (1987-1992) and the Bethel Baptist Church in Dora, Ala., (1984-1987).

Dr. Rice is a graduate of Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. with a B.A. degree (1985) and the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree (1990) and a Doctor of Ministry degree (1996).

Willy is married to Cheryl (Baker). She is a graduate of Samford University and they have three children and three grandchildren.