Wayne Parker grew up in metro Detroit. He graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in education and received his Master of Divinity degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Parker now serves as the senior pastor for Merriman Road Baptist Church in Garden City, an inner-ring suburb of Detroit. Previously Parker has served as a church planter, a church planting catalyst and director of missions for the Woodland Baptist Association in Michigan. He has also owned and operated a remodeling company and was a licensed builder in the state of Michigan. Wayne and his wife Cindy have five children. Together, they enjoy skiing, hiking, hunting and fishing.