First Baptist Church of Atmore plans a weekend of events centered around a special guest, and former resident of Atmore, James “Jimbo” Michael Stevens, May 14-16.

Stevens has been the Chairman of the Music Department at Free Will Bible College in Nashville, Tenn., for the last six years. He has an extensive background in music and his resume is one of distinction.

Stevens will be the speaker at a banquet planned for Friday, May 14, at the church. Saturday, there will be a community reception from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the church.

Worship services will be held Sunday, May 16, at 11 a.m. and Stevens will be the guest conductor for the music. The Jubilee Community Singers will also be there for the service.

Stevens is a native of Fort Worth, Texas, and a 1979 graduate of Vestavia Hills High School, but he spent several years as a resident of Atmore.

“I am very much looking forward to returning to Atmore as it is the place that I consider home since I was there my 5th through 11th grade years of school,” Stevens said. “Coming to First Baptist Church is a special treat as well as I frequently attended some of their music and youth activities. I particularly remember the musical ‘A Praise Gathering for Believers’ by Bill Gaither directed by David Campbell. I also had a great time playing piano for their youth choir tour to Texas under the direction of David Horn. So much of the music that has influenced me was found in Atmore as well such as singing in Janet Brantley’s choirs, being in musicals with Dayton Long, and taking piano from Randy Bolden, Leon Webber and Mrs. Curly.

“Of course, I enjoyed many other things such as playing tennis and football for the Blue Devils!!” he added. “By the way, my father, Johnnie W. Stevens was a family physician in Atmore during that time and we attended Brooks Memorial Baptist Church where I played piano and organ.”

Stevens graduated from Samford University in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in general studies in music and humanities. He is a 1995 graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ken. with a master’s degree in church music, and is a 2004 graduate of University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ken., with a doctorate’s degree in musical arts in composition.

He is an accomplished pianist in many different styles of music including jazz, country, gospel and pop. He has won numerous ASCAP Standard Awards for Composition and is the founder of Stevensong Publishing and Jimbo and Friends Music (purchased by Shawnee Press). His music has been performed and recorded in many foreign countries and he is the composer of more than 200 compositions with a long list of nationally known companies.