Billy Melvin was born in Macon, Georgia in 1929. He grew up in North Carolina and graduated from Taylor University and Union Theological Seminary. Melvin has received honorary degrees from Azusa University, Huntington College, and Taylor University. From 1951 until 1959 he served as pastor of churches in Tennessee and Virginia. In 1959 Billy became the Executive Secretary of the National Association of Free Will Baptists, serving until 1967 when he became Executive Director of the National Association of Evangelicals. Melvin served in this role for 28 years. During his ministry at NAE the association experienced dramatic growth with service to more than 50,000 local churches from 63 denominations. He currently lives in Florida and is President/CEO of Church Consulting Services, Inc. Dr. Melvin is a co-founder of the Christian Association of Prime Timers (CAP), a ministry to Christian seniors founded in 1993. Dr. Melvin and his wife, Darlene, have two grown children, eight grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.