Pastor Doyle R. Adams, Sr.
Doyle R. Adams, Sr. is a native of Benton, LA and a 1981 honor graduate of Benton High School. He was an all-star athlete in both football and basketball at Benton and went on to play football at the collegiate level at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA, where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance in 1985. At Tech, Doyle was a two-time All-Conference and honorable mention All-American defensive back who was named Team Captain and the recipient of the university’s President Award. He still holds the school record for most interceptions in a career and in 2001 was named to the Louisiana Tech All-Century Team. In 2018 he was honored as one of the 50 greatest players to ever play for Tech in Joe Aillet Stadium.
Doyle accepted his call to the ministry in May of 1988 and began pastoring Elizabeth Baptist Church (EBC) in March of 1989. God has used him to implement several outreach ministries at EBC to meet the spiritual needs of His people. Additionally, Doyle has been blessed to be able to reach young people in the school system and has led many to Christ through his work with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, where he serves on the Board of Directors. He is the host for “The Manifested Word” radio broadcast, heard on 12 stations throughout the southeast region of the U. S. each weekday.
Doyle spent 17 years in the banking industry, last working as Vice President in the Business Banking lending area for Regions Bank in Shreveport, LA. He handled the bank’s nonprofit and church commercial loan portfolio for the Shreveport/Bossier market, financing and overseeing several new church construction projects. He also financed and handled the banking needs of many small business owners in this market sector. He was instrumental in growing this diverse portfolio from $9 Million in loans outstanding to over $28 Million before transitioning into a full-time ministry role as Pastor and Business Administrator for the Elizabeth Baptist Church in Benton, LA.
Doyle has been actively involved in the community by serving on the Board of Directors for several nonprofit organizations. On a historical note, he was elected to serve as the 2007 President of the Bossier Chamber of Commerce, the first African-American to serve in that capacity in the 60-year existence of the Chamber organization. Other board appointments include: Fellowship of Christian Athletes (President); CenterPoint Community Services (President); Red River Revel; Shreveport/Bossier Mayors’ Prayer Breakfast (Chairman); Shreveport/Bossier Sports Commission; Benton MPC Board of Appeals (President); Strategic Action Council; Bossier Council on Aging (Treasurer); Barksdale Forward; Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation; Junior Achievement of North Louisiana; Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce; Better Business Bureau (President); David Raines Community Health Center (Treasurer); Crime Stoppers of Shreveport (Treasurer); The ARC Caddo-Bossier.
He is married to Mararia Kirk Adams of Haynesville, Louisiana. They have three children, Tonya, Sondra and Doyle, Jr. and a grandson, Ethan Jeremiah Hamilton.
He is married to Mararia Kirk Adams of Haynesville, Louisiana. They have three children, Tonya, Sondra and Doyle, Jr. and a grandson, Ethan Jeremiah Hamilton.
First Lady Mararia Adams
Mararia Adams is a native of Haynesville, Louisiana, and a 1983 honor graduate of Haynesville High School. She pursued higher education at Louisiana Tech University and later at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems in 1988. In 1994, she earned her master’s degree in library and information science from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
Mararia devoted 34 years of exemplary service to the LSU Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) Medical Library in Shreveport, Louisiana. There, she held dual roles as Assistant Director and Head of Systems for the Health Sciences Library, as well as an Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Library Science. Her work included planning, managing, installing, and maintaining the medical library's computer systems and network infrastructure. She is a long-standing member of both the Medical Library Association and the South Central Chapter of the MLA. In 2023, she retired from LSU Health Sciences Center after a distinguished career in academic and medical librarianship.
In her continued commitment to education and service, Mararia earned a Master of Social Work at LSU Baton Rouge in August 2025. Her academic and professional focus is centered on Christian counseling, emotional wellness, and mental health support.
A woman of deep faith, Mararia is an ordained minister who serves as the Executive Director of EBC. In this role, she provides strategic leadership and oversight for the church's ministries, directing daily operations, equipping and empowering ministry leaders, fostering collaboration among teams, and helping advance the church's vision and mission of making disciples and impacting the community for Christ.
Mararia and Pastor Adams are the proud parents of three adult children - Tonya, Sondra, and Doyle JR. - and are joyfully blessed with a grandson, Ethan Jeremiah Hamilton.
A woman of deep faith, Mararia is an ordained minister who serves as the Executive Director of EBC. In this role, she provides strategic leadership and oversight for the church's ministries, directing daily operations, equipping and empowering ministry leaders, fostering collaboration among teams, and helping advance the church's vision and mission of making disciples and impacting the community for Christ.
Mararia and Pastor Adams are the proud parents of three adult children - Tonya, Sondra, and Doyle JR. - and are joyfully blessed with a grandson, Ethan Jeremiah Hamilton.
Our Office Staff
Craig Pollard
Discipleship Pastor
Craig graduated from Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, with a degree in Business Administration. In his free time, he enjoys tending to his flower garden, going to the movies, and building and operating RC cars and airplanes.
Sonja Stephens
Ministry Support Coordinator
Sonja graduated from Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Marketing. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and working on upcycling projects.
Kiera Evans
Director of Communications &
Social Media
Social Media
Kiera graduated from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, in 2018 with a degree in Business Administration. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two young children, painting, reading, singing, and listening to music.