Charles Kiker is a child of the depression. He grew up on a hardscrabble farm in the Texas Panhandle during Dust Bowl days, and attended a small rural elementary school before movi...view moreCharles Kiker is a child of the depression. He grew up on a hardscrabble farm in the Texas Panhandle during Dust Bowl days, and attended a small rural elementary school before moving up to a small-town high school. He wanted to be a farmer, but from his earliest memories felt the call of God to be a minister. He farmed for nine years out of high school before embarking upon education for ministry. Kiker earned a Ph.D. in Old Testament from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has taught Old Testament Hebrew as well as general religion courses at seminary and college levels, and has served as minister of several churches. He is married to his childhood sweetheart, Patricia.They have lived in Tulia, Texas since his retirement in 1999. They have two daughters, five grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.view less