Born in 1970 in Sikeston to and Sis. Sue and Bro. Gene Tarter (Pastor of Clayton Ave. Baptist Church (1966-1978.) he was raised in Texarkana, Tx from 1978-1986. A 1989 graduate of Montgomery Central High School in Clarksville, Tn. His post education includes degrees in Industrial Technologies from Kentucky Tech, Somerset, KY. BS in Electrical Engineering from The University of Kentucky and Christian Education from Gulf Coast Baptist Institute in Hattiesburg, MS. 

Brother John Married Cheryl Upchurch from Corbin, Ky in 1998 while serving as Associate Pastor at Colonial Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, LA. In May of 2000 they moved to Sikeston where Bro. John became the pastor of Mt. Calvary. They have three children, Leighton (John, Jr.), Ausitn and Abigail.