Dr. Larry Ball was born in Portsmouth, Ohio. As a seven-year-old, he responded to an invitation given by his Sunday school teacher and accepted the Lord as his Savior. After graduating from Portsmouth High School, he went to Bob Jones University where he received his B.A. in Bible. Later he attended San Francisco Baptist Theological Seminary where he completed his Master of Arts. He has also received a Master of Ministry and a Doctor of Pastoral Theology (2014) degree from Bob Jones University. Pastor Ball served as the senior pastor of Faith Baptist Church in San Pablo, California from 1982 to 1989 and as the senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Hollister, California from 1989 to 2008. He was also the vice president of the Golden State Association of Christian Schools from 2007 to 2008. At that time, he came to serve with International Baptist Missions, becoming the General Director in 2010.