Rev. J.D. Tatum, has lived most of his life in Kansas. He grew up in the city of Newton, Kansas and was active in the First Baptist Church there. He graduated from Newton High School in 1971. J.D. attended Wichita State University where he received his Bachelor of General Studies in 1985. He attended Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City , Kansas in that same year. Pastor Tatum graduated from Central Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree in 1989.

While at Central, he worked at the School for the Visually Handicapped as a dorm teacher. His greatest honor there was to serve as a Graduate Assistant to Dr. Russel Jones, professor of Evangelism. He also served as a youth minister for the First Baptist Church of Gardner, Kansas and the SpringHill Baptist Church. In 1989, J.D. served as the Associate Pastor of Christian Education and Evangelism at the First Baptist Church of Augusta, Kansas. He was ordained at Augusta in November 1989. In Jan. 1992, J.D. became the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Kingman. He served there for 5 and a half years before his calling to Woodlawn Avenue Baptist Church.

J.D. and his wife, Judy, have a son Joshua Daniel and a daughter Joy Ariel. Judy is a Social worker for the Salvation Army in Wichita.

Pastor Tatum emphasizes the deep communion that people need in a personal relationship to Jesus Christ and with the people who gather in His name. He has a strong emphasis on balance in the local Church and to have a strong ministry of outreach to the world.

His goal verse is found in Philippians 3:10.

That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death