Pastor Alan R. Waddell was saved at the young age of seven years old while in Sunday School at the Prayer Baptist Church in Westland, MI.  Shortly after, his parents began attending Fairhaven Baptist Church in Westland, MI where his father, Richard Waddell is currently a deacon.  While attending the Senior High Class at Fairhaven Baptist Church one year, Bro. Waddell went to a Youth Camp and there surrendered his life to preach the gospel. 

     After graduating John Glen High School in 1993, Pastor Waddell went to Midwestern Baptist College where he spent the next five years of his life earning a Bachelors degree in Theology and Education.  It was during these years that he met his bride to be, Amy Childers. 

     Amy Childers, the daughter of Rev. Terry Childers, Missionary to Kenya, East Africa, attended Midwestern Baptist College for two years and received her Associates degree in Bible and Education.  In July of 2000, the two were happily married and serving the Lord together as the youth directors of First Baptist Church of Garden City, MI.

     After three years at First Baptist Church, Alan Waddell felt led of the Lord to head East, where he believed, and still does, that revival will take place as it has in the past.  Pastor Waddell and his wife started a church in Manchester, CT.  They were only there for nine months, when a dear friend in the ministry, Pastor Mario Chadinha, called Pastor Waddell and asked if he would pray about the possibility of pastoring the church that he had pastored for seventeen years.  Pastor Waddell prayed for God's guidance and was led to the Open Door Baptist Church in August of 2003.

     On February 3rd, 2005, a new addition was made to the Waddell family as Caleb Alan Waddell was born.  Then on July 20th, 2007, a beautiful baby girl named Mackenzie Lynne Waddell was born. 

     In August of 2008, the Lord spoke to Pastor Waddell's heart about resigning as pastor of the Open Door Baptist Church during a revival meeting.  Not knowing where the Lord was leading, Pastor Waddell prayed over the matter for close to a year.  In November of 2009, Pastor Waddell accepted the call to be the pastor of Wayside Baptist Church where he faithfully serves to this day.