Our Story
Dr. Obie Tentman, Jr. is the Senior Pastor and Founder of Lively Stones Missionary Baptist Church. He conducted the first services of Lively Stones on March 3rd 1985 in a four hundred square feet sanctuary at 6283 Imperial Avenue, San Diego, California. Seven people attended Sunday School, and eight attended Sunday Morning Worship Service.
Dr. Obie Tentman, Jr.
Pastor Tentman was licensed to preach the gospel on June 6, 1982, and received his Certificate of Ordination on March 4, 1984 while serving on staff as a member of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, San Diego, California.
Pastor Tentman served his country by serving in the United States Navy for twenty years, retiring in October 1982. Upon completion of military service, he was employed as an Insurance Agent with Prudential Insurance Company. He was later employed with the San Diego Unified School District. He worked as a classified employee in the office of Wage and Salary; Community Relations and Integration; and later the Affirmative Action Office.
In 1995, Pastor Tentman became a certificated employee with the San Diego Unified School District, receiving his first Classroom Teacher assignment at Baker Elementary School. He held teaching assignments at two schools within the San Diego Unified School District, Baker Elementary and Mason Elementary. He later served as an administrator with the District serving as Vice Principal of Bell Middle School. He retired from the San Diego Unified School in the June 2012.
Pastor Tentman graduated from Rosenwald High School, Harlan Kentucky in 1960. He attended Tennessee A. & I. State University 1960-1962 prior to entering the Navy. He attended Linda Vista Baptist Bible College and Seminary where he received a Bachelor Arts Degree on May 10, 1982; a Bachelor of Theology Degree on May 8, 1989; and a Master of Arts in Religion on May 7, 1990.
Pastor Tentman attended and graduated from National University in San Diego where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies on July 16, 1995; and a Master of Science Degree with a major in Educational Administration.
Pastor Tentman earned his Doctor of Divinity Degree from Masters International School of Divinity in October 2010.
Pastor Tentman serves as a Vice Moderator on the official staff of the Progressive Missionary Baptist District Association of Southern California.