Pastor Clarence O. Preston, Ph.D., is a native of Terrell, Texas. He received his elementary and secondary education in the Terrell Independent School District. Pastor Preston graduated from Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins, Texas, with a B.S. degree in sociology and religion in 1993. He furthered his education by attending Criswell College in Dallas, Texas, graduating with a Master of Arts degree in Christian Leadership in 1998. Pastor Preston earned a Master of Science degree in Education Administration from Texas A&M University-Commerce in Commerce, Texas, in 2000.

He has a certification in generic special education and mid-management. In 2010, he earned a Master of Divinity degree in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. In May 2014, Pastor Preston received a D.Min. degree from the Houston Graduate School of Theology in Houston, Texas. He completed his Ph.D. in Biblical Studies (Ministry) at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, in December 2021.

He has served as pastor for over twenty-five years, including pastor of the Goodwill Baptist Church of Greenville, Texas, for seven years, and El Bethel Baptist Church, Waxahachie, Texas, for four years. He is presently the pastor of Beth Eden Baptist Church, in Dallas, Texas. He is married to Charles Etta Dorsey Preston. They have two adult children, Xavier, Charisma, and one granddaughter, Imani.

He is a member of the NAACP, Oak Cliff Baptist Ministers Union of Dallas, Texas, Southern Baptist of Texas Convention, Southern Baptist Convention, Dallas Baptist Association, National Missionary Baptist Convention, and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He is an assistant professor of religion at Jarvis Christian University in Hawkins and Dallas, Texas. He serves on the Board of Trustees at Criswell College in Dallas, Texas.

Pastor Preston is the author of two books, one entitled, The Priesthood of All Believers: Uplifting All Members, and the second book entitled How to Make It Last Forever: Marriage from a Christian Perspective. He has received several awards and recognitions throughout his ministry. Pastor Preston enjoys preaching, teaching, and ministering to people. He finds pleasure in spending time with family and friends, relaxing, reading, traveling, collecting model cars, and golfing.