Carroll was born on February 22, 1939, in Odessa, Texas to Bill and Ann Phillips. He was a beloved, only child. His early education was in Seagraves, Texas, where he graduated from Seagraves High school in May of 1957. Carroll accepted Christ at the age of 16 at a youth revival at First Baptist Church in Seagraves. He married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Merle Smith, in June of 1958.

He studied elementary education and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Louisiana Tech University in 1963. In May of 1967, Carroll received a Bachelor of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He earned his Doctor of Ministry in May of 1984 from Luther Rice Seminary in Jacksonvile, Florida (now in Atlanta).

In his early years he pastored Fairview Baptist Church in Rossville, Georgia, and Buckhead Baptist Church and Riverside Bible Church in

Atlanta, Georgia.

From 1975-1979 Carroll served as the administrative vice president for the Zig Ziglar Corporation in Dallas, Texas, where he supported Zig as a new Believer.

From 1984-1993 he was pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in

Blackshear, Georgia.

Carroll had a visionary spirit and in 1993 he founded Impact Ministries and served as president for the next ten years. The goal of this vision was to promote righteousness within the Georgia legislature. Here he had the privilege of training 150 Christian young people to serve as aides and interns to the executive and legislative branches of the Georgia state government. The ministry was based on prayer and service according to 1 Timothy 2:1-2 and Titus 3:1-2. For several years he also taught a weekly Bible study to members of the state senate. While the ministry to the Georgia state senate was very effective, a huge impact was made on the young people who were trained, and several of them are now serving in the Georgia state government.

Carroll's faith and life were founded in the Lordship of Jesus Christ and His teachings. His favorite books of the Bible to teach were Genesis, Revelation, Nehemiah, and Ephesians. Carroll's main focus and study in the last few years of his life was on teaching the book of Revelation.

Revelation 22:20

"Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.