Today marks the 37th anniversary of my ordination into the Pastoral Ministry. On this date in 1987, the church in which I grew up affirmed the calling I had from God and set me apart to lead another congregation. In Baptist life, ordination is an affirmation that God has equipped a person to serve in ministry leadership. Please permit me to share some observations I’ve made over the last 37 years.
Many spiritual significant things happened through my involvement in my home church, Pine Forest Baptist Church.
I came to know Jesus as my Savior as a young boy during an evangelistic meeting in our church.
Faithful men and women discipled me in Christian faith through that church.
My church faithfully prayed for me when I publicly declared that I sensed God’s call on my life for ministry.
Several pastors and staff members “took me under their wing” and mentored me. Specifically, my pastor Jimmy Corbitt, Gary Hadden, and Pat Davis mentored me and modeled ministry for me.
I met, courted and eventually married the love of my life in that church.
And February 22, 1987, at the recommendation of five older pastors who comprised my “ordaining council” the church ordained me.
For 5 years prior to my ordination, I served several churches around Macon as student minister and/or music minister. But 37 years ago, God set me on a journey that has been nothing short of an adventure.