November 5
The Pastors In My Life
Over the years God has truly blessed my life with men that I have called, at different times, my pastor. These men have helped to mold me, shape me, and influence me. So much of who I am today is the result of the sum of these men and their influence in my life over the years. I was reminded the other day when I drove past a church sign that October was Pastor Appreciation Month. In view of that, I want to dedicate a blog post of appreciation to the following men, who in my life time, I’ve called “my pastor”.
Weldon Spracklin (Senior Pastor – Calvary Baptist – Wayne, MI) – Dr. Spracklin was the first man that I can remember being my pastor. I loved this guy. He loved my family. He was the man who was instrumental in leading my dad to Christ. He influenced my dad to go into ministry and treated him like a son in the faith. I will forever be indebted to this man for loving my dad and our family.
Bronson Clemens and Greg Springs (My youth pastors – Calvary Baptist & Worth Baptist – Ft. Worth, TX) – I would not be in ministry today if it were not for these amazing men who personally invested in my life. God gave me a wonderful mom and dad, but these two men were the “significant others” that God brought into my life to give me a passion for ministry and for reaching my friends for Christ.
John Hibbard (Senior Pastor – First Baptist, Pemberton, NJ) – The “Rev” as I affectionally call him, was my first boss in ministry. For almost three years he and I served together in this little borough in south central Jersey. Jersey was a tough, challenging time in my life. I was going to seminary full-time at Biblical Seminary in PA. I was serving as a student pastor. I was a community coach at the local high school (JV football and Varsity baseball), and I went through two broken engagements while I was there. This was a time of molding and purging in my life. However, God gave me the The Rev and his wife Carolyn (Ms. Hibb) who poured their lives into me. John Hibbard taught me how to preach, how to deal with tough situations, and how to minister to people. From time to time, we still talk on the phone. Their sons, Jack and Jay will remain my life-long friends. I had a chance to be with “The Rev” twice this past year. I truly love this man and his family.
Jerry Falwell (Senior Pastor – Thomas Road Baptist, Lynchburg, VA) – Dr. Falwell was my pastor in college and my pastor until the day he died in 2007. I had the honor of working for him as a student pastor from 1991-1997. Doc was the greatest visionary leader that I have ever known. He instilled in me the belief that there was no dream too big and there was no mountain too high. West Ridge Church was Jerry Falwell’s idea. His words and encouragement inspired Amy and me to plant it in 1997. He and his wife were like parents to me in college. His son Jonathan, is one of my closest friends in ministry. My last conversation with Dr. Falwell was at a little breakfast dive in Lynchburg. I asked him this question – “Doc, how do you deal with all of the criticism that’s thrown at you?” His reply, “I don’t! If I spent all of my time defending myself against my critics, I would never accomplish what God put me on this earth to do.” I learned how to overcome discouragement from this man. I learned to get up early and meet with God. I learned to have a passion for young pastors. I learned to dream big dreams. I learned to be there for my wife and kids. AND I learned to never, ever, ever, ever quit!!!
Johnny Hunt (First Baptist – Woodstock, GA) – Pastor Johnny reached out to me in 1997 when we were planting West Ridge, and said, “Let us help you.” He didn’t even really know me. First Baptist Woodstock has invested more resources and time over the years into our church than any other church. This man is the best shepherd of a large church that I know. He genuinely loves his people. His ability to communicate that to his folks is truly a gift. He is also one of the most Kingdom-minded pastors that I’ve ever been around. My heart for church planters and other pastors has come from my dad and Johnny Hunt. He probably doesn’t even realize how much I respect him as a husband, father, leader, and pastor. He is the real deal!
John Bloye (my dad and life long pastor – Grace Baptist, Boynton Beach, FL & Liberty Baptist, Howell, MI) – My dad was hands-down the best shepherd pastor I have ever known. He loved his people and they loved him. However, there was never a doubt who his top priority was after Jesus. It was my mom, my brothers Kevin and Jonathan, and me. My dad sacrificed having a name in ministry to invest in his family. When I went to the hospital with him or visited a person that was struggling with something, I would stand in awe at how he could bring calm and peace to any situation. He was not a self-promoter, he was not flashy, he was not a great orator, or a dynamic leader, but he was a Godly man, a lover of hurting people (especially men), a genuine lover of missions and lost people, a man of prayer, a great husband, and a dynamic father. The day he trusted Christ on April 11, 1976 set our family and my life in a completely different direction. I had the privilege of helping him plant two churches. When he died on June 25, 2004, a part of me died as well. However, now every time I speak, every time I go into a hospital room, every time I counsel someone, every time I pray over someone, every time I go on a foreign missions trip, and every time I play catch with my boys, I feel the spirit of John Bloye resting over me. He is still, and will always be, my hero and my role model.
CNN reported last week that the profession of Senior Pastor is in the list of the top 10 most stressful and underpaid jobs. While there are certainly days that I would concur with that study, most days I feel honored and blessed to be called to the senior pastorate. I love what I do and I love the people of West Ridge Church and northwest Atlanta. However, I’m thankful that God has strategically brought a group of men into my life, over the last 44 years, who have guided me, encouraged me, taught me, challenged me, saw things in me that I didn’t see in myself, at times rebuked me, and loved me enough to pour into my life.
To all my pastors, thank you! Happy Pastor Appreciation Month!