My Pastor

 

It was fifty years ago that I met this young preacher from Oak Grove Baptist Church in Pine Hill Alabama. A visiting preacher had recommended this young man to the Union Springs Baptist Church in Randolph, Alabama during its pastorate vacancy.

Union Springs’ pastor search committee traveled to Pine Hill to hear this young man. Upon their recommendation, Union Springs had him preach a trial sermon. I had a Methodist preacher friend that called the Baptist process an audition. I told my friend he was probably correct calling a pastor simply for his oratory proficiency does have limitations.

In fact, one of the Union Springs’ deacons worried that the young man may be a novice and not enough experience. That same deacon would later lead an expedition to Pine Hill to move the young preacher and his family to Union Springs.

When the young man “auditioned” for us we were excited. This young man would be our second full-time pastor. Union Springs had been several months with an interim preacher and had actually grown under his leadership.

I will never forget the morning of the “audition.” The church was buzzing with the anticipation of the prospect. I entered the church carrying my first-born son on my hip. In fact, the church had several children that had been born in the last year. I introduced myself and welcomed him and his family.

Finally, the young and very nervous young preacher displayed his oratory talents as he broke the bread of life from God’s Word. Union Springs offered him the call to come and he accepted. He was an excellent preacher, and God blessed his gift with us for nearly a decade. The church increased in number and wisdom under his leadership.

Several of us traveled to Pine Hill to move his family. I would eventually become the Director of Missions for the Bethel Baptist Association which the Oak Grove Baptist Church was a member. They reminded me that I had stolen their pastor when I visited them.

That morning that we loaded and moved the young preacher I never realized that I would become a deacon, a pastor and eventually a director of missions because of that young preacher.

As the young preacher matured, he would baptize my parents and my children, perform the weddings of my brother and sister, and conduct the funerals of my dad and mom. My dad accepted the Lord as his savior under the leadership of this preacher. My dad thought of him as a son. This was remarkable since dad did not like preachers. When I became a minister mom asked dad what he was going to do since he had distain for preachers.

As my pastor I had the opportunity to collaborate with him. Because I worked on a rotating schedule I went to a multitude of events with him. I did realize it at the time, but he said, “I pray the Lord open doors of opportunity and sometimes the door is barely open, but it is open. Check to make sure it is open and then go through it.”

Growing alongside the young pastor for fifty years, I thank God for him. I always call him my pastor. Thanks be to God for my pastor Evie Riley Megginson, my mentor, my brother in ministry, and my friend. It has been a wonderful journey my friend.

He and I laughed a Sunday or two ago when he was telling folks about preaching from the roof top. He promised Union Springs that if two hundred in Sunday school that he would preach from the church roof. He is afraid of heights.

One Sunday there were two hundred plus. He chose the lowest roof, and he preached with a deacon on each side of him. Wayne Dutton placed his right foot against Evie’s left foot, and I placed my left foot against his right foot. It was an earth-shaking sermon. Evie was trembling the whole time, but he fulfilled his promise.

Happy Pastor's Appreciation Month, Evie

And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. Jeremiah 3:15 KJV

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-12

What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. Matthew 10:27 KJV