Friday, October 11, 2013

Pastor Appreciation Month


The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.  1 Timothy 5:17 

October is Pastor Appreciation Month.  We are so blessed here at North Side Baptist Church to have so many great pastors on staff.  Every one of them loves the Lord with all their heart and strives to serve Him in every way.  They love this congregation too and it shows.

Van Houser –Senior Pastor.  He is an amazing man of God who has remarkable ways of sharing God’s word and reaching the congregation on Sunday mornings when he speaks.  He is funny, witty, down to earth, but serious when the situation calls for it.  People love his authenticity.  God continues to use him in a mighty way here at North Side.

Keith Warren – Executive Pastor.  Keith not only is an awesome preacher and teacher, but if you have a problem no one else can fix, he most likely can.  He is the one who knows everything.  He is the go-to guy.  But you have to catch up with him first!  He stays very busy.

Gary Wood – Worship Pastor.  Gary knows music and he knows how to lead people to worship with music.  He is a seasoned minister of music and has been at North Side for 28 years.  He has seen many choirs over the years and is still directing 3 choirs and leading music for the Blended Worship Service on Sundays.  God has given him a beautiful voice that he uses in service for Him.

Caleb Lain – Contemporary Worship Leader.  Caleb brought big changes to the music ministry when he came to North Side in 2008.  He added a contemporary flair that suits many of our congregation.  He has incredible talent and musical ability.  He leads the 9:30 Contemporary Service on Sunday mornings in worship and is pastor to the college and career group.  He also is in charge of foreign missions. 

Donnie O’Fallon and Kerry Patton – Pastoral Care Pastors.  Donnie and Kerry are the two pastoral care pastors here at North Side Baptist Church.  These guys are the ones that keep up with all the real care of the congregation.  They are aware of the illnesses and difficult life issues that our families here at North Side are going through and they are the ones passing on prayer requests, calling, and visiting people in the hospital.  They also help with benevolence of church members and non-church members as well as all kinds of counseling.  Kerry writes many of our devotionals and is also involved in music and our radio ministry.  They really never clock out.  They are pretty much on call 24/7.  My guess is that they wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Eric Adcock – Middle School Director.  Eric, otherwise known as “Bro”, has been on staff here for a little over a year.  He is our dynamic and extremely talented middle school youth director.  He is blessed musically and he knows how to handle the kids of this age, as he has three of his own, and connects with the kids on their level.  This year he took a group of middle school kids on the first ever middle school mission trip.  Our youth are so blessed to have both Eric and Jim.

Jim Garner – High School Youth Pastor.  Jim came to us a little over a year ago as well.  Both Jim and Eric are amazing with the kids.  Our youth department has been transformed into a well-oiled machine thanks to them (and God’s direction).  They are committed and devoted to the kids.  Jim has four kids and has an understanding of how they operate and what they need.  He and Eric are visiting kids during lunchtime at schools and are involved in their lives in many other ways as well.  They are building relationships and connecting with the kids in any way they can.  Jim also has brought the opportunity of youth involvement in foreign missions.  There is a mission trip planned to Honduras for high school students in the summer of 2014. 

Tamra Gutierrez - Preschool Director -. Tamra is the Preschool Director and Director of North Side Christian Preschool.  She has the thankless job of making sure all the little bitty North Siders are taken care of each Sunday and Wednesday.  She has to find teachers and volunteers and often does not make it to church herself because she is making sure everyone is taken care of.  She and Brian organize Vacation Bible School every year as well which involves finding more volunteers and organizing classes. 

Brian McKay - Children’s Pastor.  Brian is the pastor to children 1st through 6th grade.  He works every Sunday and Wednesday with the kids and goes to camp each summer.  He takes the 6th graders on a local mission trip each summer as well.  He works with the kids on salvation, offers new believers class and has special baptism services through the year for kids. 

John Dennie – Education Director.  John is responsible for overseeing all the adult discipleship classes that take place here on campus.  He previews all curriculums and leads some discipleship classes himself.   He is also responsible for local mission projects, does some counseling and helps with benevolence when needed. 

Donald Thompson – Senior Adult Pastor.  Donald is the pastor to our senior adults.  He keeps up with all their needs and prayer requests.  He takes the senior adults on several outings a year and many big trips as well. 

Jeff Carr – Media Director.  Jeff has a very important job.  Many people depend on him and other media volunteers.  From the choir to Brother Van and even the congregation, we all depend of the words on the screen to be there for us when we need them.  Also, the amount of time and effort that Jeff puts into special media projects, like Easter for example is endless.  The results are always amazing and enhance the sermon or program phenomenally.  He also handles any video or announcement we need done and slide shows of different events as well. 

Lance Gibson – Worship Assistant.  Lance works with Caleb and Gary in planning for the Sunday morning services as well as arranging music and even writing some music.  He plays guitar and sings in the 9:30 worship service just about every Sunday.  He also assists in media production.  He greatly enhances the music and media programs and is extremely talented.

Perhaps you had not realized how many ministers were on staff here or how many ministers it takes to meet the needs of a congregation this size with so many diverse groups.  God gives us pastors to help guide us and lead us.  Mark 6:34 says When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things. A flock of sheep without a shepherd is a bad thing.  They go all over the place, wandering without direction.  They are in great danger of wolves and other predators.  They have no one to lead them to green pastures and still waters.  Shepherds take care of their flock.  They invest their lives in them.  Pastors are called to be the shepherds to the flock of God.  They are called to teach and serve.  Take time this month to tell our awesome pastors here at North Side Baptist Church how much you appreciate them and how much they mean to you. 

Scripture to Claim:
Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding.  Jeremiah 3:15 

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