Our 34th anniversary as a church is just two weeks away, and so also our pastoral transition. I have been a pastor now for 40 years, having pastored in Eugene, Oregon for 6 years, and now here at Calvary Baptist Church for 34 years. We planted the church when I was 35 years old, and now at 34, Pastor Ryan is to assume the role of Senior Pastor.
He is significantly ahead of where I was at 35, as far as preparation for the pastorate is concerned. His Bible college experience at Heartland Baptist Bible College included training from some of the finest Bible preachers and teachers of our day.
In practical application, he has received experience in great ministries such as Southwest Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, where he and Jamie served for over 4 years, and then at Bible Baptist Church in Stillwater, where he and Jamie served on staff for over 2 years.
Then here at his home church, he has served in many capacities—Youth Pastor, music director, young adult Rooted Class leader, and Associate Pastor—for the past 11 years (as of May 2010). A combined practical ministry experience of almost 17 years is a great foundation for the next chapter of his ministry as Senior Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church!
I understand we even have some former members from out of town coming to celebrate that day of anniversary and pastoral transition with us, so let’s all look forward to a great day in our Lord’s house together, with new and old friends, on May 2, 2021! In what was perhaps a prophetic glimpse, the church calendar picture for May shows a younger Pastor Ryan and me in front of our first partially-completed building. (He and I both had a bit more hair then…sigh…)