A Missionary's Corner
Greetings Elkin Baptist Association. As your new Associational Missions Strategist (AMS) I want to thank you for the opportunity to serve our Lord by serving the churches of this association. I count it an honor and I look forward to working with each of you in the days ahead as we seek to further the Kingdom of God in our community and around the world.
As we begin this journey together, I want to start by introducing myself. Both my wife (Vicki) and I are originally from Ashe County, NC. We were married in 1983 and have three children and six grandchildren. My wife is my best friend and my partner in the ministry.
I experienced the grace of God’s salvation through Jesus as a young teenager and then answered God’s call to preach at the age of 18. I assumed my first pastorate at the age of 20. I have been a pastor ever since. I have served the Welcome Home Baptist Church (Ashe County), Cranberry Baptist Church (Wilkes County), Friendship Baptist Church (Ashe County) and Elkin Valley Baptist Church (Surry County). I recently retired from Elkin Valley after serving as their pastor for 28 years.
After working as a pastor for over 40 years I have learned to truly love God’s church. I believe it is the vehicle God has and will use to reach our world with the Gospel. As such, it is my hope that I can be an instrument that God uses to mobilize our churches to fulfill the Great Commission. My goal is that we can do this together. There is a power in partnership that enables us to do more working together than we can ever hope to achieve separately. I pray we can harness this unity to further God’s Kingdom.
My years as a pastor have also given me a great love for pastors. I understand what a challenging, difficult and often lonely task it can be. As such, I also want to be used to encourage and assist our pastors. My desire is to be a support and cheerleader for these men as they lead their congregations to become Great Commission churches.
This is a new role for me so pray for me as I learn and adjust to it. Pray for our association and what God wants for us. I am excited about the future of the Elkin Baptist Association. We have great churches, great pastors and great congregations. Working together we can make an eternal difference in our community as well as the world. Our community needs the Gospel. Our world needs the Gospel. Our churches are the vehicle to take them the Gospel. I pray we will work together as partners in fulfilling this great mission. Seventeen churches working together toward one mission can accomplish immeasurably great things.
Again, thank you for the opportunity to serve. I look forward to meeting each of you. I hope you will renew your commitment to our association. Come to our meetings and join in our efforts. Let us walk into the future as one people doing the work of God!
Johnny
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For the month of March pray for these churches as well as the pastors & their families:
Cool Springs—Jeff & Linda Collins
East Elkin—Rex Walker
