Fifty.

Monte at Clark’s Creek Baptist Church

Fifty years ago this month, February 1973, I was invited by Bro Simeon Webster to preach at Clark’s Creek Baptist Church. He was the pastor and a long time friend of our family. Bro Sim had faithfully preached for many years all around that part of Kentucky. This was his second go round at Clark’s Creek. The church had had numerous pastors in a short period of time. Bro Sim was back and he invited me to come preach on February 6 and I did. 

On February 13th Simeon Webster resigned and recommended that they “call that boy that preached last week”. I did go back the next week and preach for them. I preached several weeks through the spring but did not want to be their pastor. I was a student at the University of Kentucky at that time, sensing a call to preach, but not to Clark’s Creek for $20 a week. I felt surely God wanted me to start out at First Baptist Church Dallas, Texas or something comparable. On June 6, 1973 I became their pastor and served there until August of 1977 when I resigned to begin seminary at Mid America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis Tennessee. 

Some of my Facebook friends came to Christ during those years at Clark’s Creek. Betty and I look back with fond memories and laugh at those days. They were not easy but they were good. I was getting an education before I ever went to seminary. I encourage every young man who senses a call to preach to jump in with both feet. Small churches across our country are looking for pastors of all ages who love Jesus and will love them. 

Clark’s Creek Baptist Church is closed now. I pray for each of the four churches God entrusted to my care. Whether in Dry Ridge, Leachville, Washington or Jefferson City, it has been a joy to try to lead a local church. Somewhere there is a young man who will hear God’s call and will “yes”. In my heart I can still hear Simeon Webster say, “We need to have someone come to this church and get the work started.” Amen!