Thank You, Kentucky

In August of 2006 I was fresh out of High School and moved to a most unlikely town to go to Bible College, Louisville, KY. Six and a half years later I am now back in Michigan with a wife, two kids, a Bachelor’s Degree, several hours towards a Master’s Degree and some ministry experience. I don’t anticipate ever living in the bluegrass state again, but as we stayed our last night in Kentucky at the Legacy Center I spent some time reflecting on all of the people I had met, all of the knowledge I had gained and all of the ministry opportunity I was given. As a result of that contemplation, there are some people that I must thank.

The first is The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Boyce College. That school is the reason I first left the great lakes state and headed down south. I will always be indebted to Dr. Al Mohler and the entire faculty that have given me a vision for gospel-centered ministry and a love for theology. Professors like Dr. Travis Kerns, Dr. Brian Payne, Dr. Steve Wellum, Dr. Russell Moore, Dr. Dave DeKlavon, Dr. Barry Joslin, Dr. Dan DeWitt, Dr. Jim Orrick, Dr. Jim Hamilton and Dr. Greg Wills, to name a few, have instilled a love for the bible and theology in me that I will carry my entire life. I must especially acknowledge Dr. Chad Brand who not only was an amazing professor, but also allowed me to serve as a Garrett Fellow to him for two and a half years. Dr. Brand gave me academic guidance and also was kind enough to come and teach at the church I pastored in Fordsville. While I am still pursuing my M.Div. and will be a student at SBTS for a few more years, I will never be on campus in the same way I have been for the past six plus years. Since 2006 I had been at the seminary at least once a week. I am thankful for the continuing work of the Seminary in my life and in the work of the gospel; I hope this partnership that began six and a half years ago will endure for my lifetime.

The second entity I must thank is Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, KY. Highview was my local church for three years before I began to serve vocationally. I was a member of the college ministry there and also served in AWANA and the music ministry. Before leaving to serve elsewhere, I also served as a Pastoral Intern for the summer of 2009. My deepest appreciation from my time at Highview is owed to Dr. Russell Moore, who served as a Teaching Pastor for a few years. Dr. Moore is one of my favorite preachers in the whole world; he preaches like no one I have ever heard. His skill in crafting a sermon and communicating the gospel to the church is unmatched. I am thankful that for a season I could call him my pastor.

The third offer of gratitude belongs to Pellville Baptist Church where I served as Youth Pastor from October of 2009 to April of 2011. Pellville was where I began my ministry. The youth group there will always be my youth group. We lost a dear friend and member of the youth group, Tony Mitchell, not long after we were called to another church. We will always miss and remember him; one of my favorite pictures I have of our first born son, Alex Jr., is with Tony. Pellville is the church that ordained me to the gospel ministry. I will always be thankful for the dear friends we made at the church in “Bucksnort.”

Lastly, I must thank Fordsville Baptist Church. In May of 2011, Fordsville called me to be their Pastor and Bethany and I cannot express the love we have for this church. Fordsville is the place my two sons were born, it is the place where I officiated my first wedding and funerals. The first converts I baptized were at Fordsville and Fordsville is the place where I first preached on a weekly basis. This is big for me because for one thing I love preaching more than anything and I believe that is what God has called me to do. God used FBC in a mighty way and we will never forget the love that was shown to us. The people at Fordsville took us in and made us family, I did not anticipate how difficult it would be to leave, but God is sovereign and he loves his churches. We were there, in his providence, for a time and now he’s got something else for us and Fordsville.

I am blessed to be called to the ministry; don’t get me wrong, I know it is difficult and not always fun. But I still marvel at the fact that I did and still have the opportunity to study theology at the greatest seminary in the world. I am amazed that I am compensated to study God’s Word and pray and minister in the local church. I am so thrilled to be back in my home state of Michigan, in metro Detroit where I was born and raised and in the church I have been attending since grade school. I hope that I live in Detroit for the rest of my life and minister at Heritage for that time as well. But I also am willing to go and do whatever God has for me. I owe an incredible debt to the state of Kentucky and in a small way, it will always be “My ol’ Kentucky home.”