Testimony

I have been actively serving God for over 27 years, having accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior on February 28, 1976.  As a child both I and my parents were in and out of Churches, many of them good Churches, but at that time I did not truly understand what it meant to be a Christian. A “Presbyterian by birth”, I joined the Church and was baptized as a child. I learned the catechisms, studied hard, and did everything I could do to win the praise of men. But in joining the Church I never met the One who is its cornerstone (Ephesians 2.20), Jesus Christ.

I accepted Christ as my Savior while at a old time “Tent Revival”.  I joined the Air Force shortly after my salvation in June of  1976, and  entered Boot Camp and a new way of life as a Christian.  Though I visited several different denominations in my travels, it wasn't until May 1982 that I was introduced to The Southern Baptist denomination  by a friend.  On May 23, 1982, I and my wife both joined Loch Laurel Baptist: I by Baptism and profession of faith while Sherry joined by letter from Morningside Baptist Church in Valdosta, Georgia.  When I retired from Active duty in September 1994 we returned to Georgia to live and work.

I was recognized and ordained as a  Deacon on February 26, 1995 by Loch Laurel Baptist (Valdosta Baptist Association).  While serving as a Deacon, my Pastor called on me many times for Pulpit Supply in his absence.   I approached both the Pastor and the Deacons, and, after prayer and discussion, they agreed.  I became inactive as a Deacon when Loch Laurel Baptist Church licensed me as a Minister of the Gospel on March 24, 1996.

On June 9, 1999, Okapilco Southern Baptist Church called me to be their Pastor. After examination by the Ordination Council (convened at Greenwood Baptist Church), I was ordained to the Gospel Ministry by Greenwood Baptist Church (Valdosta Association) on August 22, 1999.

Educational: I have pursued extension courses from Dallas Theological Seminary, but my first and foremost source of education in the Ministry has been God the Holy Spirit. Through God's strength I have studied the Scriptures contextually, historically, topically, and in it's original written languages, always seeking to apply what was learned to the Christian walk. I believe that it is understanding and application of God's Word that gives the believer the ability to grow and do good for God (2 Timothy 3.16-17). Based on this belief, and in order to be of service to the Body of Christ throughout our world, I have posted a number of Biblically conservative studies and sermons at my website, bibleteacher.org.

Teaching and Preaching Ministries: God has graciously given me the gifts of teaching and preaching, twin gifts that continue to bring me great inner joy. I have been privileged to teach all age groups in the Southern Baptist Convention, both in Sunday School and Training Union. There is no greater joy than to minister as the Spirit leads and, prayerfully, to see believers grow spiritually, empowered to stand for God in this often evil world. One of the young men that I taught when he was a child went on to be ordained as a Deacon, and is now the pastor of one of our Southern Baptist Churches!

Internet Ministries: I and my wife Sherry have an extensive Bible Study and Sermon resource site on the Internet at www.bibleteacher.org.  Through this ministry (which is used by over 28,000 people per month) we have been blessed to interact with Christians as far away as Pakistan, and all throughout the United States. Many who visit are Ministers themselves looking for Sermon material, and the site provides nearly 3000 studies, sermons, and public domain Christian books, all Biblically conservative. Please, feel free to visit it yourself!

In Ministry: The Lord has allowed me to fill the pulpit at Lochlaurel, Redlands, Stockton, Evergreen, Okapilco, Harmony,  Cecil, First Baptist in Quitman and First Baptist in Ray City.  These are all Churches, in the Valdosta and Mercer Southern Baptist Associations. I spoke at Berea Bible Institute (nondenominational) (Gautier, Mississippi) on November 13-14, 1998,  at the request of Reverend John White, founder of that Institute. I have also preached at Boe Road Southern Baptist in Grand Bay, Alabama.

On June 9, 1999, Okapilco Baptist Church (Mercer Association) called me to be their Pastor. I faithfully served in this position until October 2000, and still hold great regard and love for the Church that blessed us and helped us to grow in our ministry.

I have planned and directed Bus Ministry and Church Visitation programs. I have also directed Sunday School, and were the Sunday School Director at Greenwood Baptist Church, which has an average attendance of 200 souls every Sunday.

I consider my wife Sherry an integral part of my life and my ministry. If I am called to be your pastor, you need to know that my wife is always in attendance when I counsel the women of the Church. This is in keeping with the Scriptural injunction of 1 Thessalonians 5:22, "Abstain from all appearance of evil." As a pastor I always visit Church members in the hospital, when a loved one reaches the end of this life, or when called. In all appropriate instances Sherry accompanies me. You will find her to be an exemplary pastor's wife.

Sherry and I were married on August 12, 1978.  She has always worked among the younger children in the church, and has managed youth programs. We have had three children.

Michael Enoch (born August 1, 1979) is my oldest son. He married April Pollock, a Christian and a school teacher, on March 8, 2003. Michael feels led of God to youth ministry, and is presently pursuing his education at Valdosta State University. Our middle son, Stephen Paul, went to be with the Lord on October 1, 1998. Our youngest son, Matthew Salem (born March 12, 1983), is in North Georgia pursuing an education as a chef. All of my immediate family has accepted Christ as Savior, and have followed Jesus in baptism. Michael  accepted Christ as Savior on July 23, 1986; Stephen (who is with the Lord now) accepted Christ as Savior on December 25, 1994; and Matthew accepted Christ as Savior on January 15, 1995.

The following people, part of my Family in Christ, can verify my service to the Lord:

Franklin and Mary Ann Cason, (229-263-5533) Pastor at Harmony Baptist Church (Middle Florida Association). Franklin sponsored us into the ministry when he recommended our licensing, and I consider him my father in the ministry.

Steve and Nancy Cason, (229-263-7496) Deacon at Harmony Baptist Church (Middle Florida Association)

Penny McCracken  (229-559-0814)

Doctor Benny Woods, Pastor of Greenwood Baptist Church (229-259-0283), who was Board President for my ordination into the ministry. 

I fully support and affirm the current Baptist Faith and Message, as adopted by the messengers of the Southern Baptist Convention. I am an ordained Southern Baptist minister of the Gospel of Christ. The following doctrinal statement is given to further clarify what I believe.

I. Of the Scriptures

I believe in the authority and sufficiency of the Holy Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, as originally written; that it was verbally and plenarily inspired and is the product of Spirit-controlled men, and therefore is infallible and inerrant in all matters of which it speaks. I believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian unity and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creed and opinions shall be tried. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:19-21.

II. The True God

I believe there is one and only one living and true God, infinite Spirit, the Maker and supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every Divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. Exodus 20:2, 3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11.

III. The Holy Spirit

I believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgment; that He bears witness to the truth of the gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the Agent in the new birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer. John 14:16, 17; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; Genesis 1:1-3; John 16:8-11; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5, 6; Ephesians 1:13, 14; Mark 1:8; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; Romans 8:14, 16, 26, 27.

IV. The Devil, or Satan

I believe in the reality and personality of Satan, the Devil; and that he was created by God as an archangel but through pride and rebellion became the enemy of his Creator; that he became the unholy god of this age and the ruler of all the powers of darkness and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire. Matthew 4:1-11; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10.

V. Creation

I believe the Biblical account of the creation of the physical universe, angels, and man; that this account is neither allegory nor myth, but a literal, historical account of the direct, immediate creative acts of God without any evolutionary process; that man was created by a direct work of God and not from previously existing forms of life; and that all men are descended from the historical Adam and Eve, first parents of the entire human race. Genesis 1; 2; Colossians 1:16, 17; John 1:3.

VI. The Fall of Man

I believe that man was created in innocence (in the image and likeness of God) under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression Adam fell from his sinless and happy state, and all men sinned in him, in consequence of which all men are sinners, are partakers of Adam's fallen nature, and are sinners by nature and by conduct, and therefore are under just condemnation without defense or excuse. Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 3:10-19; 5:12, 19; 1:18, 32.

VII. The Virgin Birth

I believe that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a normal virgin woman, as no other man was ever born or can be born of woman, and that He is both the Son of God and God the Son. Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:14.

VIII. Salvation

I believe that the salvation of sinners is divinely initiated and wholly of Grace through the mediatorial offices of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who, by the appointment of the Father, voluntarily took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, and honored the divine law by His personal obedience, thus qualifying Himself to be our Savior; that by the shedding of His blood in His death He fully satisfied the just demands of a holy and righteous God regarding sin; that His sacrifice consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner's place, the Just dying for the unjust, Christ the Lord bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that having risen from the dead He is now enthroned in Heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all sufficient Savior. I believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation. Repentance is a change of mind and purpose toward God prompted by the Holy Spirit and is an integral part of saving faith. Jonah 2:9; Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24, 25; John 3:16; Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7, 8; Hebrews 2:14-17; Isaiah 53:4-7; 1 John 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians. 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24.

IX. Resurrection and Priesthood of Christ

I believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ and in His ascension into Heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of the Father as our High Priest interceding for us. Matthew 28:6, 7; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2-6, 51; Acts 1:9-11; Revelation 3:21; Hebrews 8:6; 12:2; 7:25; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:1; Hebrews 2:17; 5:9, 10.

X. Grace and the New Birth

I believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth makes the believer a new creation in Christ Jesus; that the new birth is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about by our sovereign God in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith and newness of life. John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 5:1; Acts 16:20-33; 2 Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1, 5; Colossians 2:13; John 3:8.

XI. Justification

I believe that justification is that judicial act of God whereby He declares the believer righteous upon the basis of the imputed righteousness of Christ; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any work of righteousness which I have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer's shed blood. Romans 3:24; 4:5; 5:1, 9; Galatians 2:16; Philippians 3:9.

XII. Sanctification

I believe that sanctification is the divine setting apart of the believer unto God accomplished in a threefold manner; first, an eternal act of God, based upon redemption in Christ, establishing the believer in a position of holiness at the moment he trusts the Savior (Positional Sanctification); second, a continuing process in the saint as the Holy Spirit applies the Word of God to the life as that saint reads, studies, and applies that Word (Progressive Sanctification); third, the final accomplishment of this process at the Lord's return (Glorification or Ultimate Sanctification). Hebrews 10:10-14; 3:1; John 17:17; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 4; 5:23, 24; 1 John 3:2; Jude 24, 25; Revelation 22:11.

XIII. The Security of the Saints

I believe that all who are truly born again are kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6; John 10:28, 29; Romans 8:35-39; Jude 1.

XIV. The Church

I believe that a local church is an organized congregation of immersed believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers are men called and gifted by God the Holy Spirit to be pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. I believe the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men. I hold that the local church has the absolute right of self government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only Superintendent is Christ and His Word through the Holy Spirit; that it is Scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; that on all matters of membership, of polity, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. 1 Corinthians 11:2; Acts 20:17-28; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Acts 2:41, 42. I believe in the unity of all New Testament believers in the Church which is the Body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12, 13; Ephesians 1:22, 23; 3:1-6; 4:11; 5:23; Colossians 1:18; Acts 15:13-18.

XV. Baptism and the Lord's Supper

I believe that Christian baptism is the single immersion of a believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful symbol our identification with the crucified, buried and risen Savior, through Whom I died to sin and rose to a new life; that baptism is to be performed under the authority of the local church; and that it is required for all who desire to be members of local church.

I believe that the Lord's Supper is the commemoration of His death until He come, and should be preceded always by solemn self examination. I believe that the Biblical order of the ordinances is baptism first and then the Lord's Supper, and that participants in the Lord's Supper should be immersed believers. Acts 8:36, 38, 39; John 3:23; Romans 6:3-5; Matthew 3:16; Colossians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41, 42.

XVI. Separation

I believe in obedience to the Biblical commands to separate ourselves unto God from worldliness and ecclesiastical apostasy. 2 Corinthians 6:14--7:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:9, 10; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; Romans 16:17; 2 John 9-11.

XVII. Civil Government

I believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed; except in those things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ Who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming King of kings. Romans 13:1-7; 2 Sam. 23:3; Exodus 18:21, 22; Acts 23:5; Matthew 22:21; Acts 5:29; 4:19, 20; Daniel 3:17, 18.

XVIII. Israel

I believe in the sovereign selection of Israel as God's eternal covenant people, that she is now dispersed because of her disobedience and rejection of Christ, and that she will be regathered in the Holy Land and, after the completion of the Church, will be saved as a nation at the second advent of Christ. Genesis 13:14-17; Romans 11:1-32; Ezekiel 37.

XIX. Rapture and Subsequent Events

I believe in the premillennial return of Christ, an event which can occur at any moment, and that at that moment the dead in Christ shall be raised in glorified bodies, and the living in Christ shall be given glorified bodies without tasting death, and all shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air before the seven years of the Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 51-54; Philippians 3:20, 21; Revelation 3:10.

I believe that the Tribulation, which follows the Rapture of the Church, will be culminated by the revelation of Christ in power and great glory to sit upon the throne of David and to establish the millennial kingdom. Daniel 9:25-27; Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 1:30-33; Isaiah 9:6, 7; 11:1-9; Acts 2:29, 30; Revelation 20:1-4, 6.

XX. The Righteous and the Wicked

I believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that only those who are justified by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and sanctified by the Spirit of our God are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost in the lake of fire. Malachi 3:18; Genesis 18:23; Romans 6:17, 18; 1 John 5:19; Romans 7:6; 6:23; Proverbs 14:32; Luke 16:25; Matthew 25:34-41; John 8:21; Revelation 20:14, 15.