Focus on the Family began “Pastor Appreciation Month” in 1994 to remind congregations to honor their pastors and staff in tangible ways. They encouraged year-round affirmation, but designated October as a special month of appreciation.
Recently, I was thinking about several ministers whom God used to influence my spiritual formation and call to ministry.
My early childhood pastor was Roy W. Hinchey, who served East Point’s Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church for 17 years. He helped me with my decision to receive Christ, and baptized me in early 1966. Hinchey was a wonderful pastor, and a great preacher who sometimes got loud.
When I was about five-years-old, our church had a social in the fellowship hall one Sunday evening after worship. For some reason, I made my way to the stage, stood behind the podium, opened up my children’s Bible, and preached up a storm in front of that Sunday night crowd.
Ruth Hinchey spotted me, poked her husband in the ribs, pointed my way and said, “Roy, Roy, that’s exactly what you look like in the pulpit!” From that moment on, Brother Hinchey started calling me “my little preacher boy.”
I had no idea I’d end up in ministry, much less in the pastorate, but Hinchey planted seeds that one day would contribute to a call to ministry. He later preached the key sermon in my ordination service.
My dad’s job moved us to Milledgeville and we eventually joined First Baptist Church, where Dewey Norton was the pastor. Each year we had “Youth Sunday” where students taught Sunday School, participated in worship and held positions in church life that week. I was youth week preacher one year, and Norton allowed me to preach my first sermon on a Sunday night.
Later, he led First Baptist to ordain me to ministry, and followed my progress with great interest and encouragement. Norton served faithfully for 20 years, giving a great example of the benefits of staying the course.
As newlyweds, Amy and I lived in Atlanta and were invited to Wieuca Road Baptist Church, where William Self was pastor. Self was a great communicator and I enjoyed his preaching tremendously.
God was little by little revealing His call upon my life, and when I decided that God was leading me to seminary, I called Self and asked if Wieuca Road would endorse my seminary application. He graciously took care of that part of the application process.
Many years later, I ran into Self at a meeting, and when he saw me, he said, “I know you.” Even though his church was running thousands, somehow, with what little face time we had during my brief time there, he vaguely remembered me. We became better acquainted, but even though we didn’t know each other closely, he made a great impression on me.
My first pastorate came after seminary and was in Indianapolis. I was “green as grass” and cut my teeth in what became a tough place. I followed the founding pastor of a new church that turned ten years old while I was there. The interim pastor was a member of the church and he and his wife had hoped the church would make him pastor. I had a church full of mid-level managers filled with ambition and ego. They didn’t teach how to manage this stuff in seminary.
At just the right time, God sent two missionaries to Indianapolis to launch an evangelism project, and this gracious couple, Cloyd and Cecilia Sullins, wrapped their arms around this young, struggling pastor and wife. Cloyd’s listening ear, encouragement and wisdom were timely blessings, and God used them to love on us and lift us up.
Finally, Doyle Middlebrooks, our associational missionary, lived around the corner from us in Milledgeville. Middlebrooks had a quiet, gentle manner, but he was wise and took a great interest in my life. Even as a high school student, I felt God had a special assignment for me, but I had not yet identified it. He and I had many conversations about finding God’s will, and he, too, was a great encourager and example of faithfulness.
I’m thankful to God for the way he used these pastors in my life. As I look back, I wish I had shown more appreciation for their ministry at the time.
Dr. David L. Chancey is pastor, McDonough Road Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Georgia. The church gathers at 352 McDonough Road, just past the department of drivers services building, and meets for Bible study at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 10:55 a.m. on Sunday. View www.mcdonoughroad.org and like them on Facebook.
