This past weekend, Dr. Johnny Hunt preached his final “official” sermon at senior pastor of First Baptist Church Woodstock (GA). There will be more from this service in future posts but I was especially touched by First Lady Janet’s address to the congregation prior to Pastor Johnny’s message.
As I listened to this Godly lady thank the congregation for 33 years of love shown to her, her husband, their children, and now grandchildren, I developed a picture of the type of church anyone would want to pastor. All of the following comments are from Miss Janet.
- A Church Anyone Would Want To Pastor Is Determined By The Quality Of Its People – “You, the congregation, make this a wonderful church, one that any pastor would be honored to minister with.”
- A Church Anyone Would Want To Pastor Is Always Welcoming And Glad To See You – “This is not a ‘Farewell Address’ but a ‘Thank You Address.’ Thank you that in December 1986 you welcomed me, not knowing me but treating me like family.”
- A Church Anyone Would Want To Pastor Loves You For Who You Are – “You have allowed me to grow with you and be my crazy self”
- A Church Anyone Would Want To Pastor Does Not Put You In A Place Of Discomfort – “and not put me in a place of discomfort”
- A Church Anyone Would Want To Pastor Treats You And Your Family With Honor And Respect – “but always treating me with honor and respect.”
- A Church Anyone Would Want To Pastor Supports Your Dreams – “All of our years of Ladies Night out, 17 years, you supported that dream.”
- A Church Anyone Would Want To Pastor Helps You Raise Your Children – “You’ve watched my children grow… You’ve helped them develop into the wonderful young ladies they are today.”
- A Church Anyone Would Want To Pastor Is A Church Their Children Love Also – “(My girls) have looked forward to church activities and not held resentment to the church in anyways.”
- A Church Anyone Would Want To Pastor Celebrates With You – “You endured much as Johnny took Katie (his first grandchild) on the platform with him almost every Sunday as a gloating new grandparent.”
- A Church Anyone Would Want To Pastor Treats You Like Family – “You have made our family feel like your family.”
- A Church Anyone Would Want To Pastor Makes A Tangible Investment In Your Family – “Our family will be forever grateful for the investment you have made in the lives of our family.”
- A Church Anyone Would Want To Pastor Is Loving And Supportive – “Many pastors’ wives around the globe have been hurt by church members… This is an issue I have not been able to address for the last 33 years because you have been so loving and so supportive of us.”
- A Church Anyone Would Want To Pastor Is Extravagantly Generous To You And Your Family – “We’ve never known a more loving and generous church than First Woodstock. You have lavished us with gifts on our yearly church anniversaries and sent us on trips we will never forget.”
Pastor Johnny and his family have been a gift to the city of Woodstock. As I listened to Miss Janet’s comments, I realized what a gift the people of First Baptist Church Woodstock have been to their community as well.
As you reflect on the 13 lessons above, can you say your church is like FBCW? If not, what changes need to be made?
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