Crossroads Baptist Association

Pathway Church
West Carmel, Indiana
Projected launch date
Easter 2013
 

BIO

I was born in Anderson, Indiana and lived in Indiana until my family relocated to Chattanooga, Tennessee when I was nine years old. I graduated from Tennessee Temple Academy and ultimately returned to Indiana to study music at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. While at IU, I met my future wife, Laura. We met while sitting in a hallway waiting to be called in for choir auditions.

Upon graduation, I served as a full-time Minister of Music at a church on the east side of Indy. After a few years, I left the church to pursue a Master of Music in Church Music at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

Upon graduation, I was called to serve as a Minister of Music at First Baptist Church, Centre, Alabama. During my tenure, the pastor asked if I would preach one Sunday night. Subsequently, I began to fill the pulpit for him on occasion. When he retired, I began to preach while the church searched for a new pastor. Although the pulpit committee asked me to become pastor on two different occasions, I refused; however, I could not find peace. God made it clear to me through a series of unusual events that he was calling me to pastor the church. I have served as pastor of Centre First Baptist for thirteen years. After become pastor, I attended extension classes through New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and received my M.Div. A few years later, I received my Doctor of Ministry from New Orleans  

CALL TO CHURCH PLANTING

God has blessed us in our ministry at Centre First Baptist Church; however, one night after preaching through my first sermon in the Beatitudes series (Oct., 2009) I felt God telling me it was time to leave.  Initially, I felt He called me to go to another church.  After a year of searching and God closing doors, I found myself frustrated.  God used that time to reveal to me that He was preparing me for something else.

In January 2011, I was reading an article on church planting.  Although I had had a respected friend in ministry tell me that he could see me as a church planter, I had always rejected the notion.  However, upon reading the article, I felt God nudging me.  What happened over the next six months was amazing as God began to put people in my path, open doors and create a burden in my heart.

I specifically began to feel a burden to return to Indy.  I had no idea of the lostness of the people in Indianapolis until I began to meet with Dr. Rogers and Dr. Burton.  God opened my eyes to the need.

When the tornadoes ripped through Alabama, they came within fifteen miles of our home.  God used that tragic event to show my wife and I that He was calling us to step out in faith.  Since that time God has continued to reveal Himself and affirm that this is His will in our lives.


Hobbies/Interest:
Maintaining and playing theatre pipe organs
Writing
Teaching healthy-eating classes called Body4Believers


Favorite Christian author and why:
Andy Stanley.  I like how Andy takes complicated things and simplifies them in a way that makes sense and connects to daily living.


VISION

My vision is to plant a church that unchurched will want to attend.  It will be a church that is attractive to those whom God is attracting to Himself.  It will be a church that people want to invite their friends to attend because they know that what we do will be done with excellence and that God's Word will be accurately taught in relevant, practical and applicable ways.



SPONSORING CHURCH

Gasburg First Baptist
11564 N. Gasburg Road
Mooresville, Indiana 46158
Pastor: Jack Elliott, Jr.
www.gasburgbaptistchurch.com

 



Hobbies/Interest:

Maintaining and playing theatre pipe organs

Writing

Teaching healthy-eating classes called Body4Believers

Favorite Christian author and why:

Andy Stanley. I like how Andy takes complicated things and simplifies them in a way that makes sense and connects to daily living.