By Leigh Pritchett
Correspondent, The Alabama Baptist
Gary Fenton of Vestavia frequently shares with ministry and corporate leaders lessons learned from his 45-plus years in ministry, including 25 years as senior pastor of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Birmingham. Currently he serves with Samford University and on the boards of The Alabama Baptist/TAB Media and the Salvation Army.
Ministry: Senior advancement officer for Samford University and retired longtime pastor
Church name: Dawson Memorial Baptist Church in Birmingham Metro Baptist Association
Life verse: “And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou has sent” (John 17:3).
Q: Tell about a “turning point” in your life and how God was involved.
A: As a young pastor I was serving a fast-growing congregation in an exciting location, and I sensed God leading me to move to a church that had small numerical potential and was located in a very small community. I did not want to go.
I heard (TAB editor emeritus) Bob Terry speak at an event at which he quoted E. Stanley Jones: “There comes one moment in a person’s life in which you must place all of your weight upon Jesus or forever live as a coward.” I knew this was my moment and moved to the church. While the church did not grow numerically, I grew spiritually perhaps more than any other time in my life.
Q: Have you ever read a book that changed the way you think about God and faith?
A: “Renovation of the Heart” by Dallas Willard helped me have a more fully integrated view of spiritual growth. While Bible study was important, spiritual growth also involves relationship — the way I used my mind, my body and my emotions.
Prior to reading this book, I focused my attention on learning Bible information rather than using the truths of the Bible to intentionally influence every dimension of my life.
Q: Does your church have any special traditions that mean a lot to you?
A: When I served as pastor I loved the tradition of the parent-child-church dedication. A child is not only a gift and a responsibility to parents but to the church as well. Helping the church family accept its responsibility was meaningful to me.
Share with others: