Ask Don Carroll how much time he spends in an average work week at Calhoun Baptist Association and he’ll tell you “time and a half.” Carroll, who retired Dec. 31 as director of missions but still serves in an interim capacity, spends an average of 60 hours on the job weekly.
When he does step aside for good, Carroll will leave behind almost 11 years of memories at the association. He credits part of his success at Calhoun to his co-workers and 90 churches within the association.
“They’re very competent, dedicated and have a vision of what the association should be,” said Carroll. “I’ve had outstanding support from the churches in this association. They’re super nice people and do a great job supporting this association.”
Carroll describes his calling to Calhoun Association as a gradual process throughout a three-month period.
Before he accepted the director of missions job, Carroll was enjoying serving as a pastor. In fact, he had been a pastor since 1956 until a few friends told him he would make a great director of missions. Although Carroll rejected the idea initially, his friends sent his resumé to Calhoun Association and within three months God called him to the association.
“I did a lot of praying and conversations with my closest friends during those three months,” said Carroll. “Once I realized this is what God wanted me to do, I was totally convinced. This has been the happiest time of my life.”
Carroll said he dealt with many elements while on the job. “You might be dealing with a pastor on the verge of being fired and the next person might share with you the wonderful things God is doing in their life. I deal a lot with local, state and national missions,” said Carroll, who holds degrees from Mercer University in Macon, Ga., Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., and a doctorate from Luther Rice University in Atlanta Ga.
One church the association sponsored is located in North Dakota. Eight people met the pastor there and now it is one of the fastest growing churches in the state.
“We’ve been out there and held marriage enrichment retreats and revivals. We took 47 men out there to build an educational facility,” he said.
Carroll said his association is also sponsoring work in Venezuela. The first project is to train people to mentor new believers in Christ. He hopes a new church will start there.
Other duties in his time at the association included dealing with teacher training and supporting FAITH evangelistic material, Vacation Bible School and a counseling ministry.
The counseling partnership is with Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries in which the association provides space for the counselors to use. “That ministry is broadening and can reach people through our counseling. It can be anyone who takes advantage of this ministry, from a drug addict to someone with marital problems,” said Carroll.
Carroll also was chairman of the Shocco Springs Conference Center board of trustees. His wife, Charlotte, is a trustee for the Children’s Homes.
With retirement around the corner, Carroll plans to undertake new ventures. He and his wife plan to lead retreats for deacons and wives as well as marriage and enrichment retreats. He also is involved with Challenge to Build financial ministry, which raises money for churches to construct buildings. He hopes to train church members on how to plan personal budgets, showing how to control their finances according to God’s principles.
Carroll is already involved with six other men in a long-distance telephone and Internet company, Christian Ministry Support Line, which can be found at www.cmsl.net. The sole purpose of this ministry is to fund other ministries.
Share with others: