Tommy Puckett has a plaque on his desk at the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM) that says, “My job is secure; it’s me they can live without.”
“It’s true,” he said with a laugh. “The ministry goes on whether I’m here or not.”
But even if that’s true, many will argue that a hole will be left in Alabama Baptist life when Puckett retires May 31 and the ministry will continue in large part because he built it for the past 20 years.
“Tommy is a true servant of the Lord who does not seek the spotlight or recognition for his tremendously effective ministry,” said Rick Lance, SBOM executive director.
When disaster strikes, a Puckett-organized infrastructure made up of associational disaster relief teams hits the road in strategically tapped, preplanned waves.
“Forty-three associations alone have taken on chain-saw and cleanup/recovery work as their personal ministry,” said Puckett, state disaster relief director. Others have developed their own shower, laundry, feeding and child-care units.
Ron Warren, cleanup/recovery/chain-saw state coordinator, is one of those laymen who’s now a first responder, thanks to Puckett’s organization. “Tommy tries hard to delegate authority and let you run it with his encouragement,” Warren said, noting that Puckett treats everyone with the utmost respect.
“Working with Tommy in disaster relief has been a great experience. His concern and dedication flows down into the task-force leadership,” he said. “He not only runs things from a mental aspect but from the heart. Disaster relief is not just a job with Tommy, it is a passion.”
Lance agreed, noting that Puckett’s ministry is making a widespread impact.
“Through the years, Tommy has developed and helped in training a large cadre of disaster relief volunteers in our state,” Lance said. “Tommy and these Alabama Baptist volunteers have been on the front lines of giving a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name when disasters have hit places in our country and around the world.”
But Puckett won’t take the glory for any of that.
“No credit to me; God has put so many important people in my path that this ministry could go on without me,” he said. “The leadership task force He has put in place is made up of people who are committed to this ministry. They know their roles and they go at it in an organized and communicative way.”
From the very start of his ministry, Puckett’s joy has been found in working himself out of a job.
“When I started out as a youth pastor, I stayed at a church (in Charlotte, N.C.) seven years. During that time, so many people in the church came to embrace the youth ministry as their own that by the end, I was simply encouraging the church people to pursue their own ministry,” he said.
Then God called him to another church to do it all over again. Then He called him to North Carolina Baptist Men, an auxiliary to the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Then He called him to the SBOM.
“Teaching and training and mentoring laymen to find their personal ministry — that is the most job enjoyment for me,” said Puckett, who serves as director of men’s ministries in addition to his disaster relief responsibilities. “Part of my joy has been to see their joy, to see the light turn on in their lives when they find that passion in a particular ministry.”
Ever since Puckett came to work among Alabama Baptists in 1989, there’s been no “typical day” for him. One day, Puckett might be working with men’s ministries or leadership training. The next day, softball, golf and other types of sports evangelism. The next, strategizing a massive relief effort in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, a major ice storm or a string of tornadoes.
There’s always been variety and Puckett said he’s built to operate best that way. “This fit sort of like a glove,” he said.
But come May 31 — just a few days after his 20th anniversary at the SBOM, as well as his 66th birthday — he’ll be widening his horizons even more.
“I have always enjoyed my work with Alabama Baptists and thank God daily for the privilege of serving,” Puckett said. “I plan to continue to serve in retirement — it will be a time in life to invest in ministries that I love but have not been able to give as much time to.”
First on the list will be diving into some of the ministries of his home church, Santuck Baptist, Wetumpka, in Elmore Baptist Association.
“I told my pastor and associate pastor that I want to be more involved after retirement, more than just sending my wife or my giving,” he joked.
Puckett said he also wants to spend more time with his wife, Elaine, in ministry, too, as well as in lay renewal weekends and possibly leadership training conferences —not to mention some time with the grandchildren.
Puckett might even spend some time as a “yellow hat” (disaster relief volunteer) on the front lines, doing some of the feeding or cleanup work. “It will be nice to have someone else tell me what to do,” he joked. But seriously he added, “I will serve in whatever capacity Mel (Johnson, who will serve as the new disaster relief director) deems I might be useful and can serve Alabama Baptists.”
Lance said Puckett will “continue to have a ministry of impact for Christ.”
“I admire his servant heart … (and) I have been so impressed with his love for the Lord, his compassion for people and his impeccable character,” Lance said. “His influence will continue to be seen as Tommy Puckett does what he has been called to do — serve the Lord with faithfulness.”
Bottom line? “I’ll be available,” Puckett said with a smile.
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