For George Jones, retiring from the pastorate wasn’t so much of an ending as it was a beginning.
Jones, 67, who retired as pastor of Mountain View Baptist Church in Huntsville last April, viewed retirement as an opportunity to switch course and embark on what he describes as the third phase of his ministerial track.
He serves as chaplain and co-manager of Selma Funeral Home, owned with his son. “I saw the ministry opportunity.”
Jones, who retired from serving churches after 48 years in ministry, has a history of being alert to ministry opportunities.
Born in Pleasant Hill, Jones can trace his ministerial history back to adolescence.
After receiving Christ when he was 11, Jones helped organize the first Royal Ambassadors chapter at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. He was 15.
He attended Troy State University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where he earned a master’s degree in church music. His initial service to churches was in music and youth ministry. In addition to Alabama churches, he has served churches in Mississippi, Missouri and Georgia.
During his tenure as youth pastor in Joplin, Mo., 17 out of the 85 youth surrendered their lives to full-time Christian service, a highlight of his youth ministry, according to Jones.
While serving on staff at a church during a pastoral interim period, however, Jones also saw the ministry opportunity afforded the senior pastor, especially as he took on more of those responsibilities.
“I just felt God calling me into a new area of ministry,” he said.
He understood from watching all the pastors he served with what needed to be done and grasped the opportunity to do it.
“God gave me a very compassionate heart for people.” In addition to Mountain View Baptist Church, Jones has served as pastor of Calera Baptist Church, Calera; Central Baptist, now Valley Grande Baptist Church, Valley Grande; South Highland Baptist Church, Bessemer; and Elam Baptist Church, Tallassee.
He also has been active in association ministry and has served on the Committee on Committees for the Alabama Baptist State Convention.
He considers helping people understand the true function of the church to be his greatest test in the pastorate.
“The greatest challenge I felt was to get people to catch hold of what Christ wanted the church to be, especially in the area of evangelism and outreach.”
FAITH was a tool that helped in recent years, according to Jones. He has served on several missions teams, most recently directing a Vacation Bible School for Ukrainians in Philadelphia. He also served on a missions team to Korea with his wife, Faye.
The Joneses have been married 46 years and have four children, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
His greatest rewards of serving as pastor came from seeing “people grow in their faith in Jesus Christ and begin the maturing years.”
This latest phase of ministry developed from once again seeing the potential of ministering to people through a funeral home.
As chaplain, Jones provides spiritual guidance and services. He’s officiated at some of the funerals and provided music at others.
After serving out his final days at Mountain View Baptist in Huntsville, Jones retired for a single day — spent driving to his new ministry field — then took up his new role in Selma.
“I feel that God has blessed me now with three complete areas of ministry. Each place that He’s put me in has been completely in His will.”
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