Art Long is familiar with the first eight verses of Ecclesiastes — and the truth that there is a season and a time for everything.
“The time has come for me to move on to what God has for me to do next,” Long told the congregation of Eastmont Baptist Church in Montgomery, after serving on staff there for more than 31 years.
“I may be retiring as your assistant pastor, but I cannot retire from serving our God,” he said.
The church honored him and his wife, Kelly, with a reception Aug. 29 as they prepared to move to Greenville, South Carolina, to start the next chapter. Long said the church was a special place — his children, Jacob and Katelyn, were born, grew up and were baptized while he was serving at Eastmont.
During the worship service on the day of the reception, Pastor Frank Bowling said he was grateful for the Longs’ investment in the people of Eastmont.
“We all love you,” Bowling said. “The testimonies are replete in this place of folks who have experienced God’s grace poured out through you and through your ministry to them.”
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