Barrow retires after 50 years in Baptist ministry

After almost 50 years of pastoral ministry, Gil Barrow retired from full-time service Dec. 31. A native of Pensacola, Fla., and now living in Montgomery with wife Barbara, Barrow received degrees from Mississippi College and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Since being licensed to preach in 1954, Barrow has served as pastor of several churches throughout Alabama and Florida.

After beginning his pastoral ministry in Panama City, Fla., Barrow was pastor of First Baptist Church, Prichard, 1965-1968. He left there to become pastor of First Baptist Church, Leesburg, Fla., until 1976, when he returned to Alabama. From 1976 until 1986, Barrow was pastor of Capitol Heights Baptist Church in Montgomery. During his ministry there, the church extensively remodeled their entire building, and built Capitol Heights Place, a retirement facility still owned and operated by the church.

For the last seven years, Barrow has been pastor of Hayneville Baptist Church. During his years there, the church relocated from an old downtown building to a new church building, constructed by volunteers and paid for in two years.

In additional to his pastor ministries, Barrow has served Alabama Baptists admirably. He was on the State Board of Missions, serving on the Administrative Committee 1982-1984. He was vice-chairman of that committee. Barrow has served on the board of governors of Judson College and the Baptist Medical Center board. He is a member of the board of trustees and president of the National Alumni Association, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; and chairman of the Florida Baptist Convention state board.

“I started out with more fear than faith, and ended up with more faith than fear. It’s been exciting to see God work through so many people to get His work accomplished,” Barrow said. “It would be hard for me to imagine a more fulfilling life. I could spend the next 50 years counting my blessings and feel that I had just begun. God gave me the privilege of being His servant for these past 50 years, and now I’ll begin my second 50!” 

(TAB)