Charles Brown may be 65 years old, but he doesn’t plan on retiring from the pastorate of Government Street Baptist Church, Mobile, anytime soon.
For him, the role of pastor is not just a vocation but a calling.
“When I made a commitment to the Lord, I felt strongly about the call,” said Brown, who recently celebrated his 30th year as pastor of the Mobile Baptist Association church. “One of my fears in ministry today is people look at pastoring as an eight-hour-a-day, five-day-a-week job. I told God that I wanted to be available to help my congregation with any trials they make experience, whether that be at 3 p.m. or 3 a.m. My office door has always (been) and will always be open.”
Born in 1942 in Marietta, Ga., Brown moved to the Mobile area shortly after his birth. The oldest of eight children, he was active at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Mobile, where he was a leader in the youth group.
Brown accepted Christ as his personal Savior at age 10, but even more significant was his call to the ministry as a junior at Mobile’s Murphy High School in 1958.
At the time, he wanted to pursue a degree in engineering at Auburn University.
But God had other plans.
“When I felt the call to preach, I tried to get out of it but never felt a peace to push aside God’s plan for my life,” Brown said. “So I surrendered to the ministry and have been doing this ever since. God has been very faithful every step of the way.”
Brown began preaching at student revivals as a high school senior. He served as pastor of churches in Mississippi during his early years. He also served as a pastor while earning his bachelor of arts degree in religion and philosophy at William Carey College (now William Carey University) in Hattiesburg, Miss.
Brown also holds degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Luther Rice Seminary (now Luther Rice University) in Lithonia, Ga.
Since he arrived at Government Street Baptist in 1977, the congregation has provided him with memories and experiences that have exceeded all prior expectations.
“I’ve seen all our programs flourish, from the youth to college to senior adults,” Brown said. “Missions also has been something that has been the lifeblood of who I am and who we are as a church.”
His passion for missions has taken him to Spain, Germany, Israel, Belize, Florida and Ohio. Brown’s most recent missions trip was with Government Street Baptist’s college students to New York and Maryland in May.
“I feel that if I want to send others on mission, I need to know about missions myself,” he explained. “Our people are very missions-minded, and that’s how we Christians are supposed to reach the world. I try to keep missions at the forefront of my ministry.”
Ann Necessary echoed the thought.
“He not only talks the talk but walks the walk,” said Necessary, a longtime friend of Brown and member of Government Street Baptist. “Our pastor is both compassionate and very hungry for lost souls.”
Pete Dobbs, a member of the pastoral search committee when Brown was contemplating the call to Government Street Baptist three decades ago, agreed.
“I would go so far as to say that he’s as good a preacher as anyone could find in this part of the state,” Dobbs added. “If you ask folks in our church, you would find that many of them have been touched by our pastor in some way. He simply cares about our church, and it shows through his words and actions.”
In addition to Brown’s missions involvement, he has served on a plethora of committees — the 2006 Franklin Graham Festival committee, Southern Baptist Convention Credentials Committee and Alabama Baptist State Convention executive committee.
Brown has also served as Mobile Association moderator and adjunct professor at the University of Mobile, teaching a religious studies class. The role of professor is one he cherishes.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed the contact I have had with the college students as they are finding the right direction for their lives,” Brown noted.
“It’s been interesting how God has used each one of the positions throughout the years to give me additional places of service.”
When Brown is not ministering to his congregation and the community, he spends time with his wife, Melba; three daughters; and five grandchildren.
Reminiscing on his years of ministry, Brown said he never would have dreamed he would have such memorable experiences.
“Looking back on my childhood, I never would have expected to be blessed like I have been to this day,” Brown added. “And I will continue following God’s calling on my life until I breathe my last breath.”
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