By Maggie Walsh
From day one, Gary Burton didn’t want to be anywhere else. He knew he was where God had called him and it’s a calling that hasn’t wavered in 45 years. And Pintlala Baptist Church in Montgomery Baptist Association is thankful for his commitment, as Jan. 13 marked his 45-year milestone.
According to Neal Hughes, Montgomery Association director of missions, “There are only five Alabama Baptist pastors who can presently state such a distinguished tenure. We, at the Montgomery Baptist Association, owe a debt of gratitude to Gary for his senior statesmanship through the years.”
Reflecting on his years of ministry at Pintlala Baptist, Burton said he’s seen the culture become a more challenging atmosphere for serving the Lord.
“I think the local church is not as central in importance as it once was.”
The solution to reaching the lost amid the current climate? “Provide relationships with substance,” Burton says.
“When the Body of Christ is healthy, genuine and authentic friendships are formed.”
Through the years Burton said he’s most thankful for the “opportunity to know families that span generations.”
“I think sometimes younger ministerial candidates want a church that’s ready-made instead of investing in a church for the long haul,” he said, noting the importance of being effective and not just hanging on.
Prior to Pintlala Baptist, Burton served as an associate pastor for Wilkes Baptist Church. He also served as a weekend pastor of McCall Creek Baptist Church, Meadville, Mississippi.
Burton holds a bachelor’s degree from Samford University in Birmingham and a master of theology degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
He and his wife, Jerrie, have two children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
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