As of April 30, Steve Parr has three new framed prints — an aerial photo of CrossPoint Baptist Church in Trussville and two drawings of what the congregation dreamed that building might look like before it was built.
Parr, who has served as the church’s executive pastor for the past 33 years, had a big part in seeing that come to fruition, said Ryan Whitley, CrossPoint’s senior pastor.
“Steve is a generational leader, and those are rare,” he said. “He makes decisions not only for his generation but the generations that will come after him.”
That’s the legacy the church honored in April as they gathered for Parr’s retirement celebration. His last day on the church staff will be June 30.
Growth and generosity
Parr joined the staff of First Baptist Church Center Point in 1990, and Whitley came on board as pastor in 1996. In 1998, the church began to move toward planting CrossPoint as a satellite campus, and in 2005, it became a mission church with Whitley as the pastor and Parr as the executive pastor.
Whitley said Parr led CrossPoint to build its current facility and pay off its mortgage by 2021.
“The next 12 months (after paying off the mortgage), we gave away $1.3 million,” Whitley said. “He taught us to be generous, and we’re going to continue to respond to whatever God puts in front of us.”
At the celebration, Whitley thanked Parr and his wife, Anita, for their years of service not only in financial and administrative leadership but also in member care and missions.
Scholarship
Whitley also announced a scholarship in the Parrs’ name at Samford University in Birmingham for members of the A Capella Choir, where the couple met, and the church named Parr executive pastor emeritus and presented him with gifts for his years of service.
Parr said he was “stunned” at the church’s generosity.
In early June after a month on sabbatical, he said he and his wife were “still reflecting, still giving thanks to many individuals, but especially giving thanks to God for His grace on us and allowing us to be a part of the CrossPoint family for this long a period of time.
“Anita and I tried to put into words our appreciation, and every time I try it comes up short,” Parr said. “From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you and we love you.”
Share with others: