By Neisha Roberts
From leading a 32-member church as a bivocational pastor to leading that same church as full-time pastor as it has grown to more than 2,000 members, Dusty McLemore has seen quite a transition in his 25 years serving Lindsay Lane Baptist Church, Athens.
Born and raised in Athens, McLemore accepted Jesus as his Savior in 1979. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Heritage Bible College in Dunn, North Carolina, and served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher at Round Island Baptist Church, Athens.
On April 12, 1992, Lindsay Lane Baptist called McLemore to serve as bivocational pastor of its 32 members. By 1994, Lindsay Lane Baptist had blossomed to 200 members and that’s when McLemore began serving full time.
McLemore said the Lord has taught him “the principle behind church growth is that people reach people” and that “a shepherd must smell like his sheep.”
He was awarded the Alabama Baptist Troy L. Morrison Leadership Award in 2001 and served as president of the 2009 Alabama Baptist Pastors Conference. He also serves on the board of regents for the University of Mobile.
Of his 25 years at Lindsay Lane Baptist, McLemore said, “My time has been so rewarding and humbling. To witness the hand and favor of God move upon this church in such an exponential way has truly been amazing. … To witness the people catch the vision of the Great Commission and reaching and ministering to one another has been a pastor’s dream.”
He and his wife, Patsy, have two children and seven grandchildren.
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