After 40 years in ministry, John M. Hambright retired from his pastoral role at Enon Baptist Church, Morris, in early 2013.
Hambright served two years with the U.S. Army in Germany during the Vietnam War and became a Christian after returning home in 1968. He was ordained at First Baptist Church, Sayre, later serving in his first pastoral role at First Baptist Church, Hayden.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in pastoral theology from Southeastern Bible College in Birmingham in 1978; a master of divinity in 1986 and a doctor of ministry in 1991, both from Luther Rice Seminary in Lithonia, Ga.
He also served as pastor of North Gardendale Baptist Church, Gardendale; Trussville Southside Baptist Church; and Bluff Park Baptist Church. He served in other ministerial roles at First Baptist Church, Guin; First Baptist Church, Dora; and First Baptist Church, DeArmanville.
During his 10 and a half years of service at Enon Baptist, the church membership grew from 658 to more than 1,300, growth that Hambright attributes to “spiritual growth” and “loving people.”
“We started using outreach through Sunday School and instilling … that the Great Commission was for every person and that every person should be a person of outreach and ministry,” Hambright said.
“[Enon Baptist members] loved ministry and the work of the Lord and their pastor. They made it very easy (to serve there),” Hambright said.
Two building projects were completed while Hambright was at Enon, including a worship center and a children’s ministry building.
But Hambright has done more than just lead churches in the United States in his years of serving. He also has a passion for international missions and has volunteered in countries in Africa as well as France, Jamaica, Israel, Jordan, Italy and Guatemala, where Enon eventually planted a sister church in 2011.
He served on the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions executive director search committee, the state resolutions committee and the board of regents for the University of Mobile.
He was moderator of North Jefferson Baptist Association; director of Youth Praising Camp Ministry (a local youth camping outreach); Pastor’s Conference program chairman; adjunct professor at Luther Rice Seminary; and doctor of ministry supervisor at Beeson Divinity School of Samford University in Birmingham. He and his wife, Linda, have two children.
In his retirement, Hambright plans to serve as a supply preacher “whenever the opportunity arises.” He can be reached at 205-531-9142.
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