When Stanley Holt first became a pastor, a circuit-riding preacher gave him some good advice.
“He said, ‘If you’re going to be an effective minister, you have to remember two things. First don’t let church problems become personal problems. And second love the people even when they are unlovely,’” Holt said. “I’ve tried to put those into practice.”
It’s been half a century since he walked down the aisle, surrendered his life to full-time ministry and accepted the pastorate of New Ebenezer Baptist Church, Highland Home.
Since then, he has served churches in Alabama Crenshaw, Autauga, Elmore and Montgomery Baptist associations.
But for the past 33 years, he has served one congregation — a group of people that has “become like family,” Holt said.
“When you’re with people that long, you fall in love with them,” he said.
The congregation started out as Memorial Heights Baptist Church, where he served for 25 years before it merged with Trinity Baptist Church in 2009 to form Trinity Memorial Baptist Church, Montgomery.
Tom Snowden, minister of music for Trinity Memorial, said Holt is a well-respected pastor.
“He’s a good man, a great preacher and he preaches the Word in the right way,” Snowden said.
Holt said he has been “truly blessed.”
“It has been an awesome journey serving the Lord and seeing people saved,” he said.
Over the years, Holt studied through the extension of Samford University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Sherry, have five children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Trinity Memorial held a 50th anniversary tea for Holt on Sept. 10. (Grace Thornton)
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