January 1, Charles Jones officially passed the baton as DeKalb County director of missions (DOM) to Phillip Webb. Jones, who came to the association in 1985, had served in the position for 16 years.
“He was one of the most gracious individuals you could ever know. I hope he remains a very strong part of this association,” Webb said.
Vanessa Cagle, Jones’ former secretary, said, “He is one of the most laid-back people I’ve ever met, and that is what I will miss the most about him.”
After Jones, 64, graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, he served as pastor of several churches, including First Baptist Church, Geraldine, in DeKalb Association where he was pastor for 15 years.
Prior to his position as DOM, Jones had been heavily involved in the association, including serving as associational treasurer for 10 years.
“The most enjoyable part (as DOM) was getting to know the new pastors,” Jones said. He added that he will miss his relationships with the pastors the most.
“We have a good association, and such a fine group of pastors,” he said.
According to Jones, the most challenging part was learning to minister to the other 65 pastors that comprise the area’s churches. Being a pastor of a church is one thing, but being a pastor to other pastors is entirely different. He added that it was a delight to him.
Jones announced his plans to retire in July 2001. In response, the DeKalb Association invited area pastors to consider sending in their resumés for DOM.
Phillip Webb, 42, who was pastor of First Baptist Church, Fyffe, in DeKalb Association for more than 10 years, said that was when he applied for the position of DOM.
According to Webb, it was sad for him and his church as he took this new step of faith, but also that “it was a very smooth transition for my church and the association.”
“There are so many things I already miss (about being a pastor), like feeling part of a family,” Webb said. “And more than anything else, I miss the relationships with the children (at Fyffe).”
“But I have really developed a love for associational life,” Webb said, “and I just felt led in this direction.”
Webb’s involvement in the association while serving as a pastor were as moderator, vice moderator, men’s ministry director, Sunday School director, evangelism director, ministers’ conference president, pastor adviser for the associational Woman’s Missionary Union, teacher at Samford Extension, member of the personnel committee and chairman of the Missions Development Council.
As the new DOM, Webb said, “I want to be an encourager to our pastors. I have been a pastor for nearly 23 years — that’s more than half my life.”
Webb went to college at Northeast Alabama State Community College in Powell and Samford University.
Later, he earned his doctorate from Covington Theological Seminary in Rossville, Ga. But it wasn’t until after a missions trip to Lincoln, Neb., with his youth group that he “developed a great love for missions,” he said.
“I am very committed to evangelism and missions.” He said that the two are the “heartbeat of who we are. Anyone who is totally committed to Christ is totally committed to missions.”
As DOM, Jones said he saw many of the churches really beginning to develop a love for missions.
Webb said he would like to see the association get involved with more North American Mission Board projects. He said he wants to lead the association to begin participating in international missions trips no later than 2004, but his hopes are that it will be as soon as 2003.
In recent years, the DeKalb Association began developing a ministry with Hispanics in the area. Jones was part of beginning a Hispanic church in Fort Payne. Webb said he will continue developing this ministry, and may even help start another Hispanic church.
The association also heads ministries at Howard’s Chapel and Northeast Community College, such as sponsoring a part-time campus minister at Northeast’s Baptist Campus Ministry.
“I want to build relationships with our government leaders and help lead our association to have a strong presence in our community,” he said. “I want to have better public relations in DeKalb County.”
Before completely taking the DOM position Jan. 1, Webb had Jones stay and work alongside him for two weeks.
Jones said, “I don’t expect him to carry on an agenda I have already set. I want him to be himself.”
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