Michael Adler, longtime worship pastor of Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Vestavia Hills, retired March 5.
A Wisconsin native, Adler was part of Truth, a contemporary group made up of touring musicians and singers that existed from 1971 through 2001, before starting in church music ministry.
He previously served Castle Hills Baptist Church, San Antonio, Texas, and Bell Shoals Baptist Church, Brandon, Florida.
For Adler’s final service after 22 years of ministry at Shades Mountain, he was joined by several worship leaders who served with him over the years: Logan Creasy, associate pastor of worship arts & communication, First Baptist Church Douglasville, Georgia; Jake Adler, worship arts director, The Ridge Church, Ankeny, Iowa; Bobby Smith, executive pastor of worship & arts, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, Georgia; Chuck Hooten, GC Project, Knoxville, Tennessee; Preston Michael Lovinggood, singer/songwriter, Nashville, Tennessee; Paxton Brittle, worship pastor, Double Oak Community Church, Chelsea; and Abbey Plant, Samford University’s promotion, community engagement and resource coordinator for the Center for Worship and the Arts. Members and guests also joined a churchwide reception to celebrate Adler and his ministry.
He and his wife, Linda, have four children and four grandchildren. They own The Barn at Shady Lane, a wedding and event venue in Birmingham.
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