Friends, family and guests from across the country recently gathered at Concord Baptist Church, Newville, in Judson Baptist Association to help Pastor James Rich celebrate 50 years of ministry. Rich was honored with a special dinner and service July 29. Special events also were planned for the next day’s morning and evening worship services, with guest vocalists and speakers.
“He’s definitely a God-called man, and he’s kept the faith through the years. He’s one who has fought the good fight and kept the faith,” said Bob Pemberton, director of missions for Judson Association.
Rich grew up in the small town of Kinsey, just 15 miles from Concord Baptist. He married his high school sweetheart, Jeane, in November 1956. They both enrolled at Norman Park Junior College in Norman Park, Ga., and earned their associate’s degrees a few years later. During his years at Norman Park, Rich volunteered as a chaplain with the Colquitt County Prison in Moultrie, Ga. While working with inmates in 1958, he received a call from Springhead Baptist Church, Adel, Ga., to serve as its pastor.
Rich left Springhead Baptist in 1959 and moved back to Alabama to serve as pastor of Concord Baptist for the first time. He served there for five years before moving to Birmingham to attend Samford University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. There he accepted the pastorate of Brookside Baptist Church (now First Baptist Church, Brookside), located just outside Birmingham.
In 1967, Rich was asked to partner with the Home Mission Board (now the North American Mission Board) and accepted the pastorate of First Baptist Church, Oregon, near Toledo, Ohio. Rich served that church for five years before moving to Crystal Avenue Baptist Church, Findlay, Ohio, and eventually back to Concord Baptist.
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