This coming November, North Shelby Baptist Church, Birmingham, will turn 25. And for almost that whole quarter century, it was led by the same two men.
That in and of itself is unique, said Gary Fenton, a longtime pastor and senior development officer for Samford University in Birmingham. “Usually new churches go through pastors and staff pretty quickly,” he said. “It’s one of the strengths of the church that their leadership was consistent for so long.”
But after Pastor Allan Murphy recently retired after 23 years — and then Music Minister Randy Tingle retired after 20 — the church has found itself in a new place.
It has three interim leaders at the helm.
But Fenton, who now serves as North Shelby Baptist’s interim pastor, says Murphy and Tingle set the church up to succeed even in times of intense transition.
“I think for most churches of that size, if you had three positions open at the same time, it could be a little chaotic,” Fenton said of the church, which runs about 350 for worship. “But I think instead the church is moving forward.
“The foundation that Allen and Randy laid has really made it easy on us interims who came in.”
Serving alongside Fenton as music minister is John Boozer, a retired professor from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Chris Byrd, a member of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Birmingham, has stepped in as interim church administrator. Previously Tingle was serving in both of those roles.
North Shelby Baptist also has three full-time ministers on staff — Jon Jeffries, who serves as minister of education and families; Alex Lovorn, student pastor; and Julie Donavan, children’s minister.
The three full-time staff members are younger, and the three interims are older, and all bring valuable things to the table, Fenton said.
“They’re very good. We make an interesting team,” Fenton said. “I believe the church has a rich tradition and a marvelous future.” (Grace Thornton)
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