Robinson culminates lifetime spent in ministry

When Darrell Robinson retired, he culminated a lifetime of ministry in both Alabama Baptist life and North American missions.
   
Robinson celebrated his 65th birthday and retirement as special assistant to the vice president of evangelism of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) in Mobile, Sept. 23.
   
“I knew God wanted me to (be a) pastor, but I also had a heart for evangelism,” Robinson said.
   
In Alabama Baptist life, he has served on the executive committees of the Alabama Baptist State Convention and the State Board of Missions.
   
Along with serving as vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), he also served on the executive committee of the SBC for seven years and as chairman of the administrative committee and vice chairman of the board of that committee.
   
“The two things that have been my great motivation are in response to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in my life to evangelize those who are lost and see the local churches grow and expand to reach the people of their areas for Christ,” Robinson said.
   
“That happened as pastor of the local church and the Lord led me to serve beyond the individual local church to assist local churches,” he said.
   
Robinson served as pastor at Dauphin Way Baptist Church, Mobile, 1982–89, before assuming duties as vice president for evangelism at the then-Home Mission Board (HMB).
   
When the HMB was reorganized as part of the NAMB, Robinson become a special assistant for evangelism.
   
“I continued to do the same kinds of things — helping churches, associations and state conventions with evangelism strategy and training,” said Robinson, who worked out of his home.
   
The Texas native originally envisioned becoming a veterinarian or rancher before answering the call to ministry at the age of 17.
   
He began his ministerial career by preaching youth meetings and for pulpit supply. Through his 35 years of local church pastorates, he has served in Alabama, Texas and Kansas.
   
“As I began to understand myself and the ministry that God had called me to, God taught me that I was a good listener,” he said. “There are a lot of people who need to be listened to as much as preached at.
   
“You can almost listen people into the kingdom of God by guiding the conversation, caring about them and ministering to them at the point of their need,” Robinson added.
   
He is currently serving as co-pastor of Day Spring Baptist Church in Mobile, but expects to retire at the end of the year.