Shoal Creek Baptist Church, Decatur
Morgan Baptist Association
Favorite Verse: Galatians 2:20
Favorite Hymn: “Jesus Paid It All”
Hobby: Gardening
Family Status: Husband for 12 years to wife, Heather; son, Jackson
Gary Linville, 33, of Decatur, not only is pastor of Shoal Creek Baptist Church, Decatur, and a member of Morgan Baptist Association’s coordinating council, but also is chaplain for Morgan County Sheriff’s Department and Decatur Morgan Hospital. Linville has been in ministry 15 years. He received his bachelor’s degree from Blue Mountain College in Mississippi and is currently working on a master’s degree.
Q: What influences in your life pointed you to Christ at the beginning of your faith journey?
A: My grandparents were a godly example in my life. My grandfather, a music minister, and my grandmother, a faithful short-term missionary and youth leader, exemplified the love of Christ to me and helped lead me to a relationship with Christ.
Q: When and how were you led into your ministry?
A: I surrendered to the ministry when I was 14. Dr. P.J. Scott really took a lot of time to mentor me and invest in my life. The same was true for Dr. Ed Newton. Both of these men encouraged me, walked with me and helped prepare me for ministry.
Q: What does your ministry demand?
A: I think first … just loving God and loving God’s people. I see pastoring as really requiring me to be a diligent student of the Bible, to be able to proclaim God’s Word and to be able to stand on God’s Word in relationships with people.
Q: What do you get from your ministry?
A: I think there’s no higher calling than to be able to serve the King of kings and Lord of lords. To be able to help someone make life choices to follow Christ is the most rewarding thing in the world. There is no way even to begin to describe the rewards of serving Jesus. There is nothing like serving Jesus and sharing His Light in a world that needs Him.
Q: How do family members support you?
A: My wife is cut out of a special breed. She has always stood with me. Our ministry is together. We are a team. … She is a ministry partner and is just as involved as I am.
Q: How do you see yourself involved in this in the future?
A: I know God has called me into ministry. I know that, until I draw my last breath, I am going to serve Him.
Q: What difference will this ministry make for you in the future?
A: Shoal Creek Baptist is truly striving to be a disciple-making church. I feel like (it) has helped encourage me to be the disciple Jesus wants me to be.
Q: What difference has Jesus Christ made in your life?
A: Jesus is everything. I would have no life without Him. Every day my walk with Christ is sweeter than the day before. It was a radical change from a life of sin and no hope to a life fulfilled in Christ.
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