After years of running from God’s call to ministry — which included selling real estate and then a stint in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (core drill) in Puerto Rico — Tom Stacey surrendered to serve Him.
Now — 42 years later — he is preparing to retire this month from a ministry career including 25 years as director of missions for Selma Association. Stacey first served as a church planter in Ohio, then spent seven years as director of missions of Randolph Association.
Serving as a DOM “meshed with my gifts and my undergraduate degree,” said Stacey, who had earned a bachelor’s in business administration and economics from Mobile College (now the University of Mobile).
Gifts and calling
“I love to preach, and I get to do that (as an associational leader),” he said. “The organizational, administration and financial aspects have been right up my alley too.”
In January 1997, he moved into the DOM role at Selma. In 2016, he added to that the leadership of Cahaba Association. And as he has prepared to retire, he has helped the two associations relaunch as one — West Central Baptist Association.
Through the years, Stacey has led the churches in his associations to be strong in missions participation. He’s led more than 30 volunteer construction trips across the nation, as well as 15 ministry trips to places in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Haiti.
He also has participated in more than 50 disaster relief deployments and led ministry efforts and trained leaders in his association’s churches.
“Words are insufficient to describe the personal relationships and friendships that have developed as we have worked, prayed, sweated and served alongside each other,” he told those present at the West Central annual meeting in October. “I am forever grateful.”
His retirement reception is Jan. 9, 2–4 p.m., at Elkdale Baptist Church, Selma.
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