White retires as Conecuh Association DOM

After almost 12 years of dedicated service, Thomas “Tommy” White retired from his position as director of missions (DOM) for Conecuh Baptist Association. He will remain as interim until the position is filled.

White and his wife, Alice, who died in March 2000, started out in music and youth ministry in 1959, serving churches in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi. They moved to Conecuh County in 1985 and he served as pastor of Bermuda Baptist and Cedar Creek Baptist for two years each before becoming DOM.

“When I came here, (the association was) essentially broke. Now we have a healthy surplus,” he said. “Of course, the credit goes to the people.” Among the many ministry projects he has been involved in, a few special ones stand out in his mind. “More than Gold,” a unique ministry to Olympics fans traveling to Atlanta in 1996, was a special project for the people of Evergreen, he noted. Volunteers set up welcome stations in the parking lot of a McDonald’s just off the interstate in Evergreen. Offering water and trinkets, Christians shared the love of Christ with travelers.

Other ministries granted the people of Conecuh County opportunities to show their dedication to missions, White said. Contributions to “Samaritan’s Purse,” a ministry established by Franklin Graham supplying Christmas packages to persons in need, almost doubled the second year the association participated.

Additionally, when Honduras was struck by a hurricane a few years ago, the association sent over a supply of food to the area.

“Our people have responded extremely well to missions,” he said.

White pointed out that his wife also played a major role in the association’s ministry. “My wife was very good at getting to know people and remembering names,” he said.

“She had the ability to lead, and she loved working with people.”

While serving as the associational clerk and secretary, Mrs. White also served as association WMU director for four years.

“We were, and always have been, a team,” White said.

While White continues to serve as interim DOM, he also serves as bivocational pastor of Cedar Hills Baptist Church in East Brewton. His advice for the future director is simple, but meaningful: “Love the people.” (TAB)