Your Voice

The Lakeview Connection: A tribute to Pastor Al Jackson

By Pastor Barry Holcomb
Special to The Alabama Baptist

For the 300-plus “preacher boys” who call Al Jackson their pastor, the Lakeview Connection is a unique brotherhood.

I am one of many whose life is forever touched by the ministry of Lakeview, and our pastor, Al Jackson. We all call him by the affectionate title of “Brother Al,” and we serve the Lord as pastors, missionaries and in various church roles throughout the world.

Our connection is the same: We were all discipled as young men by Al Jackson.

In Auburn, Alabama, my connection with Lakeview Baptist Church began in 1984 when I was led to faith in Christ by Lakeview deacon and Auburn University professor H.T. Ford Jr.

Tom Ford was a relentless soul-winner and led me to Christ on a Thursday afternoon. I met him for church at Lakeview the following Sunday morning and made my profession of faith public that same day.

I was called to preach not long after I was saved and have been connected to Lakeview ever since.

You probably attended what Brother Al calls his preaching class if you are a part of the Lakeview Connection.

Training others

I began attending this 6 a.m. gathering early in 1985 and preached my first sermon at one of these early morning classes. Brother Al has convened this class on Thursday mornings since 1980. His first group had four in attendance. His latest class averages 15 each week of the more than 25 participating this semester.

Brother Al is passionate about training others for the gospel ministry and is as excited about this new class as he was about his first many years ago.

In spring 1994, Brother Al hosted his first Lakeview Connection Reunion. We gather at Lakeview on the first weekend of September each year for fellowship, food and a time of learning together with our mentor.

We usually read a book Brother Al selects and discuss it at our reunion.

I remember the first book I read as a member of the preaching class in 1985 — “Trumpets in the Morning”  written by Harper Shannon in 1969 when he was pastor of First Baptist Church Dothan.

The book chronicled Shannon’s experiences, observations and conclusions about the gospel ministry, and he was a guest at one of the early morning preaching classes to lead our book discussion.

Those memories of rising early and learning from Brother Al will always hold a special place in my heart, as will all the reunions I have attended.

Upcoming retirement

The weekend of Sept. 2–4, I attended Brother Al’s last official Lakeview Connection Reunion before he retires Oct. 31.

This year, we did not read a book in advance.

Instead, Brother Al preached to us about two issues that have driven his ministry over the last four-plus decades at Lakeview: the preacher’s sacred calling (to preach God’s word) and the strategic role of the pastor in global evangelization.

Brother Al used Ezra 7:10 to remind us to study, obey and faithfully teach the word of God.

Regarding the job of preaching, he said, “Our responsibility is not to fill the pews. Our job is to fill the pulpit. If you fill the pulpit, the Spirit of God will take care of the pews.”

Brother Al also noted the sufficiency of Scripture, saying, “The preacher’s job is to afflict the comfortable and to comfort the afflicted. If you preach the Bible, it is sufficient for both works.”

Commenting on the strategic role of the pastor in global evangelization, Brother Al had this to say: “If there is little passion on the part of the pastor to take the gospel to the nations, there is little passion in the church.

The passion of the pastor is the passion of the church. The choke point for mission-sending is not missionaries on the field, it is pastors. Those of us who are called to pastoral ministry should feel the responsibility to mobilize our congregations to take the gospel to all nations.”

Speaking for myself, and I’m sure for my fellow pastors, missionaries and others who call themselves Brother Al’s preacher boys, I want to thank this dear man who has been a mentor and friend to so many.

Thank you, Brother Al, for the early mornings together. Thank you for enriching our lives with faithful, biblical wisdom.

Thank you for the constant example of studying and proclaiming the riches of the gospel of Jesus. Thank you for being a voice for the nations. Thank you for the reunions.

Thank you, Brother Al! To all your preacher boys, you are the Lakeview Connection.

Adaptive leadership skills needed

Chaos seems to be everywhere, and leaders are the ones working to make sense out of the chaos and bring order to it.

Utilizing the concept of adaptive leadership during these times is vital.

We can find types of adaptive leadership employed by the Apostle Paul in Titus 2.

Titus is facing hostility outside the church and apathy inside the church, and he may have wanted to leave.

But Paul explains the reason he left him in the role is so Titus might establish order and finish the unfinished business.

Paul is doing his best to encourage Titus, to stir up that passion he knows he has and teach him how to adapt and be an effective leader.

We will become exhausted similar to how Titus was fatigued, but we can learn from Titus 2:11–15:

• How to live in this present world.
• How to look at prospects of the future.
• How to be liberated from the past.
• How to lead people.

We are here for a purpose and are to be on mission for the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are on mission with the Great Commission. We live sent in a hostile, antagonistic world that has little or no concern about what the Christian message is. We should not be surprised but continue as faithful servants of Jesus Christ.

Titus was encouraged to communicate effectively and faithfully the gospel of Jesus Christ, to stand on convictions  with a Christlike attitude, to speak the truth in love fearlessly, unapologetically — Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord and the gospel is true.

Rick Lance
Excerpt from his Sept. 16 chapel sermon at Southern Seminary

Be steadfast, immovable … knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58

The statistics prove it. Right now, hundreds of pastors every month are quitting and walking away from years of ministry. Why? Because they are tired, experiencing burnout, are deeply hurt and even angry.

This season of life has been frustrating for all of us, especially church leaders. Politics, masks, vaccines, poor attendance, decisions about meeting in person or not, facilitating online options for members — all of these things coupled with the pain of loss are pushing some pastors out of churches, and even out of ministry altogether.

Being a pastor is tough, but it’s really, really difficult right now. Pray for those in ministry!

For me personally, it’s never been harder to be a pastor. I have been criticized to others by people I love dearly for tough decisions that had to be made. Church members, whom I long to see gathered with their church family, just aren’t coming back to church after being gone for over 18 months.

Brothers and sisters in Christ have acted like immature children attacking others for having a different opinion on things where freedom of conscience should be allowed. The pain of suffering and loss have sadly become part of daily life.

Yet, through all of this, I am genuinely thankful for God’s grace and calling. The Spirit has provided strength, dear friends have given wise counsel, and God’s word has been a balm for my weary soul during this tough season. In this morning’s daily Scripture reading, I was reminded of the joys that outweigh the burdens of ministry. It is a delight to shepherd people. It is a joy to invest in those who want to grow. It is a blessing to pastor the precious people of Grace, who are a real faith family to me. It is an honor to share both the gospel and my life with these disciples of Jesus. I know that I am far from a perfect pastor, but I get to serve a perfect Savior.

“So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us”
(1 Thess. 2:8).

Pastor Andy Frazier
Grace Baptist Church
Sumiton, Ala.

From the Twitterverse

@jt_english
… Almost every pastor I talk to is discouraged, tired and just trying to hold on. Encourage your pastor today. It’ll be a sip of water in the desert. They are carrying a heavy, heavy load. Pastors: Jesus has you, and you’re doing a great job.

@DannyAkin
I appreciate @BruceFrank1 and his call for a full, open and transparent investigation into the sexual abuse issues related to the @SBC-ExecComm. Let’s clear the air, find the truth, get things right & move forward for the glory of God.

@claysmith79
I love pastoring a multigenerational church. We need both the zeal and idealism of the young, but also the wisdom and historical perspectives of those who are older. We are better together.

@ArtRainer
“You can give without loving. But you cannot love without giving.” —Amy Carmichael

@jordaneasley
I’m extremely grateful for the men I’ve called Pastor over the years.

These men have each invested in me, taught me God’s word and shown me what it looks like to love the Lord & His church.

@GaryFenton07
Instead of preparing your defense when you are expecting criticism, prepare your heart to hear it. Then wait a few days and you may not need to defend yourself or if you still think you need to, you can do so calmly.

@daneortlund
A tidal wave of pastor resignations is coming in 2022. But that wave can be greatly lessened by the most powerful gift a congregation can give: the ministry of encouragement. … ordinary, specific encouragement is what will keep him afloat.

@michaelcriner
The By-Laws of the church you serve are super important. Ensure you know them before you come, and become an expert into them while you are there. This will serve you well during your tenure.