Fifty years as pastor in the same church is quite an accomplishment.
Though some pastors have been in ministry for 50 years, few stay in the same congregation for half a century. Charles Moore, 87, was honored Aug. 5 on his 50-year anniversary by his church, the local association and friends.
Noix Creek Baptist Church Louisiana, Missouri, organized the surprise celebration, along with churches in Salt River Baptist Association.
Moore began ministry at Noix Creek in 1972, his first pastorate. He was raised in the Clarksville area, a Mississippi River town southeast of Louisiana, and surrendered to preach at First Baptist Church Clarksville earlier that year.
“God just laid it on my heart,” Moore said.
‘Can’t keep up with him’
In the subsequent 50 years, he’s had opportunities to leave but God has always said no. So he stayed and continued as pastor.
The church runs about 15, sometimes 30 on a big day, Moore said.
He added he loves serving the church, and it seems the congregation and community love him too. One 100-year-old woman who attends church in Louisiana told him, “I pray every day that God doesn’t call you away from that church.”
Frank Welch, director of missions for Salt River Association, said Moore “is a stronghold. He’s an older gentleman, full of wisdom.”
“Younger pastors go to him for help. He’s still going out and doing mission work. If he hears of a family needing a roof, he will get some men together to organize a roofing project. I can’t keep up with him.”
Moore has always been bivocational, holding other jobs such as a golf course landscaper, mechanic at a landfill, house mover and others. He has tried to balance ministry, vocational work and family.
When he worked on the golf course he was putting in 12-hour days and trying to visit people in the church in the evenings. His young son said, “It’s kind of like not having a dad at all.”
Moore said that hurt and he cut back a little. But, he added, “We get that balance by the power of God.”
Asked what kept him in the same church for 50 years, Moore said, “I find in ministry sometimes pastors get discouraged. They want to leave. But God is always working. He says, ‘Wait on Me.’ God supplies the needs to sustain you.”
‘Wait on God’
Moore has been through some rough times, surviving two bouts with cancer. But, after three years of treatment, he now is cancer-free.
His wife, Marie, to whom he has been married 64 years, helps him with ministry, sending greeting cards she makes on her computer. She keeps track of many people, sending notes of encouragement and birthday greetings.
Moore admitted he ran from God early in his life, enlisting in the Navy to learn a trade. He came out a welder but decided there might be too much travel involved. So he settled down, got married and began working in various jobs — he calls himself a “jack of all trades.”
At 36 he was serving in a church and thought they should start a Wednesday prayer meeting. So he suggested it to the pastor who said, “Well, then you start it.”
Moore did, and that led to other opportunities to serve and preach.
At 36, he committed to serve in ministry and that same year was called by Noix Creek.
Asked if he has advice for younger preachers, Moore says, “No matter what comes up, wait on God. He has a plan. Proclaim the truth and the complete truth. Tell people of God’s love and share that message.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Richard Nations and originally published by the Pathway.
