Eldridge Lyons, 86, is in his 46th year as pastor of Francis Lake Baptist Church in Lake Park, Georgia. Throughout his ministry at Francis Lake, Lyons has been able to utilize the gifts and expertise of his membership to make the church a strong, united fellowship.
Several months ago, Colby Davis, one of the children, prayed such a meaningful prayer that Lyons started calling him “the pastor’s assistant.”
Colby explained, “Any time Brother Lyons asks me to do something, I say, ‘yes’ and think about it later.”
The Francis Lake pastor began having Colby pray at the conclusion of each Sunday’s children’s feature. Then one week the pastor called on Colby, then 10, to speak to the children at the special time designed for them in the morning worship service. Once again, the young man did so well that Lyons, believing that Colby was mature beyond his years, asked him to preach on a Sunday morning.
First sermon
Colby preached his first sermon at Francis Lake on the last Sunday of 2023. He recalled, “Brother Lyons gave me about two months to prepare my sermon. About a month before I was to preach, I started planning, reading the Bible, choosing the passages that I wanted to use in my message, then I prayed, and selected my topic. Once I knew what my sermon would be, I asked my momma and daddy to help me with my notes.”
Colby’s parents taught him to love Christ at an early age and to make himself available for service in the church. His mother, Abigail, explained, “My husband, Corey, and I have always encouraged our son to stay close to Jesus. Since he was a toddler, his father and I have included him in our devotions by sharing God’s Word and praying together.”
She continued, “We have emphasized the importance of focused prayers so Colby could learn to take anything and everything to God.”
During the COVID crisis, Abigail taught her son at home using a Christian curriculum. “Every lesson incorporates God into the learning process,” she said. “Colby knows very much about the Bible from being exposed to the Abeka curriculum.”
Praying ‘anytime,’ ‘anywhere’
“Since Colby has gone back to public school,” Abigail commented, “we pray on the way to school and ask God to put a hedge of protection around him physically and spiritually. We have taught him to pray anytime and anywhere, because God is always with us.”
Colby related his salvation experience, saying, “I was baptized by Brother Lyons when I was five years old, but I had already given my heart to God before then — when I was four years old. I don’t remember the exact date, but I know it felt like a weight was lifted off me.”
Lyons saw Colby maturing in his faith and observed something in the heart of the young boy that was special and God-given. He did not hesitate to encourage and utilize his giftedness early in his life.
“During my second sermon in May of this year,” Colby said, “I wanted people to have the seeds of salvation planted in their hearts and to think about removing the weeds, which are the sins from their lives.”
When asked how he felt about working on a sermon while other boys were playing ball or swimming, Colby said, “I didn’t even think about what others were doing. I just do it for the glory of God.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by J. Gerald Harris and originally published by the Christian Index.
