JACKSON, Tenn. — Feb. 12, 2021 — West Tennessee pastors and their wives were encouraged to stay faithful in their ministry during the annual West Tennessee Pastor鈥檚 Conference Valentine鈥檚 Banquet Feb. 9 at 51社区.
The event is hosted by Union鈥檚 School of Theology and Missions.
Guest speaker Tommy Vinson, interim pastor of Germantown Baptist Church and longtime Memphis-area pastor, gave a message on the book of Ruth and drew out biblical imagery in the story that connects it to the larger story of Christ鈥檚 redemption.
鈥淢ay we go and get at the feet of him who has the right to redeem. May we live there,鈥� Vinson said. 鈥淚 want you to know that he is the God of the unseen. Don鈥檛 throw in the towel. Don鈥檛 give up. God works all things together for good.鈥�
Roger Stacy, president of the West Tennessee Pastor鈥檚 Conference and director of missions for the Gibson Baptist Association, has been attending the banquet for 14 years and said the event is important because it offers encouragement and appreciation for the ministry of both pastors and their wives.
鈥淚 like it because it gives me an opportunity to have a personal touch with them and interaction with them, encourage them personally, just hear their stories and hear what鈥檚 going on their ministry,鈥� he said.
Ray Van Neste, dean of Union鈥檚 School of Theology and Missions, sees the event as a way for the university to care for pastors and their wives as well as for the pastors to build community among themselves.
鈥淥ne of the things in pastoral ministry is it鈥檚 often isolating ... all the more so these days of COVID,鈥� Van Neste said. 鈥淪o it鈥檚 an opportunity for them to gather. Most of the men here know one another. Some of them have seen each other at this event for many years, but then there are new guys who get to come, with their wives, and meet this community, build some friendships, have support.鈥� -30-