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Pastor celebrates time in Pelham
Published Tuesday, June 16, 2009
You may know him as the kind, godly man you pass in the grocery store, as the pastor who helps your family navigate through some of life’s most exciting or somber times, or you may know him simply as one of Shelby County’s best high school football prognosticators from the Reporter’s football pick ‘em contest.
But chances are, if you’ve spent much time in Shelby County or in one of its finest cities, you know Pelham’s Pastor Mike Shaw.
Pastor Shaw joined Pelham First Baptist Church the day after Mother’s Day in 1979. He has prayed for and led the congregation since that day with a shepherd’s hand: never ordering the congregation to anything, but rather gently guiding them in the right direction.
Mattie Gaston, my wife’s maternal grandmother and a staunch Presbyterian for most of her 103 years, gave me some excellent advice years ago while I was courting her granddaughter: always pick a church for the congregation rather than the pastor, because the pastor can change quickly. The members of Pelham First Baptist Church have enjoyed both a congregation and a pastor that would tempt even a lifelong Presbyterian to join their ranks.
The church, under Pastor Shaw’s watch, has grown in its membership, its mission and its outreach.
The congregation has built churches, begun ministries, and witnessed to and prayed for one another as well as for others. And they have helped change lives.
Later this summer, Pastor Shaw and members of the congregation will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the church. They and their community have much to celebrate indeed.
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Posted by junkman (anonymous) on June 27, 2009 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congradulations to Dr. Mike Shaw. He has stayed pastor longer than any pastor The First Baptist Church of Pelham has ever had since it organized. Lets not forget those who were there before Dr. Shaw who built the church to what it was before he came to be pastor.
Cecil Brown who worked at another job and still did what was needed to Pastor Pelham Baptist. Brother J. Dallas Johnson who was a school teacher at Valley School and yet was there for the church and all of its people. Brother Ronnie Euler who led the first construction of the Church that was torn down by the city after this present building came to be built. Most of the older members have since past that kept the church going to what it is today.
Deacons like Joe Hodges, Daniel Graben, Louie Wilson, C.E. Parker, J.C. Rhoden and Tom Lee, all since gone to their reward had a vision and love of fellow man. This was back when everyone in Pelham knew everyone else. Unlike today most people do not even know their neighbor 3 doors down the street.
Before there were ministers of music there was the member of the church who led the singing on Sunday morning. People like Martis Shirley, Bobby Joe Seales, Daryl Collins and others. The building was not their need but the spiritual blessing.
Least we forget the building does not make a church it is the people within that church. God does not look at that building he looks into the real church and that is the soul of the person. Is your real Church built on rock or sand? Buildings are just a monument to the people who built the building. Do you do unto others as you would have them do to you or Do unto others before they can do it to you?
Congradulations again Dr. Shaw.
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