Davis to West Tennessee pastors: ‘What you do in ministry is eternal’

JACKSON, Tenn. — Randy Davis told a room full of pastors and their wives that he believes the most important role in the world is that of the pastor or ministry leader.

“Our surgeons are very important,” said Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, “But one day that heart’s going to stop beating. Industry is very important, but they come and they go. Much of what we see in this life is extremely temporal. But what you do in ministry is eternal.”

Davis was the keynote speaker Sept. 8 at Union University’s annual Pastors and Wives Appreciation Banquet, an event designed to encourage and support local church leaders.

After 34 years of pastoral ministry, Davis felt called to write an essay titled “I Am a Pastor” after a tragic event led to a moment of reflection on what being a pastor fully encompasses. He read this essay aloud with the goal to empower pastors in the ministry field and to highlight the importance of their wives to their outreach.

The essay calls pastors to recognize themselves as “royal ambassadors” or “shepherds” who run headfirst to wherever their service calls them. Being a pastor means following the example of Jesus and living a life of service, Davis said.

“He washed feet because he loves the people attached to those dirty feet,” he said. “After all, it’s not about you and your ministry. It’s about him and his ministry. It’s his bride. You just have the high holy honor of washing her beautiful feet.”

He described how being a pastor often involves harder tasks than people assume.

“You’re at the hospital many times before the sun comes up because one of those sheep is going through a very scary surgery and simply needs their shepherd praying with them,” Davis said. “Because God knows how lonely this role can be, he gives you a very special gift, a wife.”

Davis read about the joys of having a wife to comfort and support a man as a church leader. He called her not only the pastor’s “anchor” but also “the wind in his sails.”

The closing lines illustrated the role of the pastor as endlessly committed, unapologetic about his role and future-focused.

“[The pastor] longs for the day to hear, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You’ve been faithful. Enter into the joy of your reward,’” Davis said, “And until your commander in chief reassigns you, redeploys you or calls you home, you are a pastor.”

Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said the event helps fulfill the mission of Union University itself.

“Most of all, what we want to do as we love and care for and support the West Tennessee Pastors Conference is to say, ‘Hey, we appreciate your service,’” Oliver said. “We’re your partners in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and a night like tonight is really just to say we really appreciate you.”