Job Dalomba
We all have people that we admire in our life. Some of them we admire because we have known them personally and some we know through books, media, etc. Either way, we have people that have been used by God to shape us into the person we are. God has used many men to mold and shape me into who I am today and I want to share about those who have shaped me from a personal relationship. In my next blog I will share about those influences in my life that I don’t personally know.
James Baker: I grew up in a home without a father. It wasn’t until I became a Christian and specifically when I got married that I understood how important it is for a young boy and man to have a father. My mother was and is an outstanding mother, but she is only one person and is not a father. My grandfather took on the role as my father and was the ONLY male influence in my life until he died. He wasn’t perfect and our situation wasn’t perfect, but he modeled to me what it was to work hard, love God, your family, the local church and the Scripture.
Paul McGehee: My grandfather died when I was 19 and this was around the time I started hanging out with Mr. Paul. I thought we were just hanging out, but he was taking on the role that my father refused to do. He showed me how to be a man as I was becoming one. Mr. Paul and I have traveled the world together, served in the local church together, laughed until we cried together and countless other things. He is beyond one of my closest friends he is my dad.
Neal Creecy: When I sensed God’s call in my life to be a pastor, Neal called me shortly after and asked if he could mentor me for ministry. Pastor Josh, John Allen May, Levi Lance and Mr. Paul were all in this group. These meetings have had a lasting impact on my life. It was in these meetings my love for evangelism and world missions was born. Neal is currently doing what he taught us to do in those meetings, following the call of God to go wherever the Lord gives opportunity. I am very grateful for Neal’s friendship.
Scot Jones: Scot was the Youth Minister at FBC Coldwater, the church God used to bring me to Christ in and called me to ministry in. The Lord used Scot to ground me in the faith and to model what it is to display the love of Christ. I had no idea at the time how much I needed stability and specifically how much I needed Christian friends and a local church to connect to. Scot was the man God used to give me all of this. Scot is a picture of patience and forgiveness because there is really no reason for he and I to be friends to this day due to all the headaches I gave him. Like I said earlier, he was my youth minister and there with me after my conversion to trim of the rough edges. God bless Scot Jones.
Tom McLaughlin: Speaking of God blessing someone for trimming off my rough edges… Tom/Bro. Tom/BT really is the most patience person I know. He is a campus minister with the Baptist Student Union at Northwest MS. Community College. Here is what is amazing about BT: Every student that knows him loves him and he is 87 years old. Well, he isn’t 87, but he’s pretty close. BT has been a model to me in pastoral care. I have gone to him many times in need of counsel and he has treated me with respect and love each time. BT really is a pastor’s pastor.
John Lucado: No relation to Max. Mr. John is a soft-spoken guy, but a spiritual giant. He is a member of Lifepoint Church in Senatobia, our planting church. I’ve tried to get him to “bring his talents” to Revision, but the pastors at Lifepoint won’t let him go. If you know Mr. John you will understand why. Every church needs godly older men who will serve their guts out. I am always praying God will give us older wiser men in our church and He has already begun to do this. As we were initially praying for these men to come, I was always in the back of mind wanting someone like Mr. Paul and Mr. John. Mr. John simply serves with everything in him and loves pastors. Lifepoint pastors will be the first and loudest to tell you how much he loves pastors. He drives us around, gets up early to meet with you, calls to check on you and will do whatever he has to do to meet whatever need there is. All churches need a John Lucado.
