MILTON — Arkansas native Jonathan Russell will serve as First Baptist Church of Milton’s new head pastor starting Jan. 8.
Here, Russell — who began ministering at age 16 — talks about his pastoral experience and what he envisions for FBC.
Tell us about yourself.
“I was raised in a very small town in south Arkansas. I began to pastor a church there when I was 16 years old — a junior in high school. In 1997, I moved to Mississippi to join the staff at a church, and I’ve lived in Mississippi since that time. I have pastored three churches in Mississippi during the past 19 years. I was at my previous church for 10 years before making the transition to Milton and to Florida. My wife is a native of Mississippi, and we were married in 1999. Our son is 15 years old, and our daughter is 13 years old.”
What led you to First Baptist Church of Milton?
“I believe with any venture in which you invest time and energy, you periodically evaluate things and ask, ‘Have I done all that I can do at this place and for this purpose?’ While there is always ‘more’ to do, I believe you reach a point where you have led a group of people to a certain point, and that God has another leader who can help them go to the next point in their journey. Having spent 10 wonderful years with the same congregation, I felt like I had reached that point of leading the church from where they were to where God wanted them to be; and, at a certain point, I felt that my specific purpose in serving as their pastor was fulfilled. I believe God has another leader to help them take the next step in their journey.”
How do you feel about Milton?
“At this point, I have spent a few days in Milton on two different trips and have had the opportunity to take in more well-known parts of the area. Having lived right outside a city of 170,000 citizens for the past decade, the smaller-town feel is appealing. At the same time, it’s exciting to see the growth that has occurred in the area and seems to be expanding towards Pace. The downtown Milton area is such a quaint spot and has that ‘hometown’ feeling. I love crossing over the Blackwater River, and what’s not to love about the views the bay gives you? Navarre Beach is just a short drive away, and it has some great views as well. The people we’ve met at Milton High have been incredibly helpful. We’re impressed with the town and surrounding area in every way.”
And what do you think about FBC Milton?
“The group seeking a pastor at FBC was a wonderful group who gave us a good idea of the kind of church they are. The weekend we spent at FBC felt like we were at home, and we formed some good relationships at the very beginning. I feel that FBC is a place that is welcoming, loving, and very supportive, and they seem to care about their community. The existing staff is filled with top-notch leaders who are leading their ministries well. It’s a given that no perfect church exists, but I believe FBC has a rich history and heritage that we can build upon.”
What do you plan to bring to the church?
“I very much desire to be a church that is one with its community. I hope to strengthen some of the ministries that are already in place and doing well, such as the church’s food pantry. And while I look forward to serving and ministering to all generations, we will specifically seek to make an impact among the millennial generation. This generation (those born between the early 1980s and 2000) is the largest in American history, numbering 77.9 million. And they are one of the most service-minded generations we’ve seen in a long time. There’s a lot of talk about the negatives of this generation, but all the empirical research tells us that there’s a lot of great qualities about this generation. Millennials believe they can make a difference in the world, and I hope to tap into that desire and provide opportunities for this generation to make a tangible contribution to Milton, Santa Rosa County and beyond.”
“I’ll also seek to use technology in new and innovative ways. Whether it’s a new podcast or Facebook Live or other forms of media, we’ll do whatever we can to share the message of hope in Christ and to help others realize that Christ really is able to give us the abundant life he talked about in John 10:10.
“Of course, we also realize the unique opportunity we have to minister to military families in the area. I look forward to serving the men and women who serve us as a nation, and especially hope we can minister to their families as they sacrifice much as well.
“Ultimately, my goal as the pastor of FBC Milton is to be the kind of church that our community knows we care about them, love them, and desire to serve them. Whether it’s helping someone down the street or on the other side of the world in mission efforts, I hope to lead FBC to share hope with others and enjoy doing life with each other.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Catching up with FBC Milton’s new pastor