Pastoral Search

A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM BRO. DALE THOMPSON, PASTOR:

Over the past several years, I have asked our deacons to pray with me regarding how to finish, when to finish and how I best honor the Lord and finish well. In November of 2017, I announced to the church my intent to move toward a pastoral transition. At my request, the deacons led in defining that process and in November of 2018 the church approved that process.

In February of 2019, the Pastor Search Committee was approved by the church. I personally believe that the Lord is very pleased with the makeup of our Pastor Search Committee; and I am confident that they are seeking the Lord’s direction and timing in their pursuit of the next senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Fort Smith.

My family and I are deeply grateful to the Lord and to our people for the nearly three decades at First Baptist. We have a God-loving church family with a deep love for the Scriptures and the potential for a very bright, Kingdom-impacting future.

Prospective Pastors

All information will be kept in strict confidence by the Search Committee.

To submit a resume to the Pastor Search Committee as a prospective pastor, or on his behalf, please submit information via email or by mail.

Email

techeyne@gmail.com

Address

Tom Cheyne
Chairman: Pastor Search Committee
7201 Ellsworth Road
Fort Smith, AR 72903

Pastoral Search Updates

June 1, 2019

Dear First Baptist Family, We have so much to be thankful for! For over twenty-seven years we have been led by Pastor Dale Thompson; a man of humble Christ-like character who has remained true to the word of God, in both his preaching and his life. With great wisdom, and by God’s grace, he has guided us in unity and peace. And Bro. Dale has faithfully guarded the treasure of the Gospel which was entrusted to him at his calling. Knowing how blessed we have been, we hesitate to embrace change, but the time is drawing near for Bro. Dale to pass the torch to another Pastor/Teacher who will lead us into the future. Only our faithful Savior can direct us to His chosen servant. We must follow Him who is our Sacred Head. “For apart from Me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5. Let us also, in reverence, remember that this is all for Christ and Him alone … for His honor and His glory! Trust Him to bring to First Baptist the leader we need at this time.

As your search committee we ask you to do three things as we move forward:  

  1. Pray in faith that God’s will be done! “And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.” -1 John 5:14-15
  2. Encourage one another! We need each other. “For you are all one in Christ Jesus.” – Galatians 3:28. “Therefore encourage one another, and built up one another, just as you also are doing.” -1 Thessalonians 5:11
  3. Prepare, to receive a new Pastor! Make it your mission to love and encourage our new Shepard in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. “We request of you brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work.” – 1 Thessalonians 5: 12-13

“for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.” – Hebrews 13:17 May the Lord bless as we seek to follow him. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. And He alone is worthy of all glory and honor! “Thine, 0 Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Thine is the dominion, 0 Lord, and Thou dost exalt Thyself as head over all. -1 Chronicles 29:11 “To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” -Ephesians 3:21

Your brother in Christ, Tom Cheyne, Chairman, Pastor Search Committee

*Prayer cards are available to encourage you to pray specifically for our church and our new pastor.