30 Under 30: Zac Bozeman

Associate Pastor of Dora First Baptist Church

Words & Image by Justin Hunter

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes." - Romans 1:16

When Zac Bozeman, Associate Pastor of Dora First Baptist Church, reflects on of God's providence that guided him into full-time ministry, childhood memories of his grandfather, Pastor Johnny Bozeman, return to his mind.

"My grandfather passed when I was young. But I vividly remember going to the church he founded, Berry Free Will Baptist Church, with my family and the way he preached. I remember the man he was and everything he taught me," said Zac. "I can't say I preach precisely like my grandfather, but I definitely have some of his preaching tendencies."

Zac's call into pastoral ministry in 2019 didn't begin with the burning fire to preach in front of people packed in pews but an invitation into a Christ-centered home.

"My wife, Jordan, and I were married in July that year, and we had our son, Tucker, on the way. We had the mutual feeling that if we were going to have a marriage and raise a family, then we would have to put God in the center of it,” he said. “God doesn't call just the man into the pulpit, but calls the entire family into ministry.”

Once his family was rooted in Farmstead Baptist Church as members, God impressed him and his wife to embrace the pastoral call in early 2020.  The Jasper native wrestled with self-doubt that God had the wrong person, but God ultimately won, as Zac accepted the call to ministry. God gave him the opportunity to be the Interim Pastor at Farmstead Baptist Church and later transitioned to be the Student Pastor. He preached his first sermon —titled “Look to Jesus”—on Facebook during the height of the pandemic. He encouraged the congregation to turn to Jesus amid the chaos of the culture.

"I'm the type of preacher that uses the scriptures to determine my sermon. Some folks use the Bible to springboard into other topics; that's not how I do it. I believe preaching is proclaiming what God's word already says and helping the congregation understand the author's original intent for a passage," said Zac.

Currently enrolled in New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Zac is pursuing a Christian Ministry degree with a biblical studies minor. He loves his role as associate pastor and is thankful for his spiritual heritage.

Zac and his wife are now expecting their second son, and the call remains the same: to live Christ-Centered lives that point people to Jesus. 78