Go and Tell

After 30 years in ministry, Pastor Andy Frazier continues to go and tell the Good News in his hometown.

Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Ryan McGill

When Andy Frazier felt the call to ministry, his first instinct was to run.

Fresh out of high school and presented with the opportunity for adventure, Andy left his home in Walker County and moved to Oklahoma to attend farrier school, where he learned the art of horseshoeing.

Although it was an unusual way to escape his calling, the introverted young man was set on his career, convinced he could not be a minister. However, God continued to work on Andy throughout his schooling until he could no longer deny his calling.

Shortly after Andy moved back home, he had the opportunity to serve at Jasper's First Baptist Church. At the time, Mike Adams and John Jaye served as pastor and youth minister, respectively. Both were kind and encouraging, giving Andy opportunities to lead and teach. After four years, Andy took his first position at First Baptist Church of Carbon Hill in 1999, where he was ordained and sent out into ministry.

Andy recalls struggling to find an experienced mentor to guide him through the initial stages of his work early in his ministry. This challenge motivated him to assess the importance of discipling to others who were interested in ministry. After reading The Master Plan of Evangelism by Dr. Robert Coleman, Andy was inspired by its message of Jesus reaching the masses by investing in a few.

Through years of serving in student and pastoral ministry, Andy realized his ministry was evolving in another direction, particularly during his second pastoral position.

"I realized not only do I love serving locally as a pastor, but I love helping churches. Everywhere I went, it was almost like God was leading us to a church that needed revitalization. They needed leadership help or some encouragement. I found that everywhere I went, God was using me to help revitalize the people and the church as a whole. And that shaped the future of my ministry," he says.

After becoming an associational missionary with the Sulphur Springs Baptist Association under the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, Andy worked with many churches and pastors on church revitalization, helping congregations evaluate and address the issues preventing them from thriving. In January 2023, Andy began communicating with Jasper's First Baptist Church about serving as a transitional pastor while they searched for a full-time senior pastor.

"I came on board in May 2023, and my goal was to help the church become healthier, to help individuals deal with past issues, and to reshape the church's vision for the future. This way, when the new pastor came in, the church would be ready to receive him with a fresh perspective and hope. I never imagined God would call my family and me to stay," he says.

When the opportunity arose for Andy to stay and minister full-time, he was hesitant, worried that his love for the church was clouding his perception of God's calling. However, through fervent prayer, Andy knew that becoming senior pastor of Jasper's First Baptist Church was the next step in his ministry. The transition was natural, though Andy recalls his surprise: "I didn't know I was paving the way for me to be the pastor!"

Pastoring a church involves many responsibilities, and there is no set list of tasks for the job. However, there are biblical guidelines that lead pastors to God's will for their lives and the churches they serve.

"To me, it means shepherding the flock. As Scripture teaches, I'm personally committed to my growing relationship with Jesus. I'm supposed to lead and love my family well. I'm supposed to share the gospel, make disciples, and do that by example while equipping the church to do the same. Following these guidelines entails a lot of things, especially in the life of a local church," Andy says.

In addition to his pastoral work, Andy serves full-time in the church's office, handling administrative duties, maintenance, and finances alongside a close-knit church staff. Between the church preschool and office staff, church members work daily to teach, support, minister, and maintain the church's facilities.

During his time as the transitional pastor, Andy discovered that the church has a rich history of community involvement. While each pastor's leadership style differs, Andy takes an outward-focused approach, emphasizing the importance of keeping the church healthy while reaching out to the community.

Through this intentional outreach, the church has grown significantly, and Andy has enjoyed seeing new life breathed into the congregation as its members grow in their relationships with each other and with God.

"I learned years ago that it shouldn't be about telling people, 'Y'all come and see what we're doing, Andy says. "We need to go out and tell people what Jesus has done." 78