Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Pastor's Perspective - Dr. Forrest Pollock


Dear FCC Family & Friends,

You never know when you’re making a beautiful memory.

Five years ago while I was persevering through a challenging season in my life, I had the opportunity to meet and spend time with a great man of God – Dr. Forrest Pollock. Forrest, 44, was the lead pastor of Bell Shoals Baptist Church, a 7,000-member mega-church near my hometown of Tampa.

I was introduced to Dr. Pollock by Bob Anderson, one of his wonderfully dedicated staff pastors. Graciously, the pastor agreed to take time out of his busy schedule to meet with me. He met me with a huge contagious smile at the door of his palatial office, hugged me and made me feel like a friend from the old neighborhood. He listened to me, nodded along kindly, encouraged me lovingly from the Word and did something that tattooed itself into my memory. Wearing a nice pressed business suit, Dr. Pollock stood up, walked across the office and kneeled down on the carpet and prayed for me. Here was a shepherd of thousands taking time to love on a fellow brother in the cause, hitting his knees on my behalf – and I’m not even a Baptist!

Five months ago I thought about what that day meant to me and the deep lasting positive impression it left in my soul. I emailed Dr. Pollock and expressed my heart-felt gratitude, a victory letter of how blessed I was ministering to a great congregation in northern California; a letter that was soon read by thousands in the monthly Bell Shoals newsletter. I just had to tell him how a few minutes of his time, and a humble prayer of intercession preached a message I’ll never ever forget.

Today, three thousand miles away, your pastor is mourning with the family of believers of Bell Shoals Baptist Church. Their beloved pastor and his 13-year-old son Preston perished in a private plane accident in the mountains near Asheville, North Carolina on Monday morning.

Friends, you never know when you’re making a beautiful memory.

If someone out there made one for you, please take a moment and say thanks while you can.

In the Fight,

Steve

5 comments:

jeramy sossaman said...

wow....didn't see that coming. what a great reminder. so sorry...

Nicholle said...

Sorry for your loss. I will be praying for all affected.

Love you!

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for sharing and for praying for our church and our Pastor's family. I am a member of Bell Shoals Baptist Church and Pastor has touched my life in more ways than I could ever say.

Please continue to pray for our church family and Pastor's wife and 5 other children.

God has plans for our church and HE will see us threw our loss.

Thanks again for the prayers!!!

Lorie

Anonymous said...

I, too, have learned to always stay in the moment and realize when those beautiful memories happen cherish them because you never know when it will be the last time. Beautiful memories are gifts from God shining His light into our lives. Thankfully, God is in all things.

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