Michael Campbell Speaks on 'Pastor Appreciation' on October 9, 2022

    Mr. Michael Campbell

  Pastor Raymond D. Burrows presented Mr. Michael Campbell on Sunday morning, Oct. 9, 2022, at Faith Temple (FT), Taylors, SC:

“It is a joy and privilege to welcome this fine gentleman as our speaker today,” Pastor said. “Brother Michael’s biological mother was tragically killed in an automobile accident when he was a mere three months of age.”

Michael’s maternal grandparents raised him and his older brother after the passing of his mother, Mrs. Linda Campbell. His grandfather passed before Pastor Burrows came to FT. He called his grandmother-mother “Gammy.” Ms. Dorothy “Dot” (“Gammy”) Alberta Bails Campbell, 92, caregiver, FT member, and widow of Theodore “Ted” Grover Campbell, passed on Nov. 20, 2021. Michael has two daughters; he and his wife, Amanda (mother of two sons), adopted Bethany, Michael’s grandchild. 

“I’ve known him [Michael] for something like 27 years, and my respect for him escalates year by year,” Pastor said. “He’s here with his beloved wife, Mrs. Amanda, and their child, Bethany. Brother Michael is a man of great knowledge and wisdom and insight and common sense. He’s been such a help here at this church and the mechanics of it down through the years. I could tell you probably 1,000 stories of projects that were done around here.”

Michael said, “We’re celebrating this morning ‘Pastor Appreciation.’” Michael pointed out blank cards provided so people could write to Pastor Burrows. “It’s right that we should appreciate our pastor for the work that he does, here. I’m sure there are some people that may not know the workings of a church, that would think about a pastor’s job and say, ‘Hey, he’s got a 2-day-a-week job — Sunday and Wednesday.’ But, in reality, if you were to speak to him or his wife about it, he has a 7-day-a-week job. His job does not necessarily have defined hours either, because he meets the needs of his flock. He is with the people as they need him. It could be late evenings, it could be early mornings, it could be for surgeries, for illnesses, for deaths in the family, whatever is needed or required. That’s the work that our pastor is willing to put in.” 

Michael looked at 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 and found a “pretty good list” of a pastor’s requirements: “A person of integrity, worthy of respect — both inside and outside of the church, above reproach, respectable, blameless, upright, holy, loves what is good and is of a good reputation with outsiders, has self control, temperate and disciplined, not given to drunkenness, hospitable, not violent, gentle, not quarrelsome or overbearing or quick-tempered, a good husband or father, and must be able to teach and communicate God’s word, and not a lover of money or a pursuer of dishonest gain. 

“Pastor teaches and communicates God’s word to us every week,” Michael continued. “He shares the words that God has given him and provides a message to encourage us, to lift us up, to teach us. … We know that he is a man of God. If you’ve spent time around him, you know he’s very self-controlled, he’s disciplined. … There are times, managing a flock of sheep, I’m sure some of ’em can be aggravating. Some of ’em can try your patience and push your buttons … but Pastor Burrows is kind and compassionate, and he is not quick-tempered. He is gentle. His goal is to guide and direct. He doesn’t beat us into shape. His goal is to lead us there.”

Michael read Jeremiah 3:15: “And I will give you pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

1 Peter 5:2-3: “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock.”

“I can tell, from my time of serving on the board of deacons, that our pastor has never once asked for a raise,” Michael said. “If he’s received one, it’s because the board has determined that he needs to have one. … He’s here because God has placed him here … He is to be an example to the flock. … What should we do about that? Hebrews 13:17 says, ‘Obey them which have rule over you and submit yourselves, for they watch for your souls as they must give account that they may do it with joy and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you.” 

Michael expressed gratefulness that God placed Pastor Burrows at FT: “I’m thankful that he is the pastor that ministers to me in this place. I’m thankful for his friendship. I’m thankful for him and his wife. I’m thankful for the people they are.”

 

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