Kevin Ezell came to Highview Baptist Church in 1996. Since then the church has more than tripled in attendance. Mission participation is no longer dominated by youth trips. Kevin is leaving pastoral duties at Highview to take on an administrative position with the South Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board. In many ways this move is a logical progression from what has been accomplished at Highview under his leadership.
Kevin is beloved and respected by the members at Highview. He has also garnered the respect of other pastors and church leaders in our community. The sadness I feel in his move is personal. It is tempered by the realization God is orchestrating the change which will include replacing Kevin at Highview.
Near the beginning of Kevin's second year at Highview he stated from the pulpit with unadulterated joy that 33 people were participating in the outreach program. I thought he is glad? That is less than 1% of the membership. Why aren't people participating? That question was immediately replaced by, "Why aren't you?" So I joined the outreach program.
Kevin's heart and understanding of God is illustrated by one instruction he gave to the outreach teams. If you witness to someone and they accept Christ as their savior, do not try to get them to join Highview. Inquire into their church background. Encourage them to make this decision known to the leadership of their current church. Volunteer to go with them. Stay in touch with them until they have settled into active participation with a church.
To Kevin outreach was about building the body of Christ. Not building a congregation. He noted following that instruction, God will take care of building Highview. We need only be faithful in reaching out to the lost.
Like the Apostle Paul and the church at Ephesus, Kevin will always be part of Highview.
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