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A Tribute to My Pastor

Pastor E. W. Parks

1922-2013

 

Shortly after Selby and I were married we publicly united with Hillcrest Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC, where Bro. Ernest Parks was pastor. It was our privilege to sit under Bro. Parks’ faithful ministry for the next two and a half years while I finished college. I could not have been placed in a better situation by the providence of our God in which to be prepared for the work of the ministry.

 

      Even as a young man, I recognized the fact that we had for our pastor a man of tremendous integrity, faithfulness, and devotion. Our pastor loved our redeemer, the gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace, and us. Bro. Parks recommended that the church license me to preach, recommended me to other men to fill the pulpits when needed, and introduced me to numerous other faithful gospel preachers. Sitting at his feet, I learned from his example what a pastor must be: a devoted student of Holy Scripture, a man of study, prayer, and sound doctrine, utterly devoted to Christ, his church, and the preaching of the gospel.

 

      Bro. Parks was my pastor when I was ordained as a pastor. I continued to grow in respect for him through all these years. Unknown to most, he was known well and admired by the pastors, churches, and missionaries influenced by his life and ministry. In all the years I’ve known him, I never knew Pastor Parks to behave in any manner that was inconsistent with the gospel he believed. I never knew him to compromise any point of doctrine, bend any conviction, or in any way seek the favor of men.

 

      My pastor was a man of principle. He honored God and God honored him. He and his wife, Louise, were blessed with six children. All three of his sons are gifted gospel preachers.

·      Missionary Daniel Parks — St. Croix, US Virgin Islands

·      Pastor David Parks — Lexington, KY

·      Philip Parks — Tyler, TX

 

      After starting Goldfloss Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC and pastoring that young assembly for three years, Bro. Parks accepted the call to be pastor of Little Sewell Baptist Church in Rainelle, WV. He served that congregation for nine years, until 1966. In 1966, Bro. Parks returned with his family to Winston-Salem to assume the pastorate of Hillcrest Baptist Church, where he remained pastor until he was 87 years old, retiring in 2008.

 

      How I rejoice at the thought of my pastor’s joy in the presence of our Savior as I write this brief tribute, asking his God and my God to give me a portion of that grace he bestowed upon Bro. E. W. Parks and enable me to follow the example he set before me until my appointed work is done. I thank God for the influence of this faithful man; and I thank this faithful man for his ministry to and lifelong influence upon me.

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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