With furniture in the halls and the sound and smells of paint rollers gliding across office walls, the change that a new year can bring is upon us. And what an exciting change it’s expected to be! Rev. Matthew Peek, former Senior Pastor of First Baptist Pelham, has answered the call early in December to become our new Senior Pastor. Pastor Matt already has history here at First Baptist Moultrie as our former Minister of Youth prior to going to Pelham, and he led us several days in revival earlier in 2019. 

As 2020 launches, Pastor Matt will be adjusting to his new role as he joins our staff and settles into his freshly painted office. His first sermon as Senior Pastor will be during our worship service at 10:30am on January 5. We are looking forward to the perspective he brings on God’s Word and his unique, energetic style of sharing it with our congregation. Having been called into ministry at a young age, he began preaching when fifteen years old and hasn’t stopped yet! 

Pastor Matt already has eighteen years of preaching under his belt and service in other capacities, such as on the Administration Committee, Executive Committee, and Cooperative Program Study Committee of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, on the Steering Committee and as a Moderator for the Tucker Baptist Association, and as a Youth Ministry Coach for the Georgia Baptist Convention, just to name a few. Through his many years in ministry already, he has been given several opportunities in various roles comprising preaching, music, student, and pastoral ministry. As Pastor Matt has said in his own words, “While ministry can be challenging, I receive great joy in serving the Lord. At the same time, I take great confidence in my identity in Christ and in the calling He has placed upon my life, and I long to bring Him glory in everything I do.” We are thrilled to have Pastor Matt Peek join the ministry team at First Baptist Moultrie and lead this congregation in the next season God has for this church.

As we say “welcome” to one, we said “farewell” to another as the community joined our members in wishing Pastor Wayne Woods and his wife, June, well as they enter into retirement after over ten years of serving this ministry. We also were blessed with the sounds of the angelic voices of our Preschool Choir kicking off the lighting of our manger scene on our lawn, the Adult Choir Christmas performance of “Image of the Invisible” with a full orchestra (catch some videos on our Facebook page), and the Children’s Choir energetically belting out their Christmas songs while grooving to the tunes and finishing up with beautiful acapella pieces. It has been an incredibly busy but wonderful time of the year as we have focused our efforts and energy on showing love and generosity to our Savior and our fellow man during this special season celebrating His coming into the world to redeem mankind.

Beginning the new year, our Bible studies start back up again, our senior adult ministry’s monthly luncheons resume, our biggest youth event of the year, DNow, happens January 17-19 (registration happening now), and the LaFevres are coming in concert on January 26 at 6pm, with plenty of Sunday morning opportunities to hear our new Pastor preach. Lots to do and lots of ways to connect at First Baptist Moultrie. 

As we wrap up the year with Pastor Wayne’s last sermon this morning, it’s bittersweet as we celebrate the blessing he and Mrs. June have been to this congregation and community, yet excitedly look forward to Pastor Matt Peek and wife, Leigh Anna, leading us into this new stage in the life of our church.