Dougald on a recent trip to Israel. This picture taken at Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found,-
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Dougald came to Tar River Baptist Association on November 1, 2000, after serving over 22 years in pastoral ministry. His last pastorate was Nashville Baptist Church, in Nashville, NC, where he still resides. Prior to full-time vocational ministry, Dougald served as a bi-vocational pastor in New South River Association, in the greater Fayetteville area, and taught at South View Senior High in Hope Mills, NC. Dougald taught in the area of Social Studies and eventually specialized the area of United States History, Advanced Government, and Forensics (public speaking NOT science), and Debate. He worked closely with students and served as Student Government Sponsor and Forensics/Debate Coach. He worked with Cumberland County Schools to develop the Forensics/Debate Program in all Cumberland County junior and senior high schools.
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Once he “retired” from public school teaching, Dougald remained active with the schools – serving as a school volunteer and serving on several advisory teams with the schools. He was involved in his community and was appointed to the Mental Health Advisory Board where he also served one term as chair. He has remained active in each community where he has lived and served. A partial list includes serving as Youth Ministry Director and Coordinator of the Robeson County Fair Ministry for Robeson Association and as a volunteer in the public schools; as VBS Director and on the Sunday School Team with North Roanoke Association, volunteer chaplain for the Nashville Fire Department.
As a result of Hurricane Floyd (Fall 1999), he worked with Baptist Men/Methodist Men/Town of Nashville/NC State and FEMA to minister to needs of the people affected by the flood by heading up the Nashville Area Flood Relief. It is through this event God gave clarity to his calling towards associational work. During lunch with a representative from the state convention in the local McDonald's once it re-opened, they began to tell the stories of the flood. Towards the end Dougald stated that he had sensed God's leading towards "strengthening churchES." That he was also sure he was to be at Nashville. After sharing his calling, the representative shared that "TRBA was looking." Dougald prayed for 30 days and then allowed that person to give his name to the search committee. Now Dougald says, "God brought me to Nashville where I would see Tar River....."
As a result of Hurricane Floyd (Fall 1999), he worked with Baptist Men/Methodist Men/Town of Nashville/NC State and FEMA to minister to needs of the people affected by the flood by heading up the Nashville Area Flood Relief. It is through this event God gave clarity to his calling towards associational work. During lunch with a representative from the state convention in the local McDonald's once it re-opened, they began to tell the stories of the flood. Towards the end Dougald stated that he had sensed God's leading towards "strengthening churchES." That he was also sure he was to be at Nashville. After sharing his calling, the representative shared that "TRBA was looking." Dougald prayed for 30 days and then allowed that person to give his name to the search committee. Now Dougald says, "God brought me to Nashville where I would see Tar River....."
Since coming onboard with TRBA, Dougald has served on a variety of leadership and advisory teams related to Baptist Work. This list includes an IMB advisory team related to annual Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and assimilation of missionaries into stateside assignments; LifeWay DoM Advisory Team and development of the Smaller Church Sunday School Development tool; NAMB efforts related to church revitalization/church replanting; served on the initial representative from NC on the Network of Baptist Associations (NOBA) when they established the “core competencies” for associational work and implemented an annual training conference for Associational workers from across the nation; and has worked greatly with the Baptist State Convention of NC and the NC Associational Missions Conference to strengthen partnership between these two groups as they work together to coach, counsel, and resource the local church.
Included in this effort was his co-founding a group of active/new thinking Associational Missionaries by establishing ACTS (Associations Cooperating Together Strengthens) which helped change the footprint of how we now work together as associations across the state. He served as President of the Associational Missions Conference and has served on the General Board and/or Executive Committee of the Baptist State Convention for a total of 8 years. Today, he continues to work with the above groups and is actively involved in building a strong partnership with Southeastern Seminary as they have consented to work with us to strengthen His church. He is also working with a group of seasoned Associational Missions Strategists in the development of the TRANSITIONAL PASTOR emphasis. There is a definite need for this ministry. He offers training and coaching for that across the state and beyond.
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Dougald has been married to his wife, Linda for 47 years (as of 12/16/2019). They married as college sweethearts during their sophomore year. Linda has been faithful to the calling to ministry by walking alongside Dougald as the Lord led her away from her beloved mountains to eastern NC. They are active members of Ephesus Baptist Church in Spring Hope, where Linda is an assistant teacher, leads an inductive Bible study group, active prayer warrior, and mentors several women.
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Dougald and Linda are the proud parents of two adult children: Dougald III, who serves on staff at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Lisa who serves as Food Services Director for Carteret County Jail in Beaufort, NC.
Dougald has recently renewed his commitment to those pastors and churches that feel God is leading them towards becoming more engaged in church revitalization. Establishing coHort and D-groups, as well as striving toward making the pastors' fellowship an "iron sharpening iron" event and meeting/coaching with people one on one with regard to church revitalization. Each month he spends time with 25-35 pastors discussing their plans for "next steps" towards church revitalization. He is working with several churches in transition and asking they allow the association to work with their interim to address the needs of the church before they call a new pastor.
Dougald's guiding principle in working with member churches is based on a statement made by a denominational leader 20+ years ago as he was sensing God's call into Associational Missions. That statement is, "Any two people genuinely seeking God can work together." Believing this, his heart's desire is to see churches, working together to impact lostness in this generation.
He will quickly tell you that:
(1) Every healthy church IS engaged with an "association of churches." He is not naive and hold to the belief that all associations will remain the same, they should always be changing as the Lord leads. But churches need one another to accomplish God's purpose as His church.
(2) The "middle name" for true Southern Baptists is cooperation/collaboration. A healthy church recognizes we are NOT in competition, rather we should be willing to work together as sister churches - to the point of sending "mission teams" to local churches to assist if needed, but definitely work as sister churches to reach their communities. His familiar quote from an associate in Baptist work now is, "It is arrogant to think we can make disciples of all the nations, when we are unwilling to work with local sister churches to reach our community."
(3) There is NO SUCH THING as a small church: There are "small-minded" people that use "we can't because...." in every sized church, but we are all God's church!!! A church with smaller memberships often feel belittled as we emphasize/reward/recognize/applaud numbers as the ultimate "measure of success." The Biblical measurement of success is not about numbers, it's being obedient to God. We are ALL called to "make disciples," to "trust and obey," to be "faithful witnesses," and to become the church God has called us to be where He has placed us.
At that same Sunday School conference where Dougald gleaned his "guiding principle" for associational work, he also experienced an "exchange" between Johnny Hunt and a LITTLE pastor in attendance. Pastor Johnny shared his heart in a message the night before and there was a Q&A for pastors the next morning. As he shared some guiding principles of things they were doing at Woodstock (the church he served as long-time pastor), there was one LITTLE pastor - front and center - that would state, "Pastor Johnny, I pastor a LITTLE church...we're not Woodstock.....we can't do that!"
Over and over Pastor Johnny would graciously/lovingly address his concern, share some ways his CHURCH might be able to use these principles as a smaller membership church. Then - he would go on to the next question. EVERY TIME, this LITTLE preacher front and center would pop up and say, "Now, Pastor Johnny......." Over and over this was repeated. Pastor Johnny graciously addressed his concerns and TRIED to share ideas for his church to implement similar things in his church. Then Johnny would go on to the next question.
Well, Pastor Johnny's responses were always gracious, and they APPEARED lovingly given, but all of us were becoming a little-bit frustrated with that LITTLE preacher. As Pastor Johnny was answering one of the final questions, it was apparent this man was ready to respond, but as Pastor Johnny addressed the question he walked across the stage, down the steps, and finished answering the question in front of that LITTLE preacher. As Johnny finished and looked up, all could hear...... "Pastor Johnny, I pastor a LITTLE church...we're not Woodstock.....we can't do that!" Finally, I do believe with genuine love in his heart and a burden for that man's church, Pastor Johnny said these words that ring in my mind loudly to the day - "Brother, if your church is so little that it cannot be obedient to God, go home and close the doors."
(4) There is ONLY ONE REASON for a church to be plateaued and declining/dying: Putting everything together from the above statements, and not just measuring "nickels and noses," you will sometimes hear Dougald state - "The only REASON a church is plateaued/declining/dying is that the church has purposely --- intentionally --- chosen to be disobedient to God. Everything else is an excuse." IF we genuinely desire to become His church, there are resources that abound to help us become His church.
Dougald stands ready, willing, and able to come and help your church in any way that he can. With the capable teachers and practitioners in TRBA; his willingness to go in and work with the church where they sense God's leading for them, etc. he expects to see several churches experience some level of renewal prior to his retirement (before the Lord returns).
Dougald's guiding principle in working with member churches is based on a statement made by a denominational leader 20+ years ago as he was sensing God's call into Associational Missions. That statement is, "Any two people genuinely seeking God can work together." Believing this, his heart's desire is to see churches, working together to impact lostness in this generation.
He will quickly tell you that:
(1) Every healthy church IS engaged with an "association of churches." He is not naive and hold to the belief that all associations will remain the same, they should always be changing as the Lord leads. But churches need one another to accomplish God's purpose as His church.
(2) The "middle name" for true Southern Baptists is cooperation/collaboration. A healthy church recognizes we are NOT in competition, rather we should be willing to work together as sister churches - to the point of sending "mission teams" to local churches to assist if needed, but definitely work as sister churches to reach their communities. His familiar quote from an associate in Baptist work now is, "It is arrogant to think we can make disciples of all the nations, when we are unwilling to work with local sister churches to reach our community."
(3) There is NO SUCH THING as a small church: There are "small-minded" people that use "we can't because...." in every sized church, but we are all God's church!!! A church with smaller memberships often feel belittled as we emphasize/reward/recognize/applaud numbers as the ultimate "measure of success." The Biblical measurement of success is not about numbers, it's being obedient to God. We are ALL called to "make disciples," to "trust and obey," to be "faithful witnesses," and to become the church God has called us to be where He has placed us.
At that same Sunday School conference where Dougald gleaned his "guiding principle" for associational work, he also experienced an "exchange" between Johnny Hunt and a LITTLE pastor in attendance. Pastor Johnny shared his heart in a message the night before and there was a Q&A for pastors the next morning. As he shared some guiding principles of things they were doing at Woodstock (the church he served as long-time pastor), there was one LITTLE pastor - front and center - that would state, "Pastor Johnny, I pastor a LITTLE church...we're not Woodstock.....we can't do that!"
Over and over Pastor Johnny would graciously/lovingly address his concern, share some ways his CHURCH might be able to use these principles as a smaller membership church. Then - he would go on to the next question. EVERY TIME, this LITTLE preacher front and center would pop up and say, "Now, Pastor Johnny......." Over and over this was repeated. Pastor Johnny graciously addressed his concerns and TRIED to share ideas for his church to implement similar things in his church. Then Johnny would go on to the next question.
Well, Pastor Johnny's responses were always gracious, and they APPEARED lovingly given, but all of us were becoming a little-bit frustrated with that LITTLE preacher. As Pastor Johnny was answering one of the final questions, it was apparent this man was ready to respond, but as Pastor Johnny addressed the question he walked across the stage, down the steps, and finished answering the question in front of that LITTLE preacher. As Johnny finished and looked up, all could hear...... "Pastor Johnny, I pastor a LITTLE church...we're not Woodstock.....we can't do that!" Finally, I do believe with genuine love in his heart and a burden for that man's church, Pastor Johnny said these words that ring in my mind loudly to the day - "Brother, if your church is so little that it cannot be obedient to God, go home and close the doors."
(4) There is ONLY ONE REASON for a church to be plateaued and declining/dying: Putting everything together from the above statements, and not just measuring "nickels and noses," you will sometimes hear Dougald state - "The only REASON a church is plateaued/declining/dying is that the church has purposely --- intentionally --- chosen to be disobedient to God. Everything else is an excuse." IF we genuinely desire to become His church, there are resources that abound to help us become His church.
Dougald stands ready, willing, and able to come and help your church in any way that he can. With the capable teachers and practitioners in TRBA; his willingness to go in and work with the church where they sense God's leading for them, etc. he expects to see several churches experience some level of renewal prior to his retirement (before the Lord returns).