“The work isn’t about us – it’s about souls, the kingdom of God, about Jesus Christ,” the pastor said to his audience on the evening of Nov. 13.
Time for recognition – Randall Jones received a clock as part of the recognition service for his retirement at Langston Baptist Church. With him are his wife Juanita and deacon chairman Mike Johnson.But it was about him – at least in part, and at least for the night. The speaker was Randall Jones, and he was stepping down from his pulpit – but not stepping back from preaching – after 29 years as pastor of Langston Baptist Church in Conway.
The church honored Jones and his wife, Juanita, at a reception followed by a service of tribute. “This church will continue to prosper,” he told the congregation. “It’s not built on me, but on Jesus Christ.”
In his response after tributes from church staff and members, his family and denominational workers, Jones encouraged the congregation to be faithful to God “in all the things you do and in what you become,” reminding them, “It’s not so much what God has done, but what he is doing.”
The next day after the recognition service, Jones was the lead speaker at the South Carolina Baptist Pastor’s Conference in Cayce. In opening remarks, he referred to the fact that 60 people had joined Langston since he announced his retirement, quipping, “I should have announced it sooner.”
Jones, who at the pastor’s meeting characterized himself as “the least among the saints,” was pastor of four “exciting, growing” churches during his ministry. He will be best remembered, however, for his work at Langston, which included establishment of a Bible institute affiliated with the church and the annual coastal evangelism conference hosted by Langston.