David Strope preaching.
The last few years of my pastoral ministry have been quite the ride! My wife and I, at God’s direction, had planned an orderly transition from my ministry as pastor of Ankeny (Iowa) Baptist Church to some form of semiretirement pastoral service.
Want to hear God laugh? Make a plan!
Our orderly plan was altered drastically with my sudden movement into the role of interim national representative for the GARBC. And for over two years it was “pedal to the medal,” with enjoyable ministry to churches and pastors, constant travel, and multiple administrative responsibilities at the Regular Baptist Ministries office.
Then suddenly I was out of a job. With the election of Clare Jewell as national representative in June 2024, my service for RBM ended. Semiretirement life arrived . . . for two weeks.
- You have reached the end of this article preview. This article was published in the Fall 2025 Baptist Bulletin. Subscribe to the Baptist Bulletin or purchase a gift subscription. If you already subscribe to the print edition, sign up for free digital access.
David E. Strope (DDiv) is the interim pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and leads the Intentional Interim Pastor ministry of Regular Baptist Ministries.
