Meet the Pastor
The Rev. Dr. John B. Loudon (Pastor Mike)
WELCOME
Thank you for visiting the FPC website. Our congregation is one of the oldest in Lakeland, and therefore rich in history and tradition. However, we are alive with new ideas, creative ministries, and joy filled people. I invite you to not only visit us on line, but in person, if you are able. I pray you find our church to be a place of welcome, where the love and good news of Jesus Christ are lived out by people who know what it is to be redeemed by grace.
On April 15, 2012 I celebrate my thirteenth anniversary as pastor of FPC. Much has happened in the life of our congregation and my life in those years. This marks the longest I have ever served a congregation as pastor. I served for ten years at Highland Church in New Castle, PA, and over eleven years as pastor of Eastridge Church in Lincoln, Nebraska.
One big change personally is that during the past thirteen years, my wife, Joyce, and I have become grandparents, nine times over. That’s hard to believe, until I look in the mirror.
I have also been called upon by the denomination, the presbytery, Presbyterians For Renewal, and the Shriner’s Fraternity to share in significant leadership positions, which have been both challenging and rewarding. I enjoy giving leadership to these groups but confess that I get tired, and long to be out on the trail on my bike or walking on the beach or through a state park.
In the past thirteen years at FPC we completed a 35,000 square foot addition to the building, and conducted major remodeling to the existing facilities. We called three excellent associate pastors, and added a number of program and staff people. We developed new ministries as diverse as Tuesday Live, Vine, the Wednesday Institute, and Pedal Power bike rehab/outreach program.
During the past twelve years I preached hundreds of sermons, taught numerous Bible and theology classes, conducted many weddings and funerals, received hundreds of new members, visited countless people in the hospital, and attended thousands of meetings. The sermons, Bible lessons, new members and weddings have been fun. I’ll reserve judgment on the thousands of meetings which I have attended. I pray that there are no meetings in heaven, and no ecclesiastical controversies.
God called me to the Gospel ministry when I was a young boy. God’s call was confirmed when I was a teenager, and I have felt very fulfilled preparing for ministry and being a pastor and teaching elder of the church. There are times when I ponder what retirement might look like, but it seems an alien concept at this point in my life. As Robert Frost wrote “I have miles to go before I sleep.”
I thank this congregation for putting up with me, loving my wife and me, and being caring and supportive of our ministry together during the past twelve years. May God continue to bless us on this journey of discipleship and service.