Baptists find their man in Tennessee

The 39-year-old had no plans to leave Jackson City but says he feels the call to Calvary Baptist Church.

By EILEEN SCHULTE
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 14, 2002

CLEARWATER -- After hundreds of hours of collective prayer and an exhaustive nationwide search, Calvary Baptist Church found its new pastor in Tennessee.

Dr. Jerry Tidwell, 39, leader of the 3,500-member West Jackson Baptist Church in Jackson City for the past nine years, will replace the popular Dr. Bill Anderson on Easter.

"We are excited about the fact God has ordered the steps of this man to shepherd and lead this congregation into Calvary's future," said Skip Dvornik, assistant pastor. "He has God-given leadership abilities. Our congregation has warmly received him."

Anderson, who retired to pursue writing and speaking opportunities, said goodbye to his congregation during a marathon three-hour praise service Jan. 6.

He had spent more than 26 years at the church's pulpit, guiding its 3,500 active members.

On Feb. 29, Calvary Baptist Church's congregation voted overwhelmingly to call Tidwell to become its senior pastor. Tidwell, father of two daughters, ages 9 and 3, and married to wife Kathy for 19 years, wasn't immediately sold on the idea of leaving Jackson City, population 60,000 -- roughly the size of Fort Myers.

"There was no reason. We had no desire to leave here. We thought we'd be here for the rest of our lives," said Tidwell, an Alabama native. "But we really felt this was from the Lord. If God gives me a greater (opportunity) and vision to reach out to people than in Jackson, I'm going. We would go anywhere God wanted us to go. Cairo, Alaska."

Floyd Miller, chairman of the church's deacon body, said the search committee looked at more than 100 candidates for the head minister job. But as the group listened to hundreds of hours of audio and video audition tapes, they settled on Tidwell because there was "an overall sense leading toward him."

Miller declined to disclose Tidwell's salary, saying it was decided during a secret meeting.

Tidwell said his ministry is "reaching the world," and said his goal at Calvary is to "get every member involved in carrying the gospel."

He is not worried about his coming tenure.

"I used to be a high school football coach," he said. "Jon Gruden and I made the decision to come to the (Tampa Bay area) at the same time. If we're not happy, we can switch jobs."

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