Pressnell
TAZEWELL — Tazewell and Claiborne County native Randy Pressnell will retire as Harvest Field 6 team leader for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board on May 2.
Pressnell has served in the harvest field role for the past four years. When he joined the TBMB staff he also served as bivocational ministries specialist for eight months before assuming the harvest field assignment full time.
Pressnell surrendered to the ministry in 1975 and has served as a pastor in the state for most of that time.
His vocational pastorates include Haynes Flat Baptist Church, Speedwell; First Baptist Church, New Tazewell; Oak Grove Baptist Church, Mount Carmel; and First Baptist Church, Oneida. He also served in bivocational pastorates in early ministry and more recently in interim pastorates since assuming his role at TBMB.
He also served on the administration and faculty of Clear Creek Baptist Bible College in Pineville, Ky., for more than nine years while continuing to serve in the pastorate.
As a pastor, Pressnell was heavily involved in the life of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. He served four terms (12 years) on the former Executive Board of the TBC (now Tennessee Baptist Mission Board). In addition, his wife, Debbi, also served two terms (six years) with the board.
Pressnell attended his first meeting as a board member when D.L. Lowrie resigned as executive director and was on the board when both James Porch and Randy C. Davis were elected.
“I have seen a lot of Tennessee Baptist history,” he affirmed.
He also is grateful for his service with the board because he met a lot of pastors and others “who have become lifelong friends that I would not have known otherwise.”
Pressnell said his varied background as a pastor helped to prepare him for his harvest field ministry with the TBMB. He has served in both bivocational and vocational roles in large and small churches.
Noting that the local church is the highest calling a pastor can have, he observed that God “has been able to use me in another way while serving in the harvest field.
“My ministry with Tennessee Baptists has been expanded because of the personal relationships he developed with pastors and directors of mission in Harvest Field 6 which encompasses northeast Tennessee.”
He noted the one on one and group meetings with pastors and DOMs were his favorite part of the job. “I enjoyed providing encouragement and helping to provide resources,” he said.
Pressnell will continue to live in Tazewell and to stay active with supply preaching and interim pastorates “as God opens doors.”
Joe Sorah, Harvest Field Ministry team leader for the TBMB, observed that “we have been blessed to have Randy Pressnell serve our churches in Harvest Field 6.
“Randy has brought a vast amount of experience, expertise and classical training to this ministry,” Sorah said. “He came to us very well respected and has expanded his ministry legacy during these four years,” he said.
Sorah added that pastors have found Pressnell to be responsive to their needs, ready to serve at moment’s notice and a valuable resource.
“He has been a friend to pastors, staff persons and DOMs. Randy has served Tennessee Baptists well over these four years. Because of his love for the Lord and His bride, I know he will continue to serve our Lord in his retirement.” B&R
