Pastor’s Corner
As we began to deal with the death of Stephen, we found great consolation and comfort as we spoke with our dear friend and Shelby’s former collegue, Dr. Jerry Holt of Enid, Oklahoma as well as our good friend Reverend Jim Constant of Watonga, Oklahoma. Shelby (Stephen’s dad) has known Pastor Jerry since 1967, first as a youth minister and then over the years during his own years in the ministry serving with him on staff in communities in Oklahoma as well as in an evangelistic capacity. Pastor Jim is a close childhood friend that Shelby grew up with not only in church but through school days. Over the years Jerry and Jim have remained close to our family. Pastor Jerry and Pastor Jim were at our side to perform the funeral services for Stephen to help us through the early days of shock and grief. As such, we have asked them to be the web pastors for this website and to contribute blogs of comfort and inspiration that we hope and pray will be a blessing and encouragement to you. Please check the “Pastor’s Corner Notes” on the website frequently for their contributions.
Meet Our Pastors
Dr. Jerry Holt was born in Enid, Oklahoma in 1943 while his father was in military training in Palacios, Texas. Enid would be Jerry’s home throughout his school years. Jerry accepted Jesus into his heart in the first grade during Bible School. He would realize his call to the ministry during a revival at his church when he was 15 years old. He received his B.A. in Pastoral Studies from Calvary Bible College in Kansas City, MO in 1966. He then went on to pursue a Masters of Religious Education from Phillips University in Enid, OK in 1969. Jerry obtained his Doctor of Theology from Luther Rice Seminary in Lithonia, GA in 1977.
Jerry’s ministry began as Minister of Education and Youth at First Baptist Church in Blackwell, OK. He then went on as pastor to First Baptist Church Red Rock, OK, Amidon Baptist Church Wichita, KS, Calvary Baptist Church Pawhuska, OK, First Baptist Church Cherokee, OK, First Baptist Church Blanchard, OK, First Baptist Church Medford, OK, Victory Baptist Church Atlantic, IO, Crusaders Baptist Church Wichita, KS and finally to Liberty Baptist Church, Enid, OK where he recently retired.
Jerry has led evangelistic revivals in Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, Nebraska, Iowa, Nova Scotia, Canada as well as in the Philippines. He has also served as youth and children’s camp pastor in many location through his career.
Jerry is also an avid horseshoe pitcher and served as the Chaplain for the National Horseshoe Pitching Association for many years. He was also quite a basketball player in his early years.
Rev. Jim Constant was born and raised in Blackwell, OK where he committed to become a preacher at a very early age. Jim grew up on his family farm where he assisted with wheat farming and taking care of cattle and livestock. He enjoyed athletics and especially football where he was on the local football team during his school years.
Jim received his Associates of Arts degree in Social Sciences from Northern Oklahoma College at Tonkawa, OK. He also received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, OK.
Pastor Jim was ordained into the ministry at Second Baptist Church of Ponca City, OK. He also has served as Outreach Director and Sunday School Director of Trinity Baptist Church in Weatherford, OK. He also served in the roles of President, Vice President and Treasurer of the Watonga, OK Ministerial Alliance. He served in the capacity of Discipleship Director, Moderator and Vice Moderator of the Central Baptist Association of Oklahoma.
He has served as pastor of the Cooperton Baptist Church of Cooperton, OK, First Southern Baptist Church of Oberlin, KS, Interim Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church of Weatherford, OK, pastor at Trinity Baptist Church of Watonga, OK and currently as pastor of Colony Baptist Church in Colony, OK.
He has also enjoyed additional responsibilities for the Hydro, OK Co-op Station, the City of Watonga as well as for the Watonga Public School System. He is currently serving on the Housing Authority Board in Watonga, OK.
We welcome Dr. Jerry and Rev. Jim to our web staff and are privileged to have them as authors and contributors.