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Bro. Laida: My Interview with a 92 Year Old Pastor, Part 5

This is part five of my interview with Dr. John David Laida.

If you missed the first four segments, click HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE.

In this final segment, Brother Laida addresses:

  • Word of advice to young pastors
  • Word of warning to young pastors
  • Future of the church
  • Advice on handling change and transition

Share a word of encouragement to his family in the comments.

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Ron Edmondson

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Join the discussion 17 Comments

  • jimpemberton says:

    Thank you, Bro. Laida, for passing on your insight and experience. One of our most valuable resources, and a treasured gift of God, is the wisdom of our forebears, both in ages past and from those still among us. May God continue to use you to serve his church until that day when he calls you to go be in his presence.

  • Dr page says:

    I wonder who was Minister of Education for 10 years with Brother Laida at First Baptist Clarksville, continues to speak highly of those days in working with him and says that they were some of the best years of his ministry

  • Beverly Mills says:

    Thoroughly enjoyed and excited to hear more tomorrow!! My favorite part, "Be who you are" and a leader develops a relationship in order to lead and have followers. This also reminds me of the important role of the "leader" in the home as well as our Christian influence in the community……

  • @mamanobles says:

    Thankful for Bro. Laida's sharp mind at age 93, what a blessing he is. Love his comments on loving people, relationships and being yourself to lead. Wisdom is better than silver and gold, that is evident in this interview.

  • Donna Turner Nichols says:

    Ron —- What a pleasure it has been watching your interviews with Brother Laida! It was under his church leadershiip as my childhood pastor that I became a Christian and for that he will always be revered as one of the "spiritual heroes" in my life! He not only made an impact in my life, however, but also in the lives of my family. My father, Wayne Turner, who was Minister of Education for 10 years with Brother Laida at First Baptist Clarksville, continues to speak highly of those days in working with him and says that they were some of the best years of his ministry. Brother John truly is a precious and genuine individual and it is so wonderful to see how he is still allowing God to use his life to touch others —- even at the age of 92!! He's simply amazing!

    • ronedmondson says:

      Thanks Donna. I remember part of your father's time at FBC. I was young, but remember him being there.

  • Donna Cole says:

    Thank you so much for sharing this great interview. Rev. Laida is my uncle; and I rarely see him, so watching and hearing him has been a delightful blessing! I can hardly wait to share it with my mom (his 91 year old baby sister).

  • Great and true insight! I am grateful and love Pastors (I am one myself) He has obviously done a great job, and so much of what he says needs to be taught in Bible school……

  • Tami Heim says:

    Loved this series Ron.
    Thanks for being a bridge transporting all this great wisdom to the next generation of pastors and believers.
    I am grateful for who YOU are.

  • Melissa says:

    Brother Laida's insight is interesting. Very true when he states that the church is competing with everything from government to Sunday sports!

    Interesting that leaders in the church today can use options such as FB, Twitter, Blogs, Jumbotrons, tee shirts and hip Christian music to build relationships….. Brother Laida had none of that and built his following by true genuine relationships. I think you are well on your way Ron to using all of the above to build church relationships in a positive way.

    Thanks again for sharing the interviews. I've had an out of town aunt (and uncle )follow these via internet and I don't think she has seen Brother Laida since working with him back in the early 70s. That part of the communication via computer is awesome!