Crestwood—Mark Payton began duties as the new director of missions for Oldham-Trimble Association Sept. 15.

Payton brings with him 33 years of ministry experience. Payton goes to Oldham-Trimble from the pastorate of Dry Ridge Baptist Church. Before that, his ministry experience includes Shively Heights and Gethsemane Baptist churches.

He also has been active on the denomination level, serving as vice president of the Kentucky Baptist Pastor’s Conference twice, president of the conference once, as second vice president of the KBC, as a trustee of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and currently as a trustee at Clear Creek Baptist Bible College.

“Probably a year ago I said to my wife that I would like to wind up my ministry as director of missions somewhere. I resigned from my pastoring position, and seven months later, here I am,” Payton explained.

“I love to help the pastors; they are friends of mine. I think God was preparing me (for this),” he added.

Payton said his top priorities for the association are to see all churches in his association hold Vacation Bible Schools and become Acts 1:8 churches.

“We need to not only do missions in Oldham County or Trimble County, but to also do them in Kentucky and further out in the state and North America and around the world,” he said. “But until we are all Acts 1:8 churches, we’re really not a New Testament church.”

Payton also wants to be an encouragement to bivocational pastors throughout the association. “I’ve learned a lot about bivocational guys. They’ve put so much time not just in their business or whatever secular job they’re doing, but in preparing a sermon and doing all the ministry that has to be done.”

“I’m praying God will use Mark (Payton) to encourage and missionally challenge the churches of the association,” said Eric Allen, missions mobilization team leader of the KBC. “I’m looking forward to working with Mark and trust we can partner together to strengthen and plant churches.” (WR)