Gene King Sr. was hired as pastor at Clark’s Chapel seven months ago. The small church is located on CR 159 just north of where Hwy. 341 intersects with Hwy. 32 in Northeast Calhoun County.
King, 56, is from West Point. The son of one of the deacons at Clark’s Chapel attends King’s home church in West Point and encouraged him to go preach for them there.
“That’s how I got introduced to the church,” King said. “I came over and preached for them, and they invited me back. I came and preached about four times when they asked me if I would become pastor.”
He was called to preach in February of 1996 and he preached his first sermon that July. He comes from a long line of pastors. His father, two brothers, a sister and other family members are all pastors.
“I just had that feel early in life,” King said. “I was probably 18 when I started having visions of preaching in church.”
His oldest brother Jessie King served as a mentor.
“I would sit under him and pay close attention to his ministry,” King said. “He basically helped me to getting on the right path and understanding the call that God had placed on my life.”
“I enrolled in seminary and put all my trust in God and he made it plain to me,” King said.
He pastored First Baptist Cedar Bluff just outside of West Point for six years. He more recently led Mount Nebo in Aberdeen for five years.
King, who oversees the transportation department at Mississippi University for Women, said he and his wife Shelia, their two kids and four grandkids have been welcomed with open arms by Clark’s Chapel.
“They’ve embraced my whole family, and it makes it worth the drive from West Point,” King said. “This is a great place to be.”
“This church was a small congregation of 15 to 20 active members when I got here,” he said. “They only had services on two Sundays each month. Since I got here we’ve opened it up to full services every Sunday.”
“God has tremendously blessed this church,” King said. “Our membership has now increased. Our finances have increased. We’ve gone from 15-20 to 40-50 active. I’ve baptized 10 new members since I got here.”
“God has truly poured out his blessings on this church. The members are excited. The young people are excited about being involved in ministry. That’s what it’s about is ministry – seeking the lost.”
Some of that excitement in the church undoubtedly comes from King.
“I have a little excitement in my message (every Sunday),” King said with a smile. “Unlike my nephew (Shed King at Bridges Chapel in Pittsboro), he’s more of a teaching style. I teach as well, but you get a little celebration on the end, a little hoopin’ as we call it. He’s from up north and I’m from the South so that’s the difference in our styles of preaching.”
King noted the church’s Bible Study and Sunday School are growing as well.
“I truly believe this is going to be my last stop as pastor,” King said. “I feel so much love and compassion for the members here. They have a desire, a hunger and a thirst for the word of God. They want to grow. They want to see the church progress and that excites me, and I have to drive 60 miles one way to get here. But I love it. My wife loves it. Our family loves it.”