Another year, another accolade.
Pastor Alan Darsey of Restoration Church in Hinesville was recently chosen by the Coastal Courier and Liberty Life Magazine readers as the best pastor/minister/reverend in Liberty County for the second year in a row.
When asked how he felt about receiving this honor, Darsey said it was unexpected, a little embarrassing, humbling and an honor.
“These are the words that come to mind. Unexpected because I am truly not running this race for the applause of man; I run this race for my God and to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” he said. “Having a full-time career at CenturyLink, a full-time family and a full-time ministry constantly reminds me that none of this can be done in my own strength, so that’s why I say it’s humbling. I say it’s a little embarrassing because I want to point people to Jesus, not me.
“My hope is that if someone voted for me, it was because they see God at work in me, not because they think I am anything special,” he added. “It’s an honor because preaching the Gospel of Christ is my soul’s desire, my mission between the trees, and I join countless other remarkable pastors in our community who pick up their cross, lay down their lives and have my same passion.”
Restoration Church was established Nov. 13, 2011, in Darsey’s home and currently has church at 11:30 a.m. Sundays at the YMCA in Hinesville. The church’s motto is, “Where the Lost are Found and the Found Grow Up.” According to Darsey, the church is growing. He said that four years ago, during the first service at his house, there were 20 people. One recent Sunday, he said, more than 200 people attended service at the YMCA.
“My mind stays blown and my wife, Jennifer, and I are constantly in awe while watching the mission of RC unfold — the lost getting found and the found growing up,” Darsey said.
“The people at RC are loving, giving, diverse, on fire for God, servant-minded, redeemed, challenging, growing in their personal journey of faith, and to be perfectly frank, they are a fun group. We laugh, we cry, we celebrate, we mourn, and we are a family of faith that isn’t easily shaken.”
Darsey said the church body is largely military, and Restoration has lots of previous military members.
“We have retirees, and we have people who have lived here most, if not all, of their lives,” he said. “We have baptized 109 people since we first planted Restoration Church, and more often than not, a new believer accepts Christ as their personal Savior during our Sunday service. New believers are always something to get excited about. It has been an incredible privilege to watch God work in the lives of people at RC.”
Darsey praised the children’s church ministry, as well as a powerful drama team, home groups called Restore groups for young adults, a slightly older adult group, military-wives group, men’s group, women’s group, morning moms’ group and a home group for youth. The church’s website also was revamped recently.
Darsey’s advice to pastors is to love God and love people
“Wherever you go, people always know who you belong to by your love,” he said. “Be bold, preach the Gospel with boldness so that all men and women who walk into your services will fall in love with Jesus, embrace the leading of the Holy Spirit and serve a holy, loving God. Lead by example. If you want your people to get involved in the community through serving, you serve first.”
Anderson is the author of “Dare to Soar” and “Lack of Knowledge.”