At the age of 31, Josh May has completed his first year as a pastor and seems to be quickly growing into the role.
In February 2012, May was called as the pastor of the Living Word Church of God in Fleming. He has been in the ministry for five years, and previously served as associate pastor for four years at Unity Church of God in Jesup.
Established in 2006, Living Word Church of God in Fleming is a multicultural, dynamic, soul-winning Pentecostal church. It is part of the Church of God, which is headquartered in Cleveland, Tenn., and is an international, Pentecostal denomination of Christian churches.
 “We are dedicated to fulfilling the Great Commission in Matthew  28:19-20 and  Mark.16:15, by meeting people at the point of their pain and meeting their needs physically, emotionally and, most importantly, spiritually,” May said.
“Jesus reached out and touched people at the point of their needs. We have whites, Hispanics and black members. We are on the move, and great things are going to happen,” he said.
Some of the ministries at Living Word include kids’ church every Sunday morning and Wednesday night for ages 3-12, nursery during every service for ages 0-36 months, and vacation Bible school every June for ages 3-12. Other ministries include pastoral care, counseling (premarital, marital, financial, etc.), discipleship and evangelism.
“We are working on starting a youth service for teenagers on Sunday night.  The church is also involved in mission work. We are raising money to help build an orphanage in Haiti. I helped plant a church in Akron, Ohio. Last year, we supplied water for cancer survivors during the Relay for Life,” May said.
Other projects in the works include a food bank and an Easter egg hunt.
May gives credit to spiritual leaders like Pastor George Moxley of the Unity Church of God in Jesup, Pastor Jimmy Lord and Pastor Shea Hughes.
“Pastor Moxley showed me the importance of meeting needs in the community and becoming a community church, for that is how we become like Christ — Christ ministers through us,” he said. “Pastor Lord is a retired minister and my best friend. He is my mentor and I seek advice from him. He showed me the real visiting pastor’s heart. Pastor Shea is the youth director for the Church of God in Texas. He was the first minister who gave me the opportunity to preach.”
May’s advice to pastors and ministers is to not give up.
“Preach the word of God; nothing wavering — stay faithful,” he said. “As Christians, we need to band together, pray and fast.”
May and his wife, Kristen, a school teacher in Jesup, have three children — Carson, Aniston and Moriah.  
Living Word Church of God meets for worship at 10:45 a.m. Sundays and at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Contact the church or May at 256-2861.