All good things eventually come to an end. While no longer serving as pastor of one church, he is still pastoring and serving the Lord.
For 28 years, he traveled from Savannah to Midway to conduct services at Wilderness Baptist Church. Although he is 82, the Rev. C. C. Reddick never neglected his pulpit and drove himself to church.
The reverend has been in the ministry for more than 40 years. A man of wisdom and respect, he has preached many sermons and serves as a father to many pastors and ministers.
"I am still serving as the pastor of Piney Grove Church in Bulloch County. Piney Grove has services on the first and third Sundays," Reddick said.
On Nov. 11, a retirement service was held in his honor. His last Sunday as pastor at Wilderness, however, was not until Dec. 23.
"Rev M. L. Jackson preached my retirement sermon, and he encouraged me," Reddick said.
"It was really a difficult thing to do. The members at Wilderness are good people. Last Sunday (Jan. 13) was my first Sunday not being at Wilderness. It was sort of sad," he said.
Prior to becoming the pastor of Wilderness, he conducted services for the members for a year.
"God sent me there. Just like he told Ezekiel he would prepare him, God prepared me. God told Ezekiel to warn the people, and if the sword came and devoured them, He would not hold him accountable. However, if Ezekiel failed to warn the people, then the blood would be on his hand. I did what God told me to do," Reddick said.
"I didn't go to Wilderness to boss the people or to take over," the pastor said. "I allowed the deaconess to do their job and I did mine. I learned to work with the deacons.
"We had no animosity in Wilderness. The same love I had when I went there, I still have. There comes a time when we all have to leave. The people seemed to care a lot. We got along and did not have uproars. I tried to keep peace among the members."
Pastor Reddick's advice to incoming pastors is to "wait a while before you start changing things. When we had conference, my prayer to God was to not let the people go home dissatisfied. Disagree if you want to, but don't be disagreeable."
"I enjoyed being at Wilderness. They were like a part of my family. I am going to miss them. I will certainly be back to worship with them. I also plan to visit some of the churches in Liberty County."
Reddick said he made a lot of friends with preachers of various denominations while serving at Wilderness.
"They always acted like we were part of the same church. I have a good relationship with them."
"I don't plan to knock off from preaching. I have received a lot of invitations to come and preach. If someone wants me to come and preach, I will. Although I don't like to drive at night, I am still driving."
Reddick lives in Savannah. He has worked with the prison ministry and was an employee of Union Camp in Savannah. He was married to the late Edith Reddick, and is the father of five children.
For 28 years, he traveled from Savannah to Midway to conduct services at Wilderness Baptist Church. Although he is 82, the Rev. C. C. Reddick never neglected his pulpit and drove himself to church.
The reverend has been in the ministry for more than 40 years. A man of wisdom and respect, he has preached many sermons and serves as a father to many pastors and ministers.
"I am still serving as the pastor of Piney Grove Church in Bulloch County. Piney Grove has services on the first and third Sundays," Reddick said.
On Nov. 11, a retirement service was held in his honor. His last Sunday as pastor at Wilderness, however, was not until Dec. 23.
"Rev M. L. Jackson preached my retirement sermon, and he encouraged me," Reddick said.
"It was really a difficult thing to do. The members at Wilderness are good people. Last Sunday (Jan. 13) was my first Sunday not being at Wilderness. It was sort of sad," he said.
Prior to becoming the pastor of Wilderness, he conducted services for the members for a year.
"God sent me there. Just like he told Ezekiel he would prepare him, God prepared me. God told Ezekiel to warn the people, and if the sword came and devoured them, He would not hold him accountable. However, if Ezekiel failed to warn the people, then the blood would be on his hand. I did what God told me to do," Reddick said.
"I didn't go to Wilderness to boss the people or to take over," the pastor said. "I allowed the deaconess to do their job and I did mine. I learned to work with the deacons.
"We had no animosity in Wilderness. The same love I had when I went there, I still have. There comes a time when we all have to leave. The people seemed to care a lot. We got along and did not have uproars. I tried to keep peace among the members."
Pastor Reddick's advice to incoming pastors is to "wait a while before you start changing things. When we had conference, my prayer to God was to not let the people go home dissatisfied. Disagree if you want to, but don't be disagreeable."
"I enjoyed being at Wilderness. They were like a part of my family. I am going to miss them. I will certainly be back to worship with them. I also plan to visit some of the churches in Liberty County."
Reddick said he made a lot of friends with preachers of various denominations while serving at Wilderness.
"They always acted like we were part of the same church. I have a good relationship with them."
"I don't plan to knock off from preaching. I have received a lot of invitations to come and preach. If someone wants me to come and preach, I will. Although I don't like to drive at night, I am still driving."
Reddick lives in Savannah. He has worked with the prison ministry and was an employee of Union Camp in Savannah. He was married to the late Edith Reddick, and is the father of five children.