First Baptist Church of Yazoo City has announced the calling of Rev. John Yates of Enterprise, Ala. as the church's children's minister.
At the conclusion of the Sept. 6 morning worship service, the church gave their overwhelming support for Yates with a standing ovation.
Yates is the son of the late Rev. and Mrs. James F. Yates. His dad pastored First Baptist Church of Yazoo City from 1961 to 1991.
The church's pastor, the Rev. Dr. Clint Ritchie, said the increased attendance of young families with children signaled the need for a children's minister.
“Continued growth in our children's ministry is the main reason for a children's minister,” Ritchie said. “God has blessed us with young families with children, something that was once missing at FBC. Many of the children are younger elementary age, so I believe the foundation is in place on which to build a solid ministry.
“There was also the need to have one person focus on this area of ministry,” Ritchie said. “Other areas of ministry have a staff member assigned to that particular area, yet our children's ministry had different people leading the various aspects. Having a children's ministry assures a common vision for the ministry and helps everyone be on the same page.”
Having been a vocational evangelist since 1986, Yates will blend that ministry with his duties at the Yazoo City church. He will continue his traveling ministry and will perform administrative duties.
“While he will lead, or be heavily involved in each of the children's services, he will also develop other leaders who can continue the ministry when he is not here,” Ritchie explained. “An often overlooked aspect of children's ministry is ministry to the parents, so John will work with myself and other staff members to meet the spiritual needs of parents with a focus on equipping parents to take the lead in the spiritual development of their children.”
Ritchie and Yates have been friends for many years. In fact, it was Yates who gave Ritchie's name to the church's pastor search committee a little over a year ago as the Yazoo City church searched for a new pastor.
“When I thought of the 'dream staff,' I would always joke that John would be part of it, but I never knew it would really happen,” Ritchie said. “It is great to serve with a man who shares a similar passion for ministry and seeing lives changed through the power of the Gospel. John also meshes well with the rest of our church staff, and I see his addition as completing the 'team.' The fact that he is returning to the church where he grew up, where his dad pastored for 30 years, and a place that he has always loved – all that makes his addition even more special.”
Asked what it's like to be able to return to Yazoo City and work in the church, Yates said it's more difficult to describe that by using the cliché, “There's no place like home.”
“It's not really that simple,” he said. “Obviously, there's a place in our hearts for Yazoo and the people simply for growing up and graduating from Yazoo City High School. As a minister, one always seeks to be in the center of God's will and plan. This is God's plan. We look forward to a ministry geared for the kids of FBC Yazoo City specifically and the kids of Yazoo in general.
“With the help of a wonderfully talented leadership team, I look forward to seeing lives changed and families reached for Jesus,” he added.
Yates' website at
www.johnyatesministry.com states that he was “born into a Christian home where, because of my parents example, I came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ at age 10.”
Yates is an accomplished ventriloquist, which has opened the doors to many opportunities during his ministry.
After graduating with a music performance degree with emphasis in trumpet, he began serving as minister of music. Yates is a graduate of Holmes Community College and Delta State University.
“In 1985, God placed a burning desire in my heart to use the gifts He had given me on a deeper level than I could as a worship leader on a church staff,” Yates said. “My wife, Patty, and I prayed and in January 1986, I stepped out in faith for a life on the road in vocational evangelism. We have had the privilege to speak to and lead worship for people of all ages. We have had the opportunity to participate in youth camps, church wide revival meetings, kids camps and conferences. We also have presented concerts for families at banquets and other venues, reaching people of every age from children to senior adults.
“God has allowed us to witness many come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We have had the blessing of working camps and revival services in the Cayman Islands, spending time with a kids ministry in Bangalore, India, and even working with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in their annual Team and Staff Conference.”
