A Short Word about My Call to the Ministry
by Jack DuplechainIn January of 1967, the Lord saved me by His grace and at the same time began to deal with me about preaching. It was not long till I bowed to His call. This July will mark my 40th year in the gospel ministry. In the next year, 1968, I met and married my wife of 38 and a half years. I preached as youth leader in our home church, filled pulpits and waited on the Lord to send me to my first church to serve Him. Then finally the day came; a small church in Winnfield, Louisiana, United Baptist Church, asked me to come and preach for them. Soon they called me to pastor the church, and I accepted the call. Virginia was pregnant with our first child, and we packed up and moved to the new town. Thus began the long journey to many places both in the States and overseas. I served three Southern Baptist Churches, attended school and worked. In 1973, God did a wonderful thing for me and to me; He opened my eyes to see how God saves sinners. It was not until then that the Bible became a real book and a different and blessed book. I am talking about the Sovereign Grace of God. God also taught me other truths that have affected my life for many years.
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:15
I enrolled in Landmark Baptist School of Correspondence and God used the men of that small school to help me in many ways. I went to serve my first Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in 1979, in Denham Springs, Louisiana. The church was a joy to pastor and the Lord blessed it. I moved from there to West Baptist Church in Oakdale, Louisiana, and served that church for five and a half years. This was the church in which I was raised, and it too was a joy to serve. Along with its difficulties, God saved and added to it as it pleased Him. Then I received a call from Raleigh Springs Baptist Church where I have served for nineteen and a half years. God has truly blessed the ministry of this church. During the time I have been here we have seen souls saved, baptized and added to the church. It is while serving at this church that I have been able to finish my education, or at least some of it. The Lord has used me to lead this church in many missionary endeavors. They have sent me to countries such as West Africa and Thailand to help and preach the gospel of God's free and Sovereign Grace. It has also been my great privilege to preach with many men of God, whom I love and hold in high respect. No doubt, all of us in the ministry have certain preachers that we have learned to love and become great friends with. I love these men and trust them. They have been a great blessing to me, my family, and the church family I pastor. I must say that one of the highlights of my ministry has been watching RSBC grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Other highlights have been my two trips to Thailand and having the opportunity to work with Bro. Anond, whom I love in the Lord. The greatest aspect of this ministry has always been the heart of my preaching - THE LORD JESUS CHRIST who is without doubt the SUM AND THE SUBSTANCE of the Word of God. I trust that all who read this will search their Bibles to see Christ our Lord everywhere, for He is all that we need. God bless all.
Bro. Jack Duplechain
