Higher learning: Pastor has background in education

The Rev. Robert L. Herring of Illmo Baptist Church in Scott City has spent 50 of his 72 years of life being active in the church. He has been Sunday school director, teacher, deacon and pastor. He held various jobs in education before he became a full-time pastor 13 years ago. Herring has served as a teacher, principal and superintendent of schools and moved to Cape Girardeau when he accepted a position with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in 1984. After serving as assistant superintendent at Jackson, he accepted a position as director of student teaching in the department of educational administration at Southeast Missouri State University. In 1996 he became a bivocational pastor until his retirement from the university in 2001. Since then he has devoted his attention to pastoring. after serving as interim pastor for a short time, he became the full-time pastor at Illmo Baptist Church in 2006.

How long have you been a member of your faith? At age 11 in a revival service, I was convinced of the need to ask Jesus into my life. I was baptized and became a member of a church and attended through my high school years. During my late teenage years, I strayed from the teaching and practice of my Christian values. But God's spirit within me brought me to a point of repentance and renewed faith and dedication. My faith has been very important to me from that time.

What drew you to serve the church in a leadership role? Although I was active in the work of the church, I had a gnawing feeling that the Lord wanted me in a preaching ministry. Finally, the conviction grew so strong that I felt that I either had to deny my faith or surrender to God's claim on my life. By that time I had spent 30 years in the field of education and had earned a specialist and doctorate in educational administration. But I shared my feelings with Bro. Mark Anderson, who was my pastor at Lynwood at the time and was ordained to the ministry. I became pastor of the First Baptist Church at Bertrand, Mo., for eight years, and then in 2006 I became pastor at Illmo Baptist Church.

What education/background/studies did you go through to become a pastor? Our denomination does not require seminary training but strongly recommends it. I took some seminary extension classes and had also taught some seminary extension classes.

Where are you from and when/why did you move to Cape Girardeau/Jackson area? I grew up in Gideon, Mo., a small town in Southeast Missouri. I graduated high school there and came back four years later and taught in the Gideon schools. In 1960 I married my wife Barbara, who was also a Gideon graduate who taught there. We had three daughters who are all graduates of Southeast Missouri State University.

What do you think makes this church special? All Christian churches are special because they are commissioned by the Lord himself to go, teach, preach, the gospel of Christ. Within this commission each church must find its unique gifts, which address needs of the community they serve. Illmo has a core of dedicated people who do whatever it takes to support the church in ministry to the community. The church ministers to children through Sunday school, music and vacation Bible school. They also support the local food pantry and minister to those held in the Scott City jail through a weekly Bible study/worship service and by providing a stamped envelope to them to communicate with family. We also provide to each inmate a candy bar which has earned us the nickname among them of the "Snickers" church.

What's your favorite verse and why? Psalm 19:14. "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." It is a prayer that is appropriate for any Christian and reminds us to guard our thoughts and the words we speak.

What program have you done with your church that you are proud of and why? We make a big deal of vacation Bible school. On the last day we have a water slide, enclosed trampoline and sno-cones. This year for our western theme we gave horseback rides to those who attended. Vacation Bible school is a big deal because it is a major outreach activity through which many children first learn of the love of Jesus and express faith in him.

What events or occasions does your church have coming up? At 6:30 p.m. today, we will have Finis McAlister of Chaffee, Mo., play guitar, give his testimony and sing. Everyone is invited to attend

What's your favorite day of the week and why? Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Preparation for preaching, Sunday services and rest.

What's your favorite part of being a pastor? The feeling that I am doing the Lord's work, pointing people in the way we should go.

What hobbies do you have? Reading, Cardinals baseball, golf.

What else do you do besides serve as pastor? Work at being a husband, father and grandfather to my three daughters one of whom, Kathy, is in the U.S. Army in Iraq. One grandson, Ethan, is in the Marines currently in reserves; Taylor is a senior this year in Ste. Genevieve, Mo., where our daughter, Shelley, is assistant superintendent of schools. Our middle daughter, Robin, has a cleaning business and a daughter, Kaylee, who is a seventh-grader in Cape Girardeau Central Junior High.

Do you have a prayer, psalm or verse you would like to give our readers for the day? John 14:1-3: "Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not true, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."