New adventure: Oak Ridge pastor shares passion for evangelism

The Rev. Joshua Tillman serves as senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge. He joined the church in May.

Tillman's background in ministry includes a year serving in the Philippines with the Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association. Bob Tebow is the father of Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback Tim Tebow.

In this week's Ministry Focus, Tillman shares his story and the ministries of First Baptist of Oak Ridge.

Q) Tell us a little about yourself?

A) My name is Joshua Tillman. My wife [Joanna] and I are originally from Jacksonville, Fla., and have been married for 10 years, and we have four children -- Hannah, 6, Andrew, 5, Micah, 3, and Sara Beth, 1. I am the pastor at First Baptist Church, Oak Ridge.

Q) How long have you been a member of your faith and who or what inspired you to join the ministry?

A) I have been a member of the Southern Baptist Convention for 17 years. The Lord called me into full-time ministry when I was 16 years old, and the Lord has used men like Bob Tebow, Dr. Brian Payne and many others to confirm that calling and to train me for the ministry.

Q) You worked with the Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association. Tell us about this organization and what you did in your year working in the Philippines.

A) The Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association has been serving in the Philippines since 1985 with five major priorities: Evangelism, church planting, pastor training, an orphanage and the training of the next generation of evangelists.

Beginning in 1999 I began taking annual summer trips of three to five weeks in which a team of teens and pastors from the U.S. would share the Gospel in schools, prisons, hospitals, bus stations, markets and in the evening we would have film showings in the local villages.

After I graduated from high school I spent a year in the Philippines traveling around the country working with the national Filipino pastors, the orphanage and short-term mission teams from the U.S. in the efforts of evangelism and church planting. It was a privilege to work with and learn from Bob Tebow, his family and staff. My wife and I worked very close with the Tebow family for several years. She was Bob's secretary stateside during the year that I was in the Philippines and went on several trips herself. It has been exciting to see how the Lord has used the Tebow family and especially their youngest son Timmy.

Q) What upcoming events or sermon series do you have scheduled at First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge?

A) Our church has been going through the book of James over the summer and will finish in a few weeks. We will then do a short study on the church at Antioch found in the Book of Acts while going through Dr. Thom Rainer's book "I am a Church Member." Then in September we will start a series through the book of Daniel that will take us through to Christmas. Our church participates in the Christmas County Church Tour, which will be held on Dec. 19 and 20 from 3 to 6 p.m.

Q) What's your favorite Bible verse and why?

A) Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Galatians 2:20 sums up the Christian life. Deny self, love others, follow Christ in faith, and He gets the glory.

Q) What ongoing ministries does your church offer?

A) Our church offers Sunday school for all ages at 9:30 a.m., worship at 10:30 a.m. and Sunday evenings at 6 p.m. On Wednesdays we have teens activities and adult Bible studies at 6:30 p.m. During the school year we offer a free breakfast on Thursday mornings for high school students in Oak Ridge. Our church is active in disaster relief ministries and mission work in El Salvador.

Q) What's the greatest challenge you've experienced in the ministry?

A) James 4:14 says that our life is a mist. The greatest challenge I have in ministry is knowing every day there are people and families who need healing, forgiveness, mercy and the gospel, and that my time on this earth is short and I will be held accountable for how I spent my time.

Q) What's the greatest blessing you've experienced in the ministry?

A) The greatest blessing in ministry has been having men like Bob Tebow, and countless others, pour their life into disciplining me and in turn pouring my life out to disciple and train others. Their is nothing like seeing a person or family changed by simply teaching them the message of the Bible.

lpresson@semissourian.com

388-3649

Pertinent address: 4154 State Hwy E Oak Ridge, MO