Staying on track: Rev. Lewis Ivan Todd says the people in his church make it special

In his spare time, the Rev. Lewis Ivan Todd spends time with his grandchildren and collects model trains. He spends the rest of his time as senior pastor at Fellowship Baptist Church. He has been a member of the Baptist faith for 33 years and been a pastor for 30. Todd led several small country churches before moving to Cape Girardeau in September 2006. He said the people at Fellowship Baptist Church are what make it special.

What drew you to serve the church in a leadership role? God called me to be a pastor and a preacher.

What education/background studies did you go through to become a pastor? Southern Baptist still believes in the divine call to preach. When I surrendered to the call, I was given various opportunities to supply various pulpits. Later I took various seminary extension courses. Much later I attended an off-campus college entitled Southwest Baptist University and got a degree in theology. I firmly believe when God calls a man, he equips him. But if given the opportunity to receive training and education, a man should take advantages as much as possible. After all, a sharp ax can cut a lot more wood; so too, a man who takes advantage of education offered is able to be better equipped to be used of God. May I say we have a lot of great preachers who have a Ph.D. whom God uses in a mighty way.

When did you become pastor at Fellowship Baptist Church? Sept. 24, 2006

Where are you from and when/why did you move to Cape Girardeau area? We came from southwest Missouri 20 years ago, when God called me to pastor a small church outside Ellington, Mo. From there, I was pastor for several small country churches. God ended up moving us to this area in September of 2006.

What do you think makes this church special? It's the people: their joy, their love for others and their love of the Lord.

What's your favorite verse and why? John 3:16, because it states God so loved the world, which illustrates that God's love is an action. Also the words "he gave," show we have done nothing to deserve this love and that God simply gave. The words "we shall not perish but have eternal life," mean that we are assured we will not die if we believe in him and put our faith in him.

What events or occasions does your church have coming up? In July we will have vacation Bible school. At 7 p.m. every Wednesday, we have prayer meeting and Bible study.

What's your favorite day of the week and why? That's easy; Sunday because this is the one day when I gather with God's people in fellowship and worship.

What's your favorite part of being a pastor? When I minister to families either in times of their joy and get to rejoice with them. Then in times of sorrow I grieve with them. You know being a pastor is worth it all, when a family tells you how much you mean to them.

What hobbies do you have? I like to collect model trains my study has several trains and my home has several trains. Also I collect Roy Rogers memorabilia and movies. And I like to fish.

What else do you do besides serve as pastor? I am a grandpa. I love to be around my grandchildren. My granddaughter Megan lives in St. Louis, and I have two grandsons and a granddaughter who reside in Paragould, Ark. Then of course I am a husband to my wife Pate of 38 years.

Do you have a prayer, psalm or verse you would like to give our readers for the day? Yes, it's portions of the 34th Psalm:

I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

3. O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together.

4. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears

7. The angel of the Lord encamped round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.

8. O taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.

17. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

19. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.