Randy Burtram says the two decades he has spent as pastor of Pleasant View Missionary Baptist Church, Holly Pond, in Blount Baptist Association have held a lot of life.
“It’s a little overwhelming when you think about it,” he said.
He’s seen a generation rise up. The first baby born during his pastorate has graduated high school, gone to college and been set ablaze for missions.
During the past 20 years, teenagers have grown up, had families and begun raising them in the church. His own children grew up there and began having families of their own. Young men have grown up in Pleasant View and become pastors themselves.
“It’s a blessing to see our church’s ministry spreading its wings that way,” he said. “Those are the things that just thrill my soul.”
It’s something he never imagined when he followed the call to Pleasant View 20 years ago. He was serving at 25th Avenue Baptist Church, Center Point, at the time, a church he loved. But he felt God calling him to Pleasant View.
And though he didn’t follow that call intending to leave, he said you never go there visualizing what life and ministry will look like in 20 years, either.
Keith Hinson, associate for public relations and Christian ethics for the State Board of Missions, said, “Brother Burtram is a preacher with a heart for pastoral ministry, biblical fidelity and outreach to the lost. He is respected throughout Blount County and beyond as one who loves the Lord and His people.”
Burtram also never imagined what his personal journey would look like. About six years ago, he faced cancer treatment and transplant surgery and had to spend the better part of six months in Little Rock, Arkansas.
“It just goes to show the kind of church that I’ve been blessed to be a part of — they took care of me the whole time,” said Burtram, now in full remission. “God taught me a lot through them.” (Grace Thornton)
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