When Rick Cato looks back over his 43 years of ministry he only sees tremendous blessings.
“I’ve been truly blessed. All the places I’ve served were wonderful churches,” he said. “And the opportunity to exercise my call has been a wonderful experience.”
Cato — who most recently has served for more than 16 years as pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, Pleasant Grove — plans to retire Oct. 27. He will continue teaching with Samford University’s Ministry Training Institute, something he’s done for the past 20 years, and will serve as a supply preacher.
Barry Cosper, associational mission strategist for Bessemer Baptist Association, called Cato “an exceptional leader and pastor who has been a special blessing” to the association.
“We will miss him … but we praise God for his leadership through the years and into retirement,” Cosper said.
Before coming to Bethel Baptist, Cato served as pastor of County Line Baptist Church, Cragford; Hughes Memorial Baptist Church, Pinson; First Baptist Church, Midfield; and Sycamore Baptist Church. He started out in ministry as associate pastor of First Baptist Church, Warrior, and also served a church in North Carolina while he was earning his master’s degree at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. (Grace Thornton)
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