Speaking at the first Intentional Leadership Series event of 2025, Buddy Champion told participants that each of the three churches he served in Alabama was “true to the calling of God in his life,” despite one being rural, another downtown and another suburban.

“Every church has its own personality and culture, and wise leaders respond to this culture in appropriate ways,” Champion, pastor of First Baptist Church Trussville, said. “Our supreme example is Christ, the Good Shepherd, who cares for his sheep. We must love the people first — protect and nourish them — and then they will follow us.”

Theme of the event was the minister as “pathfinder” who leads and casts vision.

“The pastor-shepherd has four major jobs,” Champion told participants. “[He] provides, protects, guides and corrects, as needed.”

Hiring up

Though many Alabama Baptist churches are single-staff, others have a larger leadership presence.

“I always want to ‘hire up,” Champion said of hiring new staff. “I want people who do things better than I do. I want to be an example in working hard, and I want my staff to be above average. Average is the minimum and I think we all need to be above average in God’s work.

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This article was originally published at TheAlabamaBaptist.org.