The office door is open, as it almost always is.

There was a brief moment long ago when a deacon hung a “Private” sign on it. And the congregation, as Rev. James A. Boyd recalls, felt like they couldn’t come in anymore, and he quickly had it taken down.

“My office is not private,” he said. “I want people to come in, sit down and talk.”

The sign may be gone, but the welcome Boyd extends has been consistent for six decades.

This week, Zion Gate Missionary Baptist Church is celebrating a milestone increasingly rare in modern ministry: 60 years under the same pastor. In a world where preachers often move from one congregation to another, Boyd stayed – sometimes against the odds, but always because he felt called.

“God will lead you to the door, but He won’t turn the handle,” he said of the opportunities that came his way. “You have to turn the doorknob yourself.”

Boyd calls it favor – and he believes he has lived a life defined by it.

Born near Starkville, and the grandson of a white plantation owner and his “slave wife,” Boyd grew up in a household steeped in faith. His father was a minister, and legend has it that he prayed for God to give him a preacher while Boyd was still in the womb.
Boyd answered the call at 19, but it took six years before a congregation welcomed him to the pulpit. It was the children of Zion Gate, then a struggling church of 43 members, who recommended their English teacher as interim pastor.

“The parents said that the voice of the children was the voice of God.” Boyd said. “They didn’t interview any other candidate. Nobody but me. That’s how I got here. By the recommendation of the students. That was favor, too.”

Over the decades, Boyd has emphasized empathy over sympathy, striving to understand the lives of his congregation without judgment. He describes it as one of the most important qualities for a preacher.

“You don’t need judgment,” he said. “People want to be able to talk to somebody where they can empty themselves. If you can’t get it out, you can’t change.”

Boyd’s approachability has been a hallmark of his ministry. Congregants, no matter their age or lifestyle, have been able to walk into his office freely, knowing they could be heard. “Some churches, you can’t approach the pastor,” he said. “I don’t have any in-between. You knock on the door, come on in, and have a seat. People feel free.”

The pastor’s office, once filled with dozens and dozens of books, is now lighter, as Boyd has begun giving away his collection. He sees it as a natural step toward the close of his ministry.

“If you want to know what kind of preacher a man is, go visit his office,” he said. “You become the product of what you read. I don’t need a library now.”

Being found faithful

Even as Boyd has reached age 84, he continues to maintain a busy preaching schedule and to mentor the next generation of ministers. Dozens of pastors trace their roots to Zion Gate under his guidance, their names inscribed on a plaque in his office. Each represents a career launched, often with Boyd’s advice or encouragement.

Boyd describes his life and work as one of favor – the belief that opportunities are often given through the actions of others. “Everything hinges on that,” he said. “Somebody else did it for me. That’s favor.”

Despite changes in the church and the challenges of modern worship, Boyd has remained committed to the traditions he values. Hymns still echo through the sanctuary, and while other congregations have embraced contemporary styles, Zion Gate maintains a more classical approach.

“We know who we are,” he said. “You can’t be everything to everybody.”

Boyd is reflective about the passing of time and the transformations in church life. Attendance, he said, has changed with the times, particularly following the pandemic.

“Church attendance is off across the country,” he said. “People have needs, but they don’t come unless they can’t get it somewhere else. That’s when the church matters.”

Even as he considers retirement, Boyd continues to focus on the congregation’s well-being. He is deliberate in preparing sermons and guiding the church, mindful that his leadership is part of a continuum.

“I built on what the last preacher left,” he said. “You don’t come in and try to overshadow the guy you follow. We do this together.”

Boyd’s personal life has been anchored by family. He and his wife, Kathrene, have been married for more than 50 years. Together, they raised two daughters, who in turn have given them grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Boyd credits his family with supporting his ministry, even during the long absences required by travel and conventions. “My wife never put limitations on me,” he said. “If I had to go, I went. My family has always been supportive, and I thank God for that.”

Education has also shaped Boyd’s approach to ministry. He earned a degree in English, supplemented by studies in social studies, and later received advanced theological training. He describes his academic background as instrumental to his preaching and teaching.

Boyd is candid about the challenges and changes he has witnessed over six decades. From a congregation of 43 members, Zion Gate has grown in size and influence, while retaining a commitment to traditional values. Yet he acknowledges the evolving demands on churches today, from diminished attendance to shifting community needs.

“Everything boils down to commitment,” he said. “If you can’t get the commitment, it affects everything in your church. Ministers today have a different world to navigate.”

Looking back, Boyd emphasizes faithfulness as the cornerstone of longevity.

“It is required that I still be found faithful,” he said, referencing the Apostle Timothy. “That’s been my success. I haven’t always been perfect, but I have been faithful. Thank God for forgiveness.”

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