CRESTVIEW — If the future is anything like Paul Conrad’s past, the beloved First Baptist Church of Crestview’s music minister won’t be retired long.

Though Conrad officially retired after Sunday’s services, his fellow ministers say he’s threatened to retire before and just never does it.

“My ‘last Sunday’ was the last Sunday in December, but we had a revival coming up and they asked me to stay on for that, so then we thought I might as well stay through the month,” he said.

Conrad and his wife, Phyllis, plan to retire to their small farm in Georgia, where he’ll offer his service to local churches on a part-time or interim supply basis, he said.

RENOWNED CHOIR

Among his accomplishments, Conrad points to First Baptist's youth choir as one of his favorite achievements.

“We had a good adult choir, and we had kids, but they were nowhere as strong as they’ve become,” he said. “Our youth choir sings every Sunday night.”

The Rev. Randall Jenkins, education minister, said the youth choir’s summer performance tours are renowned, especially at a time when few youth choirs tour anymore.

“It’s just something we’ve morphed into over the years,” Conrad said. “They’re strong kids. They’re dedicated.”

For many of the kids, the tours have been their only opportunity to venture out of the Florida Panhandle, senior pastor the Rev. Alan Kilgore said.

“Through the choir ministry, the kids have seen a lot of national landmarks,” he said.

Some of the trips have left indelible memories, Conrad said.

“When we were in New York, we sang in Times Square,” he said. “It was spontaneous. I asked a policeman if we could sing and he said, ‘I’m not going to tell you you can’t.’ We got our pitch and we sang the spiritual, ‘Shut de Do’.’ We had about 500 people all around us cheering us on.”

GOOD PEOPLE

Conrad has been the church's longest-tenured minister in recent memory, Jenkins said.

“He’s stayed here longer than most pastors,” Jenkins said.

Conrad said the reality of retirement still hasn’t quite sunk in.

“I’ve caught myself saying, ‘I’ve got to get ready for Easter,’ then, oh, no I don’t,” he said. “I’ve got to do this or that. Oh, no I don’t. Sometimes I wonder if I’m really ready for this.”

Fellow pastors shared funny stories about their music minister.

“He has a habit of leaving the office with the lights on,” Kilgore said. “I started locking his door and turning up his thermostat. So he got even with me and took the lock out. It fell apart in his hand. We only just got it fixed.”

Kilgore and Jenkins said Conrad refuses to change his watch from standard time.

“If Jesus came back, Paul would be an hour late to the Rapture,” Kilgore said.

“Unless he came back on Daylight Savings Time,” Conrad responded.

Conrad said in retirement, he will miss the people of First Baptist most.

“This is the best church I’ve ever served, and the best choirs,” he said.

“He’s a good guy,” Jenkins said. “That’s an incredible legacy he’s leaving after a quarter-century.”

“It sounds like a long time if you say it that way,” Conrad said.

Then, as he left his office, he paused at the door and switched off the light.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'Incredible legacy': First Baptist's music minister retires

CRESTVIEW — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Fort Walton Beach Stake held a Jan. 17 and 18 conference.

Elder Neil L. Anderson, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, presided over the meetings — Saturday in Fort Walton Beach and Sunday in Crestview — and addressed 998 members who attended.

Elder Robert W. Hymus, of the Quorum of the Seventy, presided over Saturday's two meetings. The Sunday meeting was held at the Crestview Community Center to accommodate members from congregations in Baker, Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, Niceville, Destin and Fort Walton Beach.

President Mike Roberts, who conducted the Crestview meeting, spoke of the blessings of being raised in the church, with all the teachings and examples of his parents guiding him, his brothers and sisters. Now, he said, those traditions are being carried on in his own young and growing family.

Hymus emphasized the importance of teaching children to recognize the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Several in the congregation were called to bear their testimonies.

At the close of the meeting, Anderson extended an invitation for children to come forward and shake his hand. Even though he had a plane to catch, he was there for nearly a half-hour shaking hands.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LDS quorum members visit Northwest Florida

CRESTVIEW — With area breakfasters' support, local missionaries now serving in Kenya are closer to buying a much needed van for their orphanage ministry.

While patrons last week indulged in breakfast sandwiches with oversized buttermilk biscuits, pancakes and waffles, $2,600 was raised for Ryan and Beka Boonstra’s mission.

Supporters turned out early to celebrate the Jan. 21 introduction of The Wild Olive’s breakfast menu and its Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting.

The McDuffie family, the restaurant's owners, are known for their faith-based generosity and willingly turned the unveiling of Chef Joseph McDuffie’s breakfast menu into a fundraiser for the Boonstra mission.

“We even had people donating money throughout the week,” restaurant host Michael McDuffie said.

The Boonstra Kenya Ministry operates orphanages in rural areas of the east African country near the capitol, Nairobi. They need to raise $9,000 for the van, Michael said.

“They are trying to purchase a larger vehicle since they have to transport themselves and their children across many miles,” Wild Olive co-owner Mike McDuffie said.

Chef Joe and his wife, Rachel, visited the Boonstra mission during the summer of 2014 and returned touched by the “great works” they witnessed, Michael, Joseph’s older brother, said.

Joseph McDuffie said he and his wife were amazed at how the Boonstras can stretch limited resources to serve the children with programs including church camps.

“It’s cool to see how just a little amount of resources go a long way,” he said. “What’s a little amount to us, they make go a long, long way.”

WANT TO HELP?

Residents wishing to donate to the Boonstra Kenya Ministry may bring monetary gifts to The Wild Olive during regular breakfast, lunch and dinner hours, 797 Pearl St. N., 682-4455. One hundred percent of money raised goes directly to the orphanage ministry.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Restaurant's breakfast menu debut raises $2,600 for mission

CRESTVIEW — Though the front of Woodlawn Baptist Church’s sanctuary may look like a construction zone lately, the impression doesn’t last long.

Each night since Wednesday, stacks of cinderblocks, bricks and lumber are reduced to rubble at the hands — literally — of The Strength Team.

Led by former Seattle Seahawks football player Mike Hagen, the trio of body builders combines feats of brute strength with inspirational messages.

The construction materials and assorted common household goods “are all just tools to share the greatest love story that ever existed,” former Cleveland Browns running back William Green said.

With Zeb Bishop, a 6-foot, 5-inch tall, 310-pound former track and field athlete, Green and Hagen brave fire, smash bricks, roll up frying pans, bend rebar into loops, lift audience members and twist horseshoes backward to form heart shapes.

“The heart represents the love Christ has for you,” Hagen said. “Open up your heart and let Christ in.”

HEAVENLY AWARDS CEREMONY

Hagen and his teammates have had their share of accolades on the athletic field, but there’s one prize they have yet to win, he said.

“When you stand before the Lord, it’s going to be a great awards ceremony for believers,” Hagen said. “But when the unbelievers stand before the God, there will be no lawyers jockeying for position. There will be no settlement out of court.”

The team’s demonstrations and spirited evangelism enthuse their audiences, inspiring people to come forward and profess their faith, and reinforcing the faith of many others.

“I thought it was pretty great,” church youth member Wesley Barrow said. “I definitely felt a little inadequate, though.”

The Strength Team performs two more 6 p.m. shows tonight and Sunday at Woodlawn Baptist Church.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT:Presentation by The Strength Team

WHEN:6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

WHERE:Woodlawn Baptist Church, 824 Ferdon Blvd. N.

COST:Free admission; a love offering will be received to support The Strength Team’s mission work in Haiti and elsewhere.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Evangelical bodybuilders demonstrate strength of faith

MILLIGAN — The Rev. Mike White says Milligan Assembly of God's controversial sign about the sanctity of marriage came straight from the heart.

"Sometimes, we have to see if we’re really serious about what we believe,” he said. “It’s time for the church to stand up against sin.”

See Brian Hughes' interview with the Rev. Mike White>>

Many of society’s ills rest on pastors afraid to speak up against sin for fear of offending someone and losing members or financial support, White said.

“This is where I feel the church has failed,” he said. “Our ministers who stand in our pulpits have failed to preach against sin. It’s time the church acts like the church and be that voice it needs to be — and be unapologetic.”

The sign raised passionate debate among readers as near as North Okaloosa to as far as San Francisco. Here, he answers some of the questions they raised on Facebook.

Who decides the sign's message?

White: I normally do it. When the Lord gives me a thought, most of the time, it’s me.

What message did you want to send with this sign?

White: I felt compelled by the spirit of the Lord to make a stand. I felt compelled to make a stand and say our church would not perform any homosexual marriage at all.

Did your church members express concerns about the sign?

White: No, sir! The opposite happened. Ours is a very strong church. It stands strong for morality. As a pastor, it’s been eye-opening for me to see that reaction. I’ve been strengthened by our church’s reaction.

Have you received phone calls about the sign?

White: I received two or three extra-length emails, and a total of two or three calls. We got a lot of comment on the internet, too.

Did this sign seem controversial initially?

White: I don’t see what is insulting about what was put on the sign if you’re a Christian. I’m going to Heaven or I’m going to Hell. It’s an inter-self decision that you’re going to have to make yourself. It’s not something you just put on a sign.

What are your views on same-sex marriage?

White: It is a sin. It is a sin against God’s creative work. Not only did God make us in his image, he made us in his likeness. Why would God make anything or create anything that is an abomination against himself?

If someone in your church were gay, how would you treat them?

White: We welcome them here. We love them. We don’t love the sin, but we love them.

“The best thing we can do about sin is get it out of our heart by going to Christ and ask him for forgiveness,” White said.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Milligan Assembly of God displayed a sign — which originally said, "This church does not marry homosexuals" — the week of Jan. 6, when same-sex marriage became legal in Florida.

A photo of it on the News Bulletin's Facebook page went viral, with more than 75,000 views, 800 likes and 400 comments.The display sparked a range of response, from support to understanding the church's position but disagreeing, to  outrage.

Despite the controversy, the Rev. Mike White says, he stands by the underlying message, which he says complements "God's creative work."

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Milligan pastor stands by his sign's words (VIDEO)