Stint Becomes Pastor's Ministry

As he reflects on entering his 30th year of serving , Pastor Lynn Eynon is able to count many blessings.

But top on the list is the ability to see the church members who were with him from the start.

"We have a lot of people who were in middle age when I came here, and are at the end of their lives now," he said. "And some who were children are now adults and still around. Then you see some who fall away and come back spiritually. There are many blessings to be able to do multiple generations of weddings, and of funerals even."

The consistency of being in one place has been special for Eynon, who is the son of a Christian church minister who moved his family fairly often.

He was born in North Carolina and lived in Kentucky and Tennessee before landing in Forest Park, GA, which he considers home.

As is often the case with the children of pastors, Eynon felt called to ministry at an early age but resisted. "I saw what he went through and said, 'I don't want to be a preacher! No way in the world!' "

During a summer church camp, Eynon gave in to the call to full-time Christian service. He was 14, and he decided that he wanted to be a teacher of religion.

"My goal was to be a professor," said Eynon, who graduated from Atlanta Christian College and Emmanuel School of Religion.

He thought it was important to get practical experience before teaching. So he accepted what he thought would be a short stint leading a church.

That was 35 years ago. Eynon hasn't stepped down from the pulpit since.

His bent toward academia is reflected in his preaching style.

"I'm a teaching preacher," he said. "I teach based on the Bible, and I use a lot of scripture in my sermons."

Eynon's enthusiasm for pastoring and helping people hasn't waned over the years. In fact, he said, "I thoroughly enjoy it."

ABOUT REV. EYNON

Hobbies: "I'm not good at that," Eynon said about hobbies. "I play some golf, but I'm not a good golfer." The pastor is active in the Cherokee Christian Ministerial Association, and currently serves as treasurer.

Family: Eynon and wife Judy have been married 37 years, and they have three children. Their first grandchild was born in May.

ABOUT THE CHURCH

Woodstock Christian Church is at 7700 Hwy. 92. Sunday school starts at 9 a.m., followed by worship at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, the church serves a pre-Bible Study meal at 6 p.m., segues to worship at 6:30 and delves into the Bible at 7. For more information, call 770-926-8238 or go to www.woodstockchristian.org.