Sauls comes to Eureka - Wayne-Wilson News Leader, Fremont, NC

21 February 2008 — Mount Nelson Missionary Baptist Church's new pastor didn't note the small community or warmth of the congregation when he was deciding whether to come to the town. For Pastor Dr. Jack Sauls, the move to Eureka was much more a move of faith than of weighing pros and cons of the switch.

“I just felt the call of God to come here,” he said.

Jack has been in Wayne County for several years, serving as the pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Goldsboro for the past nine years. He said he enjoyed his time at Trinity, where he watched the congregation grow in spirit and in membership. But over the years, he said he began to feel called in another direction.

Jack took the pulpit as the pastor of Mount Nelson the first Sunday in February. He takes the place of Clyde Johnson, who had served as an interim pastor at the church for the last two years.

But Jack’s journey to Eureka began almost thirty years ago, when he began considering entering the ministry.

In 1979, military service had taken the Holly Springs native to Woodbridge, VA, where he was working as an Air Force recruiter. Around that time, Jack said he began to feel a call from God to go into the ministry.

“I don’t know exactly how to describe it,” he said. “I don’t know any pastor who can.”

After discussing this call with his pastor at the time, Jack said he was encouraged to enroll in a local Bible college. During his time at the college, he said he began to understand his calling a bit more.

Jack’s career moved him to San Antonio, where he became licensed to be a Baptist minister, and served at Valley Hi Baptist Church.

Another move took him and his family to Orangeburg, SC. After he arrived in South Carolina, Jack said several churches contacted him about speaking for them. Finally, Bethel Baptist in Norway, SC asked him to be the pastor of their church. It was while serving there that Jack went through the ordination process.

While serving as a Baptist minister, Jack remained on active duty in the military until 1991. That meant that he and his family moved around and he worked with congregations in several states before retiring from the military. Jack has served churches in South Carolina, Illinois, and North Carolina.

In 1998, Jack and his wife Linda came to Goldsboro, and he began his service at Trinity. The Saulses have a home in Goldsboro, where they are still living for now, but plan to relocate to Eureka when they can sell their home.

“I look forward to being in Eureka,” said Jack. “I feel I’ll be able to better serve the congregation and their needs when I am here all the time.”

Jack said that, though he has only been with the Mount Nelson congregation a few weeks, he already sees a warmth and willingness to serve in the community.

“They seem to have the desire to come together and reach the community for Christ,” he said.

He noted that several visitors to the church during his first few weeks have pointed out the welcoming spirit they find in the congregation.

Jack also said he is astounded by the musical talent within the church.

“I am impressed with the beautiful music,” he said. “There are some very talented people here. There’s a sign team, and they do a great job with the children’s bell choir.”

Jack and Linda have two grown children – William, who lives in Asheville, and Kendra, who lives in Cary with her husband Jason. They also have two grandchildren, Devyn and Courtney, who are eight and nine.

Though Jack willingly spends much of his time serving his church, he does have a few hobbies on the side. When the weather is nice, you will most likely find him cruising the roads on his motorcycle. He also enjoys fishing, and loves to watch sports, especially Duke basketball.

As he works more and more with the people at Mount Nelson, Jack said he looks forward to building a relationship with the church and the community, and sharing the Gospel of Christ.

“Hopefully, I would like to see the congregation grow,” he added, “spiritually and numerically.”

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Issue of 21 February 2008

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