First Southern Baptist Church welcomes interim pastor

After 32 years at the pulpit, pastor Ron Trummell of First Southern Baptist Church has retired.

Floyd Banks, who was selected by the church’s parishioners on Aug. 1, will be the interim pastor during the new search.

Banks completed seminary school and graduated from Golden Gate University with a degree in Christian studies. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he moved to town roughly 11 years ago.

Banks said each Southern Baptist church is independent and the membership decides who they want to be the pastor, unlike a Methodist or a Catholic church where the hierarchy determines who will be the pastor.

He was chosen as pastor after what’s known as a pulpit search.

“On January 25th of 2015, I was ordained as a pastor and I graduated from the seminary in May of 2015,” Banks said. “I became a deacon at First Southern Baptist Church in August of 2013 and interim pastor as of August. Pastor Trummell has done a fantastic job and he will be missed.”

Shortly after he became a pastor, Banks said his chief obligation was to spread the word of God to the community, at large.

He considers himself to be a “teaching preacher.”

“We want to be a very diverse and inclusive church,” he said. “The most important thing that we want to do is to spread the word of God and do what we are commanded to do. We teach from the Bible and we want to invite everyone here because God wants all to be saved. I just want the community to know that everyone is welcome at our church.”

First Southern Baptist Church is located at 4180 N. Highway 160, just north of Simkins Street.

Banks noted that the church began with just seven members.

“We now have a congregation of about 60 people and that’s how many who are in our rolls,” he said. “But we probably have close to about 250 congregation members, overall, if not more.”

Banks also said the church provides various schedules for services throughout the week.

“We have Wednesday night Bible study at 7 p.m.,” he said. “We also have a Sunday devotional at 9 a.m., Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. Our morning service is at 11 a.m., and we also have a Sunday evening service at 6 p.m. Basically, we are a church that teaches the word of God. I consider myself a teaching preacher.”

Decades ago, Banks served in the military during the Vietnam conflict.

He recalled being one of the last U.S. military personnel to leave the region in the mid-1970’s.

“I served in the Navy during the Vietnam era. I am possibly the last man off of the last active ship during the Vietnam conflict. When I left the port, I would stand on the fantail of the ship and wave goodbye, which made me the last man out.”

Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @pvtimes