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Still Preaching After All These Years

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By DEREK MAUL

Tribune correspondent

Published: July 30, 2008

MANGO - Rev. Billy J. Dickerson has been pastor at First Baptist Church of Mango for 40 years. The number may represent half his life, but the energetic octogenarian shows no signs of slowing down.

"I can't find the word 'retirement' in the Bible," he said.

Raised in Texas, Dickerson answered the call to ministry when he was 17. "Converted, called and baptized all at the same time," he said. "I felt a compulsion to share the world of God, and I've had a glorious time following in the Lord's way."

He has been preaching for more than 60 years.

He was first called to service as pastor of First Baptist Church in Palmer, Texas, before graduating from Baylor University in 1953. He earned his divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, during his tenure at Palmer, then served First Baptist of Garrison, Texas, before being called to the former Jackson Heights Baptist Church in Tampa in 1962.

"I guess I got sand in my shoes when I visited Florida," he said. "But I was really inspired to come."

Over the years, the Mango congregation has changed, he said. "It has become more conservative in worship," he said, "but very lively. Plus, we now have more of a multicultural congregation."

The church reaches out to the community through Dickerson's role as a volunteer chaplain at Brandon Regional Hospital and his longtime relationship with the Greater Seffner Chamber of Commerce. "We share our fellowship hall for a monthly luncheon," he said. "I enjoy that tremendously."

The church also shares its sanctuary with the New Covenant Family Worship Center, which worships before the Mango church's Sunday morning service.

The partnerships show the spirit for mission that always has characterized Dickerson's life. It's a calling reflected in another project his church is supporting, the "I Am HOPE Cafe," a local soup kitchen expected to open in August.

The venture, supported by Project HOPE and Greater Brandon Ecumenical Ministries, will be housed in the north wing of the church's education facility and is part of a broad initiative to help Brandon's homeless.

He invites the community to the church's services.

"Come be a part of our fellowship, and find Christ," Dickerson said. "People can expect good, strong worship, good music and fellowship dinners. We have a mixture of young and old here, and several have been with me the entire 40 years."

Dickerson said he has baptized an average of 30 people a year, about 1,200 over 40 years. But his greatest joy, he said, is preaching God's word.

"I have a Bible-centered message," he said. "I like to speak on the subject of God's providence - God's loving, sovereign care over the world." He has shared his ministry with his wife of 60 years, Vesta Anderson. "She's from Polk County," he said. "We met in college, and we were married in 1947. She is the genius of the office. She's the supersecretary, the music director, the organist and the pianist."

The Dickersons' four grown children live within two hours driving distance. Melodie is a college choral director, Tim a real estate broker, Joe a lawyer and Andy a schoolteacher.

For fun, Dickerson likes to fish, spend time with his four grandchildren and work out at a fitness center.

"Brandon," he said, "is dynamic, changing and moving. It's not staid. It's wonderful. Good churches and good people. I am still optimistic about the future. Because of the Gospel. It is the power of God unto salvation."

MEET REV. BILLY J. DICKERSON

WHAT: Pastor, First Baptist Church of Mango

WHERE: 11619 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. E.

BORN: Lufkin, Texas, 1927

EDUCATION: Baylor University, Waco, Texas, 1953; Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, 1956

MARRIED: Vesta Anderson, 1947

MOVED TO FLORIDA: 1962

CHILDREN: Melodie, Tim, Joe and Andy

CALL: (813) 689-1423

Derek Maul can be reached at derekmaul@gmail.com.

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