Dr. Mallone Chandler started preaching in a vacated fruit stand along busy 231 Highway north of Troy in 1980. His ministry was fruitful and he moved to a larger facility – a trailer along busy Highway 231.

Chandler’s ministry continued to grow and today, he is the pastor of Riverview Baptist Church, the church that he planted – along busy Highway 231.

On Sunday, Chandler will be honored on Pastor Appreciation Day by his congregation at Riverview Baptist Church and there is no one more deserving of appreciation said, Peggy Harris and Janice Robinson, church members who are helping to coordinate the special event.

“Dr. Chandler reaches out his heart to anyone in need,” Harris said. “He is always eager to help and finds ways to help that nobody knows about. He is an inspiration to all of us at Riverview and we want to let him know how much he is appreciated.”

By trade, Chandler is a chiropractic physician in Troy. By calling he is a pastor.

He helps heal bodies and souls.

“Dr. Chandler is a good physician and he is a wonderful pastor,” Harris said. “He has a close relationship with his family and with his church family. We know that he cares about us and he knows that we care about him. He is a loving pastor and we have a loving congregation.”

Riverview Baptist Church was an outgrowth of First Baptist Church of Troy.

Averyt Walker, director of missions for the Salem-Troy Baptist Association, said First Baptist recognized a need for a mission church on the north side of Troy and Chandler answered the call.

“Mallone helped lead Bible study in that area and he was called to the ministry,” Walker said.

“He planted the church there and the church has seen much growth over the years. Mallone is the only pastor to have served Riverview.

He has had associate pastors to partner with him through the years and some of them have gone on the minister elsewhere. He has answered God’s call.”

Riverview Baptist Church now has about 260 members and is no longer the church home just to people on the north side of town but to people throughout the area.

“We have a loving church with loving people and it starts with our pastor,” Robinson said. “When we need him, he’s always there.”

Harris and Robinson said there is no way that the church membership can express its deep appreciation to Chandler but, “hopefully, he knows what he means to all of us.”

Everyone is invited to join the members of Riverview in a day of appreciation for Chandler that will begin with the 10:45 a.m. worship service on Sunday and continue with an appreciation dinner following the service.