The Rev. George Gilchrist Jr., has served as pastor of First Missionary Baptist Church of Troy for 30 years.

This weekend, he, along with his wife, will be honored for their longtime service with Pastor’s Appreciation Day. The couple will be honored at a banquet on Saturday night and again on Sunday as guest pastors will deliver the morning and afternoon worship services.

Gilchrist said First Missionary Baptist Church is the only church that he has pastored.

“I have been fortunate to have been the pastor for three generations and I’m grateful for the privilege the Lord has allowed me to share the gospel.”

Gilchrist had opportunities to preach on several occasions before being called to pastor First Missionary Baptist Church.

“Thirty years is a lot time but time flies,” Gilchrist said. “Over the years, we have experienced a lot of joys and many challenges. My wife has worked right along side me. She started a church newsletter and a food bank and we have a website. The church building has undergone extensive renovations. We have been blessed.”

Even though times seems to fly, Gilchrist said that looking out over his congregation, many of those who filled the pews those first years of his ministry are no longer there.

“Except for about a dozen, they are gone,” he said. “But I’m still a plain and simple kind of preacher. I preach the Word and let the Lord do the rest. My style has not varied. The Biblical principals are still the same but I hope that I’m relating better.”

And, Gilchrist’s hope also is that First Baptist Missionary Baptist Church of Troy is the only church that he will ever serve.