By Mark Maynard
Kentucky Today
After 30 years of pastoring, Charles Frazier’s ministry life is taking a turn.
Frazier, who is well known in Kentucky Baptist circles and especially in western Kentucky, is becoming the associational mission strategist for the Northern Kentucky Baptist Association. The 55-year-old pastor has led Zion’s Cause Church in Benton for the past 18 years.
Frazier said the move came with much prayer from him and wife Vickie.
“The way this has all come about has been a big surprise,” he said. “I was approached about the position, and they told me, ‘We think this will be great for you.’ The Lord kept opening doors. It’s going to be different, I know that. It’s definitely a transition for me.”
Frazier has worked closely with the Kentucky Baptist Convention since serving as president in 2018. Traveling throughout the state, he met associational ministry leaders who were serving as AMS. Instead of a flock of people to serve, he will be encouraging and helping 80 Kentucky Baptist churches and pastors in the active NKBA.
He will replace Jim Woolums, who has led the NKBA since 2014. Woolums announced his retirement last November but said he would remain as interim until the association could find a replacement.
“Jim has done a great job,” Frazier said. “There’s a lot of good churches and good pastors in Northern Kentucky.”
Frazier said the most difficult part was telling his church in Benton that the Lord was leading them to a different ministry. There were lots of tears, he said.
Frazier said his first day as AMS in Northern Kentucky will be Oct. 17 and he’s coming with a listening ear.
“There’s going to be a lot of listening and seeing what they are doing,” he said. “A lot of learning. I never dreamed we’d be moving to Northern Kentucky. I kind of feel that God has been preparing me for a while and I didn’t realize it, didn’t suspect it.”
Once he was approached, he and his wife began praying to give them clarity on what to do. Frazier said the move was bathed in prayer, which has given him and his wife confidence that they are where God wants them to be.
“What can we do together to accomplish God’s work?” he said. “How can I do that? I need to get to know the association, how it works, and also getting to know the pastors and churches. Pastors are under tremendous stress and churches are under tremendous stress coming out of COVID. I want to do some ministry of strengthening and encouraging.”