Boone Creek Baptist welcomes new pastor
Photo by Shari Harris
Pastor Brian Collison gave the opening prayer at the Licking Ministerial Alliance’s Community Thanksgiving Service in November.
By Shari Harris, Publisher
The members of Boone Creek Baptist Church welcomed a new pastor at the beginning of November. Pastor Brian Collison has stepped into the position of senior pastor. Pastor Russ Stigall had graciously stepped in to help out at the church over the past three years.as they performed their search for a full-time pastor.
Brian Collison first came to the area in 2004, when he was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood. He served in the U.S. Army as a criminal investigator until 2010, when he left active duty to attend Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. After achieving a Masters in Divinity in Biblical Counseling, Pastor Brian Collison started a church in Alexandria, Virginia, with a network of churches called the Praetorian Project.
The Praetorian Project’s mission is to open more churches near military institutions. There are currently 16 churches in the project, and their intent is ministering to the military population, specifically those who are stationed at a location for longer time periods, not just for training. The churches are all called “Pillar Church of” followed by the community’s name, making it easier for families to continue in the church when transferring to other locations.
After nine years, Pastor Collison returned to this part of Missouri, becoming the youth pastor at Roby Baptist Church on Easter of 2023. Roby Baptist Church has experienced good growth and is meeting a lot of needs, making it an opportune time for him to search for a full time position as a senior pastor. He began his duties as senior pastor at Boone Creek Baptist Church on Sunday, November 2.
Boone Creek Baptist Church’s thriving ministries to the community, with all age levels involved, has allowed Pastor Collison to “hit the ground running” in the new position. His emphasis will be discipling members of the church, to “equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12, ESV), in the Licking community and beyond. He sees the potential for planting future churches, which is a part of the history of Boone Creek Baptist Church.
Pastor Collison is joined by Kirsten, his wife of 26 years, who teaches third and fourth grades (a combined class) at Gasconade Elementary in Falcon; daughter Leah, a junior at Plato High School; son Adam, who attends Messiah University in Pennsylvania, and son Zackary, who is a student at Missouri State in Springfield.
Of his first month at Boone Creek Baptist Church, Pastor Collison said, “I’ve loved it. They’ve been very welcoming; it’s been an easy transition.”
His years of service leave him with a huge burden for the military community and Pastor Collison is aware of the challenges and demands on military families. With more veterans moving to the area, he believes those military ties will be beneficial. A role in the Licking Ministerial Alliance is another plus for the pastor; he finds the alliance to be strong and appreciates the manner in which the churches support each other’s growth.
Welcome to the community, Pastor Collison and family.
