S1E7: Stay, Persevere, Endure | Drew White

What do you do when following God's call leads you into one of the hardest seasons of your life?

In this episode of Ministry Central, Richard Williamson sits down with Drew White, Senior Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Lakeland, Florida, to discuss God's calling, church revitalization, pastoral perseverance, and the importance of extending grace through difficult seasons of ministry.

Drew never planned to become a pastor. After growing up in church, he pursued his childhood dream of becoming a police officer, serving in law enforcement for 13 years. But God had a different plan. Drew shares how a serious, life-threatening illness became a turning point in his relationship with the Lord and ultimately led him to surrender to God's call to preach.

That calling eventually brought Drew and his family from Ohio to Florida in 2020, where he stepped into his first senior pastorate just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. What he didn't realize was that he was also stepping into a church struggling with significant conflict and division.

Drew candidly shares the challenges that nearly caused him to leave ministry, the encouragement he received from fellow pastors, and how God faithfully carried his family through some of their most difficult moments. He reflects on the transformation of Faith Baptist Church from a congregation marked by conflict into a welcoming church family.

Throughout the conversation, Drew emphasizes two essential principles of pastoral leadership: love people and always err on the side of grace. He also discusses the importance of biblical preaching, personal discipleship, church revitalization, and remaining faithful when ministry becomes difficult.

Whether you're a pastor, ministry leader, church volunteer, or someone walking through a challenging season of obedience, Drew's story offers a powerful reminder that God is faithful—even when the path He's called us to walk is harder than we expected.

Key Takeaways

• God's calling requires surrender. His plans may look very different from our own, but obedience opens the door to His purposes.
• Grace should define our leadership. Just as God continually extends grace to us, we should extend it to others—even when it's difficult.
• Church revitalization begins with people. Healthy churches are built through genuine love, relationships, and a commitment to shepherding God's people.
• Difficult seasons don't necessarily mean you're in the wrong place. God can use conflict and hardship to strengthen leaders and prepare churches for growth.
• Perseverance matters. When God hasn't called you to leave, faithfulness may mean staying, enduring, and trusting Him with the results.

About Our Guest

Drew White serves as Senior Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Lakeland, Florida. Before entering full-time ministry, Drew spent 13 years in law enforcement. Today, he is passionate about biblical preaching, church revitalization, discipleship, and helping hurting people experience the grace and truth of Jesus Christ.