Minister's orbit widens

Nov. 19—MIDLAND — Longtime Westside Church of Christ Minister Mike Vestal has spoken in 37 states and 12 foreign countries in the past 10 years.

Also teaching at schools of preaching in Colorado, Tennessee and West Virginia, Vestal says the challenge has become "not to be gone too much but to take advantage of outside opportunities."

Supported by Assistant Minister Adam Orr and encouraged by Elders Terry Pafford and Lynn Mayfield, Vestal says his schedule "is an extension of the work we're doing here at Westside to build up people and reach out to others.

"This started simply because of the congregation's being generous to allow me go places," he said. "I have spoken almost from coast to coast and I teach four or five times a year at Bear Valley Bible Institute in Denver, the Memphis School of Preaching in Tennessee and the West Virginia School of Preaching in Moundsville, training future ministers.

"I spoke to 5,300 people at a Polishing the Pulpit conference in Knoxville, Tenn., and I just got back from a church of 100 in Corpus Christi. So I might be speaking to thousands or a small congregation that just needs some encouragement and help.

"The next several years are pretty well booked up."

Vestal is a 62-year-old native of Memphis who took a bachelor's degree at Freed-Hardeman University in Hendersonville, Tenn., and was a minister at Bossier City, La., Allen, Mount Pleasant, Eisenhower Church of Christ in Odessa, Cleburne and Tyler before arriving at Westside in 2000. He and his wife Cherie have two children.

"I enjoy living in the Permian Basin and have spent the biggest portion of my preaching career in West Texas, but I do enjoy the opportunity of encouraging people elsewhere, especially training and mentoring young preachers," he said. "I think most people would say I preach very much the same as I do at home except that my pace would be even a little faster than it is here.

"The purpose of preaching is to declare the good news of what God has done in Jesus Christ as revealed in Scripture. It's about showing others the love of God as seen in the Cross of Christ."

Asked if each minister needs his own style, Vestal said, "There is an old description of preaching as divine truth through human personality.

"By that I mean that some things cannot be altered. Human personalities are different, so preachers should have different styles. One size does not fit all."

Mayfield said he and Pafford and the church "are very pleased and grateful for the work that Mike is doing.

"He also does quite a bit of counseling over the phone with elders and preachers around the country," Mayfield said. "God has gifted him and he applies himself to a lot of study.

"He stays up on current events and spends the time to look into God's word."