From a small country church to a big city congregation to a flock in Conway, Pastor Henry Horton has seen successes in the ministry he devoted himself to at the age of 19. Now, after more than 40 years in the ministry, Horton will retire upon his 20th anniversary as pastor of Antioch Baptist Church.
Associate Pastor Jason Aultman said of Horton, "It's been a tremendous privilege to work with him. He's a man of great character. That makes it so nice to work closely with someone and see a life that really aligns with what they're standing up there preaching on Sunday."
Aultman said the church membership has tripled under Horton's leadership, with well over 700 baptisms witnessed during his pastorate.
"The church has remained in a growth mode. Last year there were more baptisms than ever before," Aultman said. "(Horton) said he is thankful the Lord has allowed the last years of his ministry to be the most fruitful."
He added, "He's grown churches in rural areas, he's grown a church in the Dallas metroplex, he's grown a church here in Conway he's run the spectrum. He's been blessed with success in all of them. You can look across 46 years, everywhere God put him, he was used in a tremendous way."
Horton grew up in Fairfield, Texas. At 19 he married his high school sweetheart, Vannette, and became the pastor of a small country church, Lost Prairie Baptist. That fall he entered college and began working on a degree with a double major in religion and English. After attending Jacksonville College, he earned his BA from Baylor University.
After graduating from college, Horton went to France for four years to do missionary work with the Baptist Missionary Association of America. Upon his return, he pastored Calvary Baptist Church in Mesquite, Texas, in the Dallas area for 10 years. While pastoring at Mesquite he attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Next he returned to Fairfield and pastored Round Prairie Baptist Church for seven and a half years. At that time he was contacted by a pastor search committee from Antioch Baptist Church in Conway, Ark.
"I had never heard of Antioch," he said. "There were things going on in (Round Prairie Baptist). I didn't need to leave."
The search committee asked if they could call him again if they had not found a pastor within three months. They did, and Horton came to Conway. After getting to know him, the church voted to invite him to be its pastor. It was 1988.
"The church was already in the process of deciding whether to build on the old location or to relocate," Horton said. The church was formed in 1925 and had always been located on South Boulevard. Many members of the congregation had strong ties to the location and did not want to move, but the facilities were full and had been since the early 1980s, he said.
"It was a long, hard process," Horton said. The church finally agreed to purchase land on Prince Street west of town, but rezoning difficulties arose. Finally the church found land available on Amity Road and built its current building, which is the first of a three-phase master plan, he said. The church moved into the building in 1997.
"I thought I had an understanding with the Lord I would never have another building project before I came here. This was the biggest one I ever had," he said with a laugh.
Horton said, "I've always considered this an ideal place to pastor, with the growth of the city. There are always prospects. I've enjoyed working with people."
Oddly enough, Horton said, the most difficult thing about pastoring is the same as the most enjoyable working with people.
"Living up to expectations is hard," he said.
Regarding his role, Horton said, "I always envisioned my ministry of helping the church grow. Living in a growing city has helped, and also the attitude of our people. We're on our way, but we haven't yet arrived. I have a great love for my church family. I feel very close to the family. I have always been thankful I could feel and understand the pulse and desires of the church. In a sense I feel a great responsibility for the family. In a sense, I feel like a father wanting the best for his children and trying to provide that.
"One thing that has been very important over the years has been whether individuals agree or disagree with me on a certain issue, I hope they never have a doubt about my love for them and my desire for the best for them."
Horton added he has enjoyed very much working with the Conway Ministerial Alliance and served as president for the past year.
On a recent Sunday night, Horton was surprised to see a packed sanctuary rather than the usual modest turnout. His church family successfully planned a surprise service in his honor complete with video greetings and visitors from his past.
"It was a complete surprise," he said. "For the first time in all my ministry, I didn't have the slightest clue it was going to happen. It was one of the most enjoyable things in all my ministry. I really, really appreciated it."
Horton announced his retirement in January. In February, with Horton's approval, the church voted to invite Aultman to be its new pastor.
"Some have said you don't have success without a plan for a successor," Aultman said. "The fact that he's paved the way for that, I think, is an example of strong leadership."
Regarding the potentially seamless transition, Aultman said, "I think it's a very unique and exciting opportunity to be a part of something like that. Oftentimes when one pastor leaves, the church goes into a pretty lengthy period of 'what do we do now' enters a maintenance mode. We have a chance to transition from one to the next and hopefully never miss a beat and build on what he's done and stand on his shoulders. I think that's a great opportunity for us. I can't imagine a higher honor than taking the torch from him and trying to continue the work that he's begun here. The whole thing is terribly humbling for me. It's a real cool thing for the church to not have to scramble and search. It's another testimony to his leadership."
For his retirement, Horton does not have major plans. He and his wife, Vannette, will move back to their ranch in Fairfield. He will preach his last sermon at Antioch on the third Sunday in May, which will mark his 20th anniversary.
"I'm looking forward to being closer to my grandchildren, being able to better care for my mom and having the opportunity to play with my cows," he said.
Horton's mother is 100 years old and lives in Fairfield.
He said he will be sad upon leaving.
"I'm really surprised that the emotions are so mixed," he said. "I'm happy on one hand and sad on another. Right now the sadness is overriding the happiness, but I'm sure that will change."
He concluded, "We have really appreciated how we've been received by the people of the town. It's really been a good experience for us."
(Staff writer Rachel Parker Dickerson can be reached by e-mail at rachel.dickerson@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1277. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
