Update from Pastor Doug

Our church is governed by a group of spiritually mature men who have been ordained by the Lord to oversee this portion of God’s flock.  We seek to maintain the Lordship and direction of Jesus Christ over His Body, the church – seeking His mind and will, through His Spirit and the Word of God in all our actions and decisions.

According to the Word, spiritually mature men (elders) are to be appointed as overseers to share in the responsibility of shepherding the flock of God through:  teaching the Word, prayer, discipleship, giving counsel, correction, and settling disputes (Acts 20:28; Exodus 18:19-22).  They are called to heal the sick, help the weak, and bring back the lost (Ezekiel 34:4).  Overseers also have the responsibility to protect doctrinal truth and must lead by example (1 Peter 5:2, 3; Titus 1:9).

In Titus 1, Paul exhorted Titus to: “ … set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders…” (to serve as “bishops” or overseers). He wrote:  “…if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For [an overseer] must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”

After months of prayer and seeking the Lord – and years of observing, we have asked Larry Sharrow to serve on our board of overseers. He has been praying and has peace about going forward and joining our leadership team. But you have a responsibility in this as well. One of the characteristics of an overseer is that he is blameless. That doesn’t mean sinless – for then we would have no leadership. To be blameless means that he has no legitimate unresolved sin issues in his life. For the next month, please pray for Larry – and if you have any concerns about his life please speak to him – or to me or one of the other overseers. Then on July 10th, Lord willing, we’ll lay hands on him and recognize him officially as an overseer here at Calvary.

Larry’s Testimony

To God be the Glory. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see. The Lord brought His love into my heart in 1985 when I heard the gospel, repented, and trusted in Jesus for salvation. Shortly thereafter I was baptized in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, my hometown.

My early years were as a Catholic and attended 12 years of Catholic school. Since becoming a Christian it has been a blessing to serve Jesus, the One who gave His life for me. My wife Karen, also a follower of Jesus, and I were married in 1981 and blessed with four children, two granddaughters and one grandson on the way.

By God’s grace our three daughters and their husbands are following and serving the Lord Jesus. Our son Mark went to be with the Lord in 1995 at the age of 10. Monique lives in Macon, GA with her husband Matthew and their daughters Isabelle and Hailey. Sarah lives in Springfield, VA with her husband Scott. Rachel lives in Towson, MD with her husband Aaron and they are expecting their firstborn son, Jack, to be born in June. Currently, my employment is as a consultant, working from home.

The Lord has provided several opportunities and locations to serve Him starting with Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale from 1989 to 1992, where I was a member of the board. They ordained me for the gospel ministry to plant Calvary Chapel in Hollywood, Florida where I stayed as pastor for six years. In 1998 my family started attending a Sheridan Hills Baptist church where our children attended school and there I was ordained as a deacon. In 2001 We moved to New Orleans where I received a Master of Divinity from NOBTS. During my time in New Orleans, I was interim pastor of two churches and helped lead worship in another church.

In 2004 we moved to Abingdon where I served as church planter/pastor of Real Life Church (named was changed to Abingdon Baptist). After leaving full time ministry in 2013, we attended Long Green Baptist Church in Glen Arm, MD where I was ordained an elder / overseer. In 2018 we went back to Abingdon to help a church plant get started where I served as home group leader and in the worship team. In 2020 we sensed the Lord’s leading to rejoin a Calvary Chapel, specifically Calvary Delta as our home church, where I serve as a home group leader and a member of the worship team. While looking for the soon return of Jesus, my heart’s desire is to serve Him daily according to His will.

One of my favorite passages is from Number 6:24-26. “May the Lord bless you and keep you; May the Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; May the Lord lift His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”

By His grace,

Larry Sharrow