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Biography

Doing life his own way, this native of Crawfordsville, Arkansas toured America playing his guitar and singing. He had been brought up in a Missionary Baptist Church, participating and following the set path for the youth of his church. After over ten years of roaming, he submitted to the call of the Holy Spirit and became a preacher. Now his fervor is for repairing the community as a mission goal for Progressive Baptist Church where is now preaches.

Transcript

Date of Interview: 2008

Student: What is your name and job title?

Stanley Moore: My name is Stanley Moore. My job title is Pastor of the Progressive Baptist Church.

Student: Where were you born?

Stanley Moore: I was born in Crawfordsville, Arkansas.

Student: Did you attend a church there?

Stanley Moore: I attended the Newmount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church.

Student: What ministries did you participate in?

Stanley Moore: I participated in the choir, junior deacons, and as I grew I became the chairman of the deacon ministry.

Student: When did you become a pastor?

Stanley Moore: Eighteen years ago.

Student: Where were you ordained?

Stanley Moore: I was ordained in Osceloa, Arkansas.

Student: Why did you become a pastor?

Stanley Moore: I became a pastor because there was a call on my life. I knew years ago I had been called into the ministry. How that happened was I preached at this one church in Osceola, Arkansas. After the first sermon they elected me as pastor, after my first sermon, three months into my ministry. It’s been a challenge ever since.

Woman: Would you like to elaborate on your calling of being a minister?

Stanley Moore: Sure, remembering back when I was, when I knew that I was called into ministry was early in my teens and I thought it wasn’t popular, it wasn’t cool to be a preacher, so I decided that on my own accord, that I wouldn’t be a preacher and actually I did everything I could to keep from preaching. I stated earlier, I thought my calling was singing. I use to travel, I toured. I toured these United States singing, playing a guitar. I remember that we had a homecoming, we was coming in off of the road and had a homecoming in Arkansas, in a place called Earl, Arkansas, and the Spirit has been talking to me and I kept denying my call and God allowed me to go totally blind to teach me that without Him I can’t see my future and when I did come to the realization, I accepted my calling and it was still ten years later. I didn’t get beat down, but the Spirit was speaking to me very plain, just as we are talking right now. I know it may sound strange, but it was supernatural and He made it clear that He was giving me another chance to do what He had called me to do. Once I accepted my call, three months later I was called to pastor. And that has been eighteen years ago.

Student: What made you want to move to Davenport?

Stanley Moore: I moved to Davenport under the directions of the Holy Spirit and to become pastor of the Progressive Baptist Church.

Student: How long have you lived in Davenport?

Stanley Moore: Three years in July, two years and nine months.

Student: What did you think of Progressive when you got here?

Stanley Moore: Great ministry opportunities. I see that there is development. I see that there is potential. And I feel very strongly about the growth internal and external.

Student: Does it have potential to grow?

Stanley Moore: Great potentials.

Student: Have ministers been established under your leadership?

Stanley Moore: There have been several ministries established since I’ve been at Progressive.

Student: How many ministers have you developed?

Stanley Moore: Totally it’s twenty-three ministers. Under the umbrella, which is called the, I call, I named it the Eagles Nest, but at Progressive, I think there are nine ministers that are active, totally in the state of Arkansas and Georgia and Iowa. There is a total of twenty-three ministers.

Student: What do you see Progressive doing in the future to help the community?

Stanley Moore: More outreach, we need more outreach to be more community involved.

Student: How does Progressive enhance the community?

Stanley Moore: With ministries, I think that what we are doing now is to establish resources in
terms of a holistic approach that will fill the need of the total person. That we’re not here just to preach on Sundays, but I think as we continue to develop the ministries we can address the needs of the people in the community whether saved or unsaved.

Woman: What needs do you see?

Stanley Moore: I see family development. I see recovery, re-entry. Those things need to be addressed. I see where we need to approach the needs of low income housing, seniors assisted living, developing our own bank. And I believe that the church should be the light that will lead the way; and I believe Progressive has been charged, has been called, to do just that. Under the proper leadership and structure, I see that we can become a church on the hill, a light on the hill.

Woman: Do you think the preschool has helped as far as community services?

Stanley Moore: Sure, I believe it has helped because everything has to have a beginning. According to Scripture, if you train a child in the way that he should go, he will never depart. So preschool is definitely preparing our younger peoples for advanced discipling so I think that’s a great start. And what’s impressive about the preschool is you have saved teachers, saved instructors, those that have a gift to teach our young peoples. Everybody can’t teach with effectiveness but we see that the childrens that’s coming out of the preschool when they enter into the church they are already prepared for worship and know how to understand protocol.

Student: Where do you see Progressive in ten years from now?

Stanley Moore: I see Progressive as being multifaceted. I see Progressive as being a multi-cultural, very diverse congregation. I see political leaders coming out of Progressive. I see community activists. I really see a church that will lead the way in terms of being really intricate into the community with the social, economic, and their Christian values. And in ten years, I believe that even our younger peoples that’s being trained in the different facets of ministry now-children’s church, youth ministries-as we continue to grow, ten years, as believers in the community I see great things coming out of Progressive.


Student: Last question. What does serving your fellow man mean to you?

Stanley Moore: It means that we are following in the footsteps of Christ. Serving means to be available to address all of the needs of your fellow man. Humility means to be humble, it means to be a great steward. It means to be available and ready to lower yourself to be available for others.

Student: Any closing remarks?

Stanley Moore: Yes, I would say I’m grateful to be in the Quad Cities. I’m thankful to be pastor of this great church. And I thank you for your interview.

Student: Thank you.