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Caleb Turner became senior pastor of Mesquite Friendship Baptist Church this summer following the retirement of his father, Terry M. Turner, founder of the church. In the five years prior to his father’s retirement, Turner served in a variety of roles at the church, most recently as co-pastor for two years. Turner and his wife, Tamera, have three sons: Caden, 14; Cason, 10; and Camden, 6.
What is something you’ve been able to celebrate at Mesquite Friendship Baptist lately?
Exponential growth over the last few months. It’s a good problem to have. We ran out of parking. We are thinking through what to do in our building and in the area around us. We are grateful for an explosion of baptisms and attendance. We did two services for over 20 years. COVID brought us back down to one. Personally, I really like the atmosphere, the family feeling, of one service. When we went back to one service, we found there were people who had attended Mesquite Friendship for 10 or 15 years, went to two separate services, and did not know they were even part of the same church family. For as long as I can, I plan on knocking down walls and building a balcony before we go back to two services.
What have been some of the biggest challenges in your ministry lately?
Spiritual development. Just the discipleship process, finding ways to fully implement it churchwide. It’s a difficult thing to do. The more you grow, the more you have the desire to see people grow spiritually.
What’s one lesson you’ve learned to this point of your ministry you know you’ll never forget?
How to love people through your own adversity. One day I was having a hard time emotionally and somebody gave me a call from the church and needed to talk. Just learning how to balance the reality of where I am with pastoring people even when I am sometimes hurting myself.
What’s one thing you want to see God do specifically at Mesquite Friendship this year?
We have decided for the next six months to be more intentional in our approach to reaching the community. One thing I would like to see is the Lord saving more lost people. I’d like to see the Lord prepare us to be more receptive to folks who don’t look like us, think like us, dress like us, and to see a greater increase in the lost coming to be part of Mesquite Friendship.
How can the other churches of the SBTC be praying for you?
I was first called to preach at 22. My prayer was that the Lord would give me wisdom to lead. I knew I would be placed in positions where I might be the youngest person. I don’t think that’s any longer the case. Just wisdom, that’s been my continual prayer. Wisdom and that God would always be glorified in everything we do.
