Pastor Allen Pollard was named pastor following the retirement this year of Elder Edward Sanders. The picture is from the Pastoral Retirement Service for District Elder Sanders in 2022. (Contributed Photo)

East Texas faith leaders are making milestone anniversaries as they continue spreading the gospel. These celebrations showcase the lasting dedication and impact these leaders have made in their communities.

The Rev. Bobby Gene Land Sr. will celebrate more than 60 years pastoring on Sunday, Aug. 25. The celebration will take place at 4 p.m. at the Liberty Baptist Church on North Broadway in Tyler.

Land is a Kaufman County native, who was called to preach in 1962. Land shared that he felt a calling from the Lord to stop playing rhythm and blues. He admitted to gambling with cards and pool, and in his dreams, he’d return to his old dance spots.

There, he’d talk about Jesus, but people would kick him out.

“My oldest son had spinal meningitis, and I told God, if you heal my boy, I’ll preach for you. I knew he wanted me to preach, but I was running from preaching,” Land said. “The doctor said, There’s nothing I can do for him…The boy is 70 years old now, and he was 7 at that time.”

He gave his first sermon in April 1965 and was ordained as a minister the following month at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Terrell. Land founded the New Baptist Evangelistic Church Inc, in 1989, and presently serves as pastor.

He received his doctorate in divinity from the Institutional School of Ministry in 2002.

Land is active in pastoring, visiting, playing the piano and singing at nursing homes. Conversely, he’s worked with youth for so long now he is known as the “90-year-old teenager.”

He said he loves preaching and doesn’t write out his sermons — he just speaks straight from the Bible. He’s had trouble keeping men in the congregation because they say he focuses too much on holiness, but he feels that’s not really the case.

He loves preaching, people and children. He even has a bit of what he calls his “Jesus rap.”

He’s thinking about retiring to focus on writing, though he hasn’t published any books yet. He’s written a lot, and whenever he considers retiring, he hears a reminder of Jesus’ words, “occupy until I come,” which makes him emotional.

He takes it as a sign to keep doing what he feels he’s meant to do.

A highlight for Land was being named Pastor of the Day at the Texas State Capitol by Rep. Ted Lyons and later opening the 82nd Legislative Session in 2011 at the request of Rep. Leo Berman.

Land served eight years in the Navy during the Korean War and earned multiple medals.

Land was married to Lorience Vondell Sanders for 52 years before she passed away in 2004. They parented two sons, both in ministry. He remarried Mary 15 years ago in 2009.

Bethany Word of Life Tabernacle in Tyler will gather to celebrate the second annual anniversary service of Pastor Alan Pollard and his wife on Sept. 14. The event will be held on the church campus beginning at 2 p.m. at 6808 Paluxy Drive.

Pollard was born and raised in Henderson. Throughout grade school and high school, he was active in his church as a Sunday school teacher, participated in the men’s ministry department, and played drums, saxophone, and bass guitar.

He went to the University of Texas in Austin, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering. After returning home to work, he continued to be involved with his local church.

“I’ve always been connected doing some type of service in the church,” Pollard said. “I’ve always had that kind of passion, you know, throughout my whole life.”

Pollard was named pastor following the retirement of Elder Edward Sanders.

“He contacted my pastor, and he told me that he would like for me to assume the role as Pastor once he retires,” Pollard said. “My pastor spoke to me about that and I accepted. That was two years ago.”

He finds the big task is connecting with people in the community and showing them a better way, but he sees these experiences as opportunities rather than challenges.

Everyone faces struggles and stress, and he wants to teach them about the gospel and how they can find relief from their difficulties. To him, helping people manage stress and struggles is both a challenge and a reward.

Since starting in the role, the church has more than quadrupled in size, growing from about 12 members to over 60. Pollard finds it rewarding that the church is successfully reaching the community, with more and more people coming out to attend.

Pollard mentioned that sticking with faith in God and consistently working to reach people didn’t show results right away, but eventually, it paid off. He believes being consistent is key to seeing results in anything you do.

“The Lord teaches us to have faith even when we do not see things. The Bible tells us to “call those things that are not as though they were,” Pollard said. “You may not physically see it, but your faith in God says it is going to happen.”

Pollard and his wife, Tanya, have been married 24 years and have four children and four grandchildren, and one on the way.