Perhaps I have never had the pleasure of meeting you, so, let me introduce myself to you. My name is Greg Mills. I was born in a small town in south Ga. My dad was a minister, so I grew up in a parsonage. It’s not nearly as bad as some would have you think. I’ve met many missionaries, evangelists, and church leaders in my life, and my life was made richer for it.
After high school, I attended Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tn. While there, my dad received a call to a church in Shreveport, La. He accepted the call and made the move. I remember so vividly when I went home for the holiday break and my first Sunday at church, she was on the front steps, short blonde hair and big blue eyes. She was wearing a blue skirt and a short sleeve blue knit top and a small yellow flower was on the collar. Oh yea, she also wore braces.
Being a man of intellect … and knowing she was way over my hopes of marriage… I pursued her and two years later we were married. She has been my beautiful bride, mother of my children, closest friend, greatest supporter, and life partner for almost 43 years.
I was not always in professional ministry. My first career was in the jewelry industry. Though we have been involved in some form of lay ministry from the beginning. It was in 1996, as I was preparing for a Sunday school class in one of my stores. Then the Holy Spirit prompted a question in me…
“Are you willing to give up being successful to become effective?”
For almost a year I pursued the understanding of this question. Then one day at lunch my pastor said, “I think the kingdom could use someone like you.” He offered me a position as Associate Pastor of Christian Education and Lay Ministry Development. I submitted my resignation and began a new life immediately.
It was a wonderful experience serving in a staff position. Two years later our senior pastor decided to make a change and moved to the prairies of Kansas. I was offered to move with him and a similar position, or I could stay and hope the next pastor would hire me or hope I could find work elsewhere.
In a few days, a call came from a church leader and a church in Texas needed a senior pastor. We went as the senior pastor. My main job was to be the preacher. Up to that time, I had preached 5 sermons. To say it was a little overwhelming might be an understatement, but God was faithful. It was while at this church that I received my ordination in the Church of the Nazarene. And with God, we served for four and a half of some of the best years of our lives. God blessed.
This time I was the one who received a call to return to Orlando. The church who opened the door for me to enter the ministry was looking for a pastor with a business background. I returned in 2003 and served for six years.
This time change came because of physical issues. I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis and had surgery to try and arrest the disease, but unfortunately in surgery, my right vocal chord was paralyzed.
I whispered for about two years and then resigned.
Upon leaving the church, we began to attend a COGA church where after many months, I met with the state boards and was granted the Recognition of my credentials by The Church of God Anderson. During this time, I served as a part of the teaching team, and an interim pastor and in September of this last year, I was asked to work with Friends Community Church. A few weeks became a few months, and during that time, Tawanda and I fell in love with the congregants of Friends. In January of this year, we were asked to become the Official Lead Pastor of Friends. We happily accepted and are thrilled to be with our new church family and are super excited for all that God will accomplish.
In His love and care,
Greg Mills