The Omnibus

Issue date: 10/7/04 Section: Feature

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Thirty-one-year-old Jesse Dillard overcame many obstacles to get where he is today, an award-winning pastor.

Freshman Jesse Dillard was recently named Minister of the Month of Chicago Heights, Ill.

Dillard, a freshman at Southwest Baptist University, was named Minister of the Month for October in his hometown, Chicago Heights, Ill.

Dillard has been licensed as a minister since December 3, 1995 and was ordained on October 23, 2000.

Dillard reported he never had any intention of becoming a pastor. "It wasn't my choice. God led me to ministry. I actually started attending a different church for awhile and decided that I would join their congregation. When I went up for invitation, the pastor told me that I couldn't become a member of that church. I didn't know churches did that! The pastor said that God had plans for me at my home church."

Also, Dillard's grandmothe, 101 years old at the time, gave Dillard some encouraging advice. "She told me that God had been telling her that she was going to see me become a minister."

After serving several years as youth pastor at Union Evangelistic Baptist Church of Chicago Heights, Dillard decided that he wanted a college degree.

"I told my pastor that I wanted to go to school to learn more about God," Dillard said. "I don't want to preach my own gospel, I want to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, so I felt I needed an education."

Although Dillard was determined to go to college, he met several roadblocks along the way.

"After I made the decision to go to college, I wrote to several institutions that I was interested in, but I didn't get a response from any of them," Dillard explained. "I talked to my pastor about it and he said that until I do what God wants me to do now, God isn't going to open a door for me."

Dillard took the advice of his pastor, Reverend James R. Flint and continued to minister. Within a short amount of time, universities began replying to Dillard's applications and started sending him acceptance letters.

Dillard began attending Lincoln Christian College in Lincoln, Ill. He then transferred to Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO before coming to SBU earlier this summer.

"Jesse has inspired many people through his preaching, teaching and instruction on the word of God," Pastor Willie Drake said. "He has been a big influence in the life of countless people. We have seen him as God worked through him to be a blessing to many."

Dillard has been serving Union Evangelistic Baptist Church of Chicago Heights for thirteen years as a member of their congregation. He has acted as a youth pastor for eight years. He has also been a member of the church choir, The Evangelistic Voices, served as director of Black Heritage Month and taught an adult men's Sunday school class.

Dillard considers his experience as a youth pastor to be among his greatest memories in ministering.

"While I was the youth minister at Union, our youth congregation grew from 15 students to over 200," Dillard said. "We had Wednesday night Bible studies and then we'd hang out afterwards and play basketball and do different things."

Dillard has a very unique background. He is the youngest of 14 children and he has 42 nieces and nephews. His mother died when he was five years old, leaving Dillard to be raised by his oldest sister.

"I didn't get a chance to be raised with my brothers and sisters really, since they are quite a bit older. I was raised with a niece and nephew, so they were like a brother and sister to me," Dillard said.

Dillard claims that his pastor of 13 years, Reverend Flint, has been his greatest influence. "I met my pastor during the time that I was saved. I started to learn new things from him, and going places that God was really blessing," Dillard said. "He has just taught me so much."

While living at SBU, Dillard is staying at Maupin Hall. He was concerned that it would be weird having a Resident Director who was only 19, but he thinks Lee Midget is great.

"Living in Maupin is really interesting. I have a great relationship with the guys," Dillard said. "When I applied to SBU, Chris Keller suggested that I live on campus for a semester so that I could get to know the guys in the dorm."

Dillard is glad that he took Keller's advice. "I'm a people person and I've really gotten a chance to meet a lot of guys. Also, staying on campus has really allowed me to get involved with a large number of students."

Dillard has touched a lot of lives in his years of ministry and service.

"God has allowed Jesse to meet challenges and overcome them to help others overcome many in their lives," Reverend Drake said.

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