TAHLEQUAH —
Five years ago, Crescent Valley Baptist Church Senior Pastor Chadd Pendergraft came to Tahlequah with his family.
He made the move not because the church or community appealed to him, but out of obedience to the call of God.
Pendergraft was contacted by Crescent Valley’s search committee while he was serving at the Splitlog Baptist Church in Goodman, Mo.
Serving as a pastor was also about obedience.
”I would say it wasn’t an issue of my wanting to be a pastor, but more of a matter of obedience to God and the call on my life,” Pendergraft said.
He values those who have mentored him throughout the years.
“I’ve had many mentors over the course of my ministry and always found it helpful to seek counsel from others who have more experience than I have,” he said.
He especially appreciates the aspect of being a pastor that allows him to see God’s word as it helps people and changes their lives.
“I enjoy seeing our people taking the word of God seriously and living it out in their everyday lives,” he said.
His favorite scripture is 2 Corinthians 5:17.
“I love preaching the life-changing Gospel message of Jesus Christ,” he said.
Pendergraft said Crescent Valley is a church that’s all about proclaiming the Gospel message of Jesus Christ, while its members go through life together.
Video presentations are sometimes used in services, and music is an important aspect of worship at the church.
“I would consider it to be a blended style of contemporary music mixed with some traditional music, as well,” he said.
The church is involved in local missions work, including, “Love Out Loud,” wherein they feed people at Thanksgiving.
A recent student mission trip, “Global Mission” took members to St. Louis, and this year, they plan to take part in this mission work in Denver.
The church’s international commitment includes traveling to Africa.
“We have Vacation Bible School every summer, and we do several different mission projects and outreach events locally throughout the course of the year,” Pendergraft said.
A graduate of Exeter High School in Exeter, Mo., Pendergraft said serving as a pastor has also been an exercise in obedience.
His wife, Chastity, is also important to the church ministry. They’ve been married 16 years and have four children: Coy, 15; Cassie, 12; Clay, 10; and Carly Jo, 5.
Chasity serves in several different areas of ministry, primarily in the student and children’s ministries, he said.
“She is an incredible support in all aspects of my life and ministry,” he said.
Among the many aspects of life they enjoy most in Tahlequah, pizza and milkshakes are at the top of the list.
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