CANDIDATE FOR LEAD PASTOR OF MISSION
Meet Doc Hanberry
Hello Forest Hill Church! My name is Doc, and I am a Jesus-follower, husband to Sara Lynn, daddy to Landry Nell, Luke Jordan, Evelyn Grace, and Noah James, and a pastor – in that order. I’m an above-average coffee connoisseur and a below-average golfer. Mostly, I’m a relatable, down-to-earth guy who has a passion to help people meet and follow Jesus. I have served as Executive Pastor of Ministry and have been at Riverland Hills since 2015. My passion is to communicate the truths of the Bible in relevant and practical ways so that people will be equipped to bring Jesus glory through their lives. We are all so excited to worship with you this Sunday!
VIDEO: Welcome Message From The Hanberrys
WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE DOC AND HIS FAMILY JOINING US THIS SUNDAY, JULY 9TH! WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US IN PERSON OR ONLINE!
Meet The Hanberrys
We are so excited to meet you this Sunday! We have prayed about this day over the last several weeks and have felt God leading us to this point with undeniable clarity. We continue to join you in prayer that the future of Forest Hill Church would be made equally clear to you as well. We believe with all of our hearts that the best is yet to come for Forest Hill! And the idea of potentially joining you in your journey to build bridges that connect everyone to dynamic life in Christ is what our dreams are made of.
We can’t wait to worship King Jesus with you!
10,000 Blessings,
Doc, Sara Lynn, Landry Nell, Luke, Evelyn Grace, and Noah Hanberry
Can You Share With Us Your Personal Journey and Relationship with God?
I came to faith in Jesus when I was 23, which isn’t abnormal until you consider that I’m a second-generation Pastor’s kid. I was forced to attend church four times each week and became inoculated to the message of the Gospel. So, I called myself a Christian, but my functional theology didn’t match my formal theology. I attended Liberty University on a football scholarship. You’d think I had a radical experience with the Lord while on that mountain–but I didn’t. I don’t need every finger on both hands to count the number of times I attended church in my five years there. But, after graduation, when I moved back home to southeast Louisiana, God broke through the calloused condition of my heart and, by His grace, gave me the faith to trust in Jesus fully–as Lord and Savior.
Now, my relationship with the Lord is one of dependency and gratitude. Day after day, I am more and more amazed by the lengths Jesus went to endure the penalty for my sin and to secure my right standing before God. I am more convinced now than I ever have been that belief in and surrender to the Gospel of Jesus Christ is what’s necessary to allow the Holy Spirit to live Jesus’ life through me, moment by moment.
I spent 23 years of my life dragging the name of Jesus through the mud. It’s now my aim, in whatever time God graciously gives me, to exalt Jesus through my life and my lips.
How Did You Feel The Call To Ministry?
After a period in my life of running from God, He made it clear to me that He created me to bring Him glory by pointing people to Jesus. My favorite part of ministry is seeing people live out the Gospel in their everyday lives.
What About Forest Hill Has Resonated With You So Far?
Forest Hill is definitely a church that grabs my interest, and, the ministry description of the Lead Pastor of Mission does, as well.
Here are a few reasons why:
- Forest Hill’s commitment to biblical orthodoxy and the fact that this role will play a major part in continuing to faithfully preach/teach the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- I love the commitment to plurality and collaboration in the way the church is led and functions on a daily basis.
- I love FHC’s desire to be a church that develops the next generation for the advancement of the Gospel.
- The missional urgency and their desire to be a Gospel force outside the four walls of their buildings in Charlotte, the Carolinas, the USA, and beyond.
- My family and I love the Carolinas. We desire to plant our roots—to live and die—here while giving the people of the Carolinas the hope of Jesus. And Charlotte happens to be our favorite city in the Southeast.
EDUCATION
B.S. Mass Communications
Liberty University
Master of Divinity, Pastoral Leadership
Southwestern Seminary
Doctor of Ministry, Biblical Preaching
Anderson University
SERMON #1
SERMON #2
What Others Have To Say About Doc…
“From the very beginning of our search, we’ve asked God to lead us by his spirit to the person he wanted to help lead our church into the future. I’m excited that Doc is this person we’ve been praying for who can communicate and lead with truth, vibrancy, and authenticity.”
-Glenn McCorkle, Forest Hill Church Council Chair
“After a year of prayer and a Holy Spirit-led process, it was crystal clear to our selection committee that God was leading Doc and Sara Lynn to Forest Hill. In addition to his rock-solid education and proven success in ministry, Doc’s fire and love for Jesus make him the best candidate for our Lead Pastor of Mission. I’m so excited for you to meet Doc and Sara Lynn. I’m confident that when you meet them, you will also be assured that God brought them to Forest Hill.”
-Deidre Foster, Past Council Chair
“On behalf of the FHC Senior Leadership Team, we are unanimously and enthusiastically eager and excited to receive Doc as God’s choice in joining our team to help lead our church. We have the same excitement in welcoming Doc and his family into the fellowship of our church. We look forward with great hope to a bright future in dynamic partnership together for the Kingdom of God in Christ in greater Charlotte and beyond!”
-Jonathan Scott, Lead Pastor of Teaching
“Doc is a good shepherd by first walking with the Lord daily, he also understands the Word of God and can relate His truths to others very well. “
-Kevin Ensley, Former Vice President, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
“Doc has made wise decisions over the years and has also been a team player, collaborating with other staff. Doc is not afraid to stand up for what is right and what is going to bring biblical faithfulness, but he also shows strong leadership ability by also being humble. He is always quick to defer credit to others…”
-Bart Cook, Pastor and Colleague