Getting To Know Our Convention Ministry Leaders & Staff: Dr. Dustin Bannister, Church Planting & Renewal

What inspired you to join or lead this ministry, and how has your journey in faith shaped your leadership?

Since childhood, I have found myself in the care and guardianship of the Original Free Will Baptist community. It was this very community that helped me to first hear that small voice that called me towards vocational ministry and that same community that encouraged it along the way. However, that journey has not always been as clear or transparent as the 19-year-old Dustin may have anticipated.

I have been given the opportunity to lead in congregations where we can truly see trust in God’s providence unfold in the lives of those Christ-followers. I have served on boards and ministries that seek to support that ongoing congregational work. And I have been fortunate to work alongside ministries whose purpose and call is to see Christian formation be more than just a once-a-week experience.

I have served with some of the best leaders in these vocational spaces, and have received more gracious trust and faith than I will ever see myself deserving of. Because of these spaces and individuals, I constantly sought, and continue to seek, to expand my skills for whatever God might be calling me towards. Which, for the foreseeable moments, is the amazing opportunity to help walk alongside our denomination as we seek to help establish healthy Kingdom-edifying churches while also working with those well-established worship spaces to begin to dream of where and how God might use them for His glory and the sake of His Kingdom.  

What’s one scripture that has been a guiding principle for you in your ministry work? Why is it so significant to you?

For me, the story of Elijah the prophet has come to represent God’s guidance and provision in my own call. This story, which has many ups-and-downs, is one where God never gives up on the called—even when the “called” (himself) seeks to simply quit and die. In particular, 1st Kings 19 helps to show a first things—the called can feel the weight of ministry; sometimes, we cannot help the perspective others take of us; rest is important, and so is clarity for proper discernment; we are never alone, even when we feel isolated and lonely; and God reserves the right to steer our calls in ways that we have yet to discover!

What is the most rewarding aspect of your ministry, and what keeps you motivated on difficult days? 

Ministry, in my experience, comes with all sorts of positive and not-so-positive experiences. Sometimes, these experiences require a moment of time and self-evaluation and discernment, and the wisdom and perspective of others. For me, the most rewarding part of ministry is knowing that I am not alone, and that there is a great cloud of witnesses (here and beyond) that stand alongside me and the call that God has placed in my life. It is this community that I lean into when moments are hard, and the motivation is low; and it is this community that helps me see with new eyes and hear with new ears.

What do you see as the biggest challenge facing your ministry today, and how are you addressing it? 

Coming into a new ministry space (by default) is challenging. There are administrative and daily tasks that need tending to, as well as larger cogs moving whose genesis was long before I was considered for this position. In these, lies the challenge of getting caught up, and creating a routine and pattern that will allow them to be addressed as often as needed.

However, outside of these tasks, the greatest challenge is going to be the establishment and building of trust. Trust, as Stephen Covey would say, is something that we cannot take for granted, or treat lightly when gained. We (and I) at Church Planting and Renewal are not experts, but we do have insight and opportunity to help in ways that, we believe, will see healthy growth for the OFWB community. But before we can offer this, we must first establish that trust!

How does your organization uniquely live out the mission and values of the Original Free Will Baptist Denomination?

Admittedly, I cannot find a clearly defined mission or values statement for the Denomination (please forgive me and direct me if you know of one!), but I will answer how I perceive our ministry will live out a call to be a part of this faith tradition.

From what I have heard and seen of the Church Planting and Renewal ministry, we are uniquely positioned to help cast a vision for the future. The future is walking alongside centuries-old congregations and soon-to-be established ones as they seek to discern how God is calling them to be the church now. With the already established foci, and the foci that our board believes God will help us to see, we look to be used to sure up established paths, help make new ones, and to dream in ways that bring glory to our Creator and Savior, Jesus Christ.

If you could spend one hour with any biblical figure (other than Jesus), who would it be and why? 

Without a doubt, Elijah. Not because of the wonders or miraculous things but because of the moment(s) in which he was hurt and wanted to give up. I just want to hear how God continued to be present in his life and ministry despite what felt like failure and disappointment. 

What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone feeling called to ministry? 

Look for the women and men who have also seen your call—they will be the community that affirms and helps guide you through a lifetime of experiences, growth, failure, and doubt. In short, ministry is hard, but it does not have to be lonely or isolated.

Can you share a story about someone whose life has been transformed through your ministry’s work? 

Nearly four years ago, I helped to establish a ministry whose purpose was to help clergy grow in professional and interpersonal ways. During my time with this ministry, known as The Mantle Bearers Project, more than 50 clergypersons from around eastern North Carolina were able experience greater satisfaction in their call, simply because they knew they were not alone.

Specifically, there was a ministry leader who participated, a person who was in dozens of churches, and even more ministers who graciously thanked me countless times for the chance to experience this ministry. This minister, a leader among the called, had realized the need for community and support in nonjudgmental and hopeful ways—especially outside of his own faith tradition.

If you could dream big, what’s your vision for the future of your ministry in the next 5–10 years?

As I dream, I dream of listening well to the stakeholders, with whom God undoubtedly will help see this ministry’s mission and vision. My goal in the first year is to be available in spaces where I can listen deeply, share honestly, and then (with the board) identify the mission and cast vision for the coming decade.

If you had a theme song for your life (or ministry), what would it be, and why? 

As a teenager in the early 2000s, I grew up listening to what was dubbed “alternative Christian music.” This music, for whatever reason, resonated with me deeply as I sought to first understand my call to be follower of Christ, and later to be a leader in Christian ministry. So, the song that keeps coming back to my head is by Seventh Day Slumber, and it’s called Oceans from the Rain. Give it a listen.

What’s one thing about you that might surprise people—any hidden talents or quirky hobbies? 

So, it is no surprise that I enjoy working out and jogging—most people know that much about me! But, a quirky, and possibly surprising thing that not all people know is that I collect (buy, trade, and sell) Pokémon cards. This was something that, as a preteen and teenage, I enjoyed, and something that I have found enjoyment in with my own three kids now!

If you could only eat one church potluck dish for the rest of your life, what would it be? Macaroni and Cheese—there is no second place!

How can people reach out to you regarding the ministry you represent? How can they find out more about what you offer?

I am available by email or phone: 919.922.4095 or drb1691@gmail.com. I do go to bed about 8:30, but I will gladly call back when I wake up at 4:00 am!

We will be looking to add web and social media presences soon—and we would like to do that well. So be on the lookout for those as they come in the near future!