Dear NFBC congregation,

Almost eight years ago this congregation asked me to become the Minister of Pastoral Care and bring a counseling presence to the congregation and the downtown community. In addition to the dreams of that becoming a reality, I was asked to provide a myriad of pastoral care responsibilities. I have met the hospital, mental health, hospice, benevolent, and crisis needs of the congregation and the downtown population, homelessness and the marginalized, and funeral needs on thousands of occasions. For the past several years I have been involved in many pastoral moments and have loved every opportunity to love, care, and encourage. I have tried to listen, offer presence, teach, absorb, mediate, respond, and maintain unity.

I love our new pastor and feel 100% confident that he can take us to new places as a congregation. He and I have laughed, planned together, discussed our dreams, shared our hearts, and cried together. He has listened to my stories, passions, dreams, and hopes, and desire to focus more on my counseling skills and gifts. I have informed our pastor that it is time for me to resign as the Minister of Pastoral Care. I do not plan on leaving the church. I want to help Thomas in these days of transition, and we have already begun those discussions. I will complete my work on this staff on June 14, 2024.

There is still much to do. I love this church and look forward to seeing us do God’s mission. Thanks for loving me and my family, for encouraging me on easy and hard days, for remaining faithful to God’s plan, and for hearing my stories and telling me yours. Nashville First Baptist… God’s church…this is our story.

Sincerely Thanks,
Tony Rankin MA, LSPE
Minister of Pastoral Care