The Rev. Jimmy Jackson took a chance when he moved to Alabama in June 1978 to become senior pastor of Whitesburg Baptist Church in Huntsville.
"They had gone 28 months without a pastor," he said. "They were going through so much strife. The church was having a hard time making its bills."
Four decades later, Jackson has turned it into one of the most prominent Southern Baptist churches in Alabama. He served as president of the Alabama Baptist Convention in 2009-2010, and has been a prominent leader in the Southern Baptist Convention.
Before taking over at Whitesburg, Jackson had been a successful pastor in Florida, at First Baptist in Key West and then at First Baptist Church of Merritt Island, where he followed legendary Pastor Adrian Rogers.
"That church had everything going," Jackson said. "It was twice the size of Whitesburg."
But Jackson, a native of Mississippi, knew he was needed in Alabama. "I believe God put me on this earth to be pastor of this church," he said. "I just felt I was called to be here."
Whitesburg took off under his leadership, going from weekly attendance of 600 to more than 2,000 now.
"God has done something," Jackson said. "We can't take any credit."
Jackson, 78, preached his last sermon as senior pastor of the 7,000-member Whitesburg Baptist congregation this past Sunday. On June 3, he'll get a big sendoff.
"We've invited a gazillion people," Jackson said. "We've got all kinds of presentations. It's going to be a big event."
Jackson will then take on the title of pastor emeritus.
"I'm not going anywhere," Jackson said. "I'm going to remain in Huntsville."
He plans to speak at conferences, fill in at other churches and offer advice to younger pastors.
"I can tell them a few things that don't work," Jackson said. "I can tell them a few things that do."
A pastor needs to be patient in leading a congregation, he said.
"If a general gets too far ahead of his army, they'll start shooting at him because they think he's the enemy," Jackson said. "Someone said I was going to ruin the church because I was asking them to do too much."
But Jackson has been willing to get out front at times, starting a Christian school that now has 500 students and an inner-city ministry that mentors disadvantaged youth.
"We are reaching across any kind of race line," Jackson said. "Everybody needs the Lord. Everybody needs help."
Churches need to direct resources where they are needed, he said.
"I saw some kids growing up without a father figure, unwed mothers who had no job skills," Jackson said. "We're teaching them how to get a job. That's what you do if you want to reach people. They're not going to have a chance if someone doesn't give them a chance."
He spearheaded construction of a 2,500-seat worship center.
By the time he steps down, all the church's debts should be paid off, he said.
"They won't have one red cent owing to anybody," Jackson said. "Looks like we're going to finish well."
He has also emphasized supporting foreign missions, such as an orphanage in Africa.
"I came here because I could reach more people that could make a difference," he said. "If I can pour the scripture into them, counsel them, you multiply yourself so many times. We want to help locally, but we're trying to help people who are in need everywhere."
Jackson and his wife, Bobbi, still felt they would return to Florida at some point.
But something changed dramatically in 1992.
Their oldest son, Randy, who was 30, was killed in a car wreck. He had an eight-month-old daughter, Rachel. She's now a nurse practitioner at UAB.
"My wife never wanted to leave Florida," Jackson said. "But when we got to the church (after Randy's death), it was packed. It felt like the whole church wrapped their arms around us, and they really cared."
From then on, they never thought of leaving.
"It's just such a blessing," Jackson said. "They were there for us when we needed help. We don't want to leave the family."
The four decades in Huntsville seemed to pass by in a flash, he said.
"You almost blink your eyes and it's gone," Jackson said. "I can't believe it's been 40 years."