Keep Preaching: Rev. Connie Baltzell Jr. and First Lady Debra Baltzell celebrate 20 years of service

On Sunday, April 12, the pews of Saint James Missionary Baptist Church filled with more than just congregants. Family, friends, fellow clergy, and community members gathered to celebrate 20 years of pastoral leadership from Rev. Connie L. Baltzell Jr. and First Lady Deborah Baltzell. The occasion reflected a life poured into ministry, community, and calling. And fittingly, the message delivered by Rev. Dr. Adrian M. Brooks Sr., was not simply about looking back. It was a charge to keep going.

A native of Evansville, Rev. Baltzell’s journey into ministry began decades ago, when he was licensed to preach in 1984 and later ordained in 1993. With more than 40 years in ministry and over 30 years of pastoral leadership, his work has extended far beyond the pulpit. Since becoming pastor of Saint James Missionary Baptist Church in 2006, Baltzell has led the congregation through seasons of growth while maintaining a deep commitment to compassion, accessibility, and faith. But his leadership has never been confined to the church walls.

From serving as president of the NAACP Evansville Branch to mentoring young men, supporting seniors, and investing in youth development, Baltzell’s ministry reflects a belief that faith without works is dead. That same commitment showed up in his professional life, where he spent more than thirty years working at CenterPoint Energy before retiring in 2015-demonstrating a legacy of vocation and ministry.

In his anniversary message, Rev. Brooks didn’t just speak as a guest preacher, he spoke as a friend who has witnessed Baltzell’s hunger to grow in faith, knowledge, and stature. He shared stories about the long road trips they’d take with limited budgets-to hear renowned pastors like Rev. Gardner C. Taylor, sometimes driving through the night because they couldn’t afford a hotel. “We never used our budgets as an excuse not to expose ourselves to the best,” Brooks said. Those moments were not about travel, but discipline, sacrifice, and a commitment to being their best, so they could give their best in every place and position in which they were called to serve.

Any reflection on Rev. Baltzell’s journey is incomplete without acknowledging First Lady Deborah Baltzell. Married for thirty-eight years, she has been a steady presence not behind, but beside him. “She enhances this ministry,” Brooks said, recognizing the quiet strength required to hold the family and home together when ministry calls. Together, they raised six children: Katina Dozier, Alethea Hunter-Harris, Elizabeth Maddox-Garrett, Andrew Rogers, Connie L. Baltzell III (Tre), and Genevieve Baltzell-Madden. “They didn’t send you to church, they brought you to church,” Brooks noted, pointing to a legacy of faith that continues through generations.

Brooks’ message, grounded in scripture centered on a simple truth: Jesus came preaching.  Drawing from Mark 1:14–15, the sermon emphasized that preaching is not optional, it is essential. It is both proclamation and responsibility, especially in times marked by injustice, uncertainty, and shifting values. Again and again, Brooks emphasized, “Keep preaching. Not because it is easy. Not because it is always received. But because it is necessary.”  The message was testimony that mirrored Baltzell’s own life. “We are not called to be successful in the world’s sight; we are called to be faithful.”

Rev. Baltzell’s 20 years of pastoral leadership are not defined by a single moment, but by his consistency showing up, serving, leading, and believing. In this world, success is often measured by accomplishments and accolades, but it is his faithfulness that will be remembered. The call to “keep preaching” signals that this milestone is not an ending, but the continuation of an assignment to share the gospel.