Adam Berry
Lead Planter / Pastor
Adam was raised in Mathiston, MS, about 25 miles west of Starkville. His wife, Sarah, was raised in Mantee, MS. Adam and Sarah met at Mathiston First Baptist Church in high school and were married in 2004 (20 years). Adam and Sarah both graduated from Mississippi State University in 2003 (Sarah) and 2004 (Adam). Adam continues to pursue further study at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. They have 3 children: Kaylee (18), Bo (15), and Abel (9). Adam has been in Pastoral Ministry since 2013. Prior to this time, Adam served in local Churches in various roles, including as an interim in youth ministry. Adam’s ministry experience has been primarily in a bivocational role. Adam spent 13 years at Mississippi State University under the division of Student Affairs. Adam’s primary role was to work with students and staff in event planning and management. These 13 years gave Adam extensive institutional knowledge and experience in working in a college town. This also instilled in Adam a heart for the University, the town of Starkville, and the lostness that he encountered. Adam has spent the last 3 years as an Instructor at the Choctaw Career and Technology Center in Ackerman, MS. Each of these experiences has granted Adam opportunities to serve the Lord but has also prepared Adam for this new opportunity to plant in Starkville. Adam has a passion for teaching God’s Word and longs to see disciples made and equipped who, in turn, also make disciples. Sarah is a gifted disciple-maker and is excited for the prospect of serving as a missionary to Starkville. Their family is eager for the future and longs to see God do tremendous things in this Church plant.
Partnerships & Oversight
Sending Church
Longview Point Baptist Church
Hernando, MS
longviewpoint.org
Affiliated With
The Southern Baptist Convention
sbc.net
242 Network
242network.com
Mississippi Baptist Convention
mbcb.org
Core Values
Proclamation
We believe the Bible to be the infallible, all sufficient word of God and that it equips believers for “every good work” (2 Tim. 3:17). Therefore, we value the expositional preaching of the Bible, within its proper historical grammatical context with the point of message being the point of the biblical text as it was intended to its original audience.
Worship
We believe that humanity, as the pinnacle of God’s work of creation, exists for the glory of God. Therefore, we value corporate and individual worship. We seek to do this as we collectively assemble through singing, preaching, prayer, and fellowship, centering our activities on God’s Word. We further aim to worship individually in the regular routines that incorporate all of life.
Community
We believe that the Christian life is not to be lived in isolation. Therefore, we value living life in a faith-family with deeply committed community and fellowship. We aspire to live hospitably, bearing one another’s burdens with long-suffering friendship, service, and love.
Discipleship
We believe that the great mission of the Church is to make disciples. Therefore, we value Jesus’ command to make disciples. We endeavor to be a Church that maintains an outward focus, always seeking through a host of means to see the multiplication of Christ followers.
Missions
We believe that in the great commission, Jesus commands His followers to take the Gospel to “ends of the earth” (Matt.28:19). Therefore, we value missions both locally and abroad. We aim through prayer, giving, sending, serving, and going to fully engage in missions. We further seek to look beyond these seemingly normal opportunities for other avenues of missional engagement in all spheres of life.
Church Health
We believe that a great portion of the Bible addresses Church health and gives correctives to ensure that it is maintained. Therefore, we value the health of local Churches. We aspire to be a healthy Church that, in turn, plants and supports other healthy Churches. We further intend to strategically partner with other Churches for the overall health of Christians both locally and abroad.
Family
Though the institution of family is distinct from the Church, we believe the Bible emphasizes importance of family. We further believe that the Bible gives structure to the family that is not only for the good of the family but has Gospel implications. Therefore, we value Biblical family. We seek to promote, support, and preserve the importance of the Christian family.
Strategy
Gathering and Going to Worship & Proclaim Jesus
mobilize
We will train people to connect with family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors in the normal rhythms of life to the life changing power of the Gospel of Christ.
invite
We will invite people into our homes for parties, dinner, coffee, etc. to build relationships that foster Gospel opportunities.
serve
We will serve as the hands and feet of Christ by: meeting needs in our community, being involved in civic-wide events, partnering with schools and other organizations, and aiding in other community-based projects that afford Gospel-sharing opportunities.
partner
Through planting Churches, being involved in Church revitalization, and equipping and mobilizing leaders, we hope to partner with sister Churches in serving alongside us as we go to the lost with the Gospel.
