Pastor Robert Hodo stands next to the pulpit at Mt. Hope Baptist Church in Zebulon where he has preached for 40 years.
40 years in the pulpit
Pastor Robert Hodo has been preaching from the pulpit of Mt. Hope Baptist Church in Zebulon for 40 years but his love for sharing God’s word started long before.
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©The Pike County Journal Reporter/pikecountygeorgia.com: This information may not be reprinted, broadcast or distributed electronically in any form or fashion without express consent. For reprint permission, e-mail news@pikecountygeorgia.com.
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“When I was a lad, I found myself – when I would get home from school and lay my books down – crossing the fence and going into the woods to sing and pray and then go into what appeared to be preaching,” he said. “When my mom would leave the house, I’d lay out the Bible and go through the process of reading His Word and preaching just like my preacher did when I went to church as a young man. There were many sermons preached out in the woods, in the house or in the car because I had no other course.”
Pastor Hodo was licensed to preach Feb. 28, 1963 at age 24 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Thomaston under the pastorate of the late Benjamin Lockhart and ordained to preach July 16, 1966 at Shady Grove Baptist Church under the pastorate of the late Rev. C.H. Atwaters.
In 40 years of preaching, he’s only missed a couple Sunday services because of sickness.
“I was called here at Mt. Hope in February 1972. I was 33 years old when I came here,” he said. “I can best describe my calling to preach as a thirst or a hunger. Over the past 40 years being here, it has truly been rewarding as well as challenging.”
Members of the Mt. Hope congregation are appreciative for pastor Hodo’s decades of service.
“As I reflect over the 40 years under pastor Hodo’s leadership, I can truly say it has been a blessing to know someone with a caring and devoted spirit towards his congregation,” said Mt. Hope member Marvin Hollis. “Sister Gwendolyn has worked faithfully on our usher board since the early 1990s and she always been willing to do her part not only as the pastor’s wife, but as a servant of God. Mt. Hope is truly blessed to have these two humble and kind individuals leading our congregation.”
In addition to sharing a sermon each Sunday, Hodo helps church members during times of trials and loss. He preaches two Sundays a month at Mt. Hope Baptist, two Sundays a month at Macedonia Baptist in Roberta and one Sunday a month at Olive Grove Baptist in Crawford County.
“He’s always there for everyone,” said his wife Gwendolyn Hodo. “He’s constantly on the go. He’s on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
Mt. Hope Baptist’s church building has been expanded several times in the 40 years of his pastorate, enlarging the fellowship hall and Sunday school classroom areas.
“This is a friendly church and we welcome everyone to come share in our worship services,” he said. “Mt. Hope has an old style type of preaching. We have a God-fearing group of people and we’ve truly grown to love each other. We struggle to work together to glorify God as a band of baptized believers in Jesus Christ. Our main objective is sharing the message of salvation and reaching out to those who are less fortunate than ourselves.”
Pastor Hodo doesn’t see retirement in his future and he is not as bothered by the prospect as others seem to be.
“I’ve lived long enough to know worrying doesn’t change things,” he said. “Until the Lord show me I need to give up preaching, I’ll keep on sharing sermons and wait on him. The Lord has blessed us in a large way. We’ve made a lot of progress but there is still a lot of progress to be made. We can do all things through Christ which strengthens us. We have come a long way, yet we have a long way to go.”
©The Pike County Journal Reporter/pikecountygeorgia.com: This information may not be reprinted, broadcast or distributed electronically in any form or fashion without express consent. For reprint permission, e-mail news@pikecountygeorgia.com.
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“When I was a lad, I found myself – when I would get home from school and lay my books down – crossing the fence and going into the woods to sing and pray and then go into what appeared to be preaching,” he said. “When my mom would leave the house, I’d lay out the Bible and go through the process of reading His Word and preaching just like my preacher did when I went to church as a young man. There were many sermons preached out in the woods, in the house or in the car because I had no other course.”
Pastor Hodo was licensed to preach Feb. 28, 1963 at age 24 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Thomaston under the pastorate of the late Benjamin Lockhart and ordained to preach July 16, 1966 at Shady Grove Baptist Church under the pastorate of the late Rev. C.H. Atwaters.
In 40 years of preaching, he’s only missed a couple Sunday services because of sickness.
“I was called here at Mt. Hope in February 1972. I was 33 years old when I came here,” he said. “I can best describe my calling to preach as a thirst or a hunger. Over the past 40 years being here, it has truly been rewarding as well as challenging.”
Members of the Mt. Hope congregation are appreciative for pastor Hodo’s decades of service.
“As I reflect over the 40 years under pastor Hodo’s leadership, I can truly say it has been a blessing to know someone with a caring and devoted spirit towards his congregation,” said Mt. Hope member Marvin Hollis. “Sister Gwendolyn has worked faithfully on our usher board since the early 1990s and she always been willing to do her part not only as the pastor’s wife, but as a servant of God. Mt. Hope is truly blessed to have these two humble and kind individuals leading our congregation.”
In addition to sharing a sermon each Sunday, Hodo helps church members during times of trials and loss. He preaches two Sundays a month at Mt. Hope Baptist, two Sundays a month at Macedonia Baptist in Roberta and one Sunday a month at Olive Grove Baptist in Crawford County.
“He’s always there for everyone,” said his wife Gwendolyn Hodo. “He’s constantly on the go. He’s on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
Mt. Hope Baptist’s church building has been expanded several times in the 40 years of his pastorate, enlarging the fellowship hall and Sunday school classroom areas.
“This is a friendly church and we welcome everyone to come share in our worship services,” he said. “Mt. Hope has an old style type of preaching. We have a God-fearing group of people and we’ve truly grown to love each other. We struggle to work together to glorify God as a band of baptized believers in Jesus Christ. Our main objective is sharing the message of salvation and reaching out to those who are less fortunate than ourselves.”
Pastor Hodo doesn’t see retirement in his future and he is not as bothered by the prospect as others seem to be.
“I’ve lived long enough to know worrying doesn’t change things,” he said. “Until the Lord show me I need to give up preaching, I’ll keep on sharing sermons and wait on him. The Lord has blessed us in a large way. We’ve made a lot of progress but there is still a lot of progress to be made. We can do all things through Christ which strengthens us. We have come a long way, yet we have a long way to go.”
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