Tupelo Pastor Retires After 21 Years At The Pulpit

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) — One of the largest churches in our area said goodbye to its pastor Sunday after he spent more than two decades at the pulpit.

Dr. Forrest Sheffield retired from Harrisburg Baptist Church and today the congregation held a special two hour service in his honor.

He came to Tupelo in 1994 and during his 21 years of ministry helped his congregation grow and move into its current building on Cliff Gookin Boulevard. He will stay in the area and continue to be active in ministry.

With his retirement the church bestowed Sheffield the title of Pastor Emeritus.

At a reception Sunday afternoon he thanked church members for their support and said he was overwhelmed by their sendoff.

“I have been here 21 years glorious years and the church has honored me today in an unsurpassed kind of way for which I will ever be grateful,” Sheffield said. “It’s the greatest church in the whole world as far as I’m concerned. Thank you for letting me be here Harrisburg Baptist Church.”

The Church which broadcasts its services at noon every Sunday on our sister station My Mississippi, will be using an interim pastor until a permanent full time pastor can be called.

A special search committee has been set up for that purpose. Harrisburg has been in Tupelo since 1933 and is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.