Moriah Primitive Baptist Church

Madison County, Georgia

Our Pastor

The Painter Family - Front (L-R)  Lincoln, Emma, Reid - Back Row, Pastor Dolph, Deborah, Hope and Graham

            The Lord has truly blessed Moriah Church to have Elder Painter as our full time pastor and for him to  be living among us.  We are so thankful to have him and his family in the community and serving as a shepherd among the flock.   We pray that the Lord will continue to bless our church through his ministry.  

Pastor Dolph’s Pastoral Philosophy

Scripture likens a pastor to an ox.  The following are the physical qualities of an ox as described by the Smithsonian, “If it weren‘t for the ox, we wouldn‘t be where we are.”

·         The ox loves to work.  Compared to the flighty horse or stubborn mule, it trots easily to the yoke.

·         The ox will not give up.  It will drop to its knees, low, and then try again with renewed strength.

·         Oxen are trained to work.  The ox is “in training” for a quarter of its life.

·         Well trained oxen are directed with verbal commands and light touches.  The yoke is less complex than the harness. 

·         Oxen remembers its job all its life, whereas other beasts of burden need reminding.

·         The ox’s strength is steadiness and patience.  Oxen do well on rough terrain for they work with a slow and steady motion creating greater torque.

·         Oxen work mostly in pairs.  Only in poor areas do oxen work alone.  The nigh ox (more experienced) works on the right hand of the team master and directs the off ox.

·         Oxen come in all breeds.  In the show ring, training is everything relative to genetics.

·         Oxen do not reproduce themselves, but train others.  An ox is a castrated, male bovine (steer) over the age of four years.

·         Oxen are more economical than the horse or mule.  They eat less, are less susceptible to disease, and adapt easier to extreme temperatures.

·         The ox has tended to recede as our nation has become more urban.

The physical qualities of oxen are the spiritual qualities a church ought to expect from its minister.  The church which has a hard working, well trained, disciplined, self-less, strong ox for a pastor is a church which will increase - increase in numbers as well as experiencing growth in grace.

            Prov 14:4, 1Cor 9:9, 1Tim 5:18, Luke 14:19, Num 7:7-8, Is 1:3, 11:7, Ps 144:14

Brother Dolph’s Background

Ministerial Training

            Studied under Elder Edward Cagle at Union PB Church, Roswell, GA  -  1995 to 1999

            Ministered with Elder Devon Harris at Angier PB Church, Angier, NC  -  1999 to 2003

            Pastor at Moriah Primitive Baptist Church  -  2003 to present

Formal Education

            Bachelors from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI  -  Business, 1978

            Masters from Wayne State University, Detroit, MI  -  Finance, 1983

            Masters from Mercer University, Atlanta, GA  -  Education, 2001

Work Experience

            Investment Banker (with a national bank and a bond fund)  -  1978 to 2000

            Math Teacher (with a public middle school)  -  2000 to 2003

Family Experience

            Married in 1988, widowed in 1996, remarried in 1998

            Five children, I expect I’ll have teenagers in my home for the next two decades

            Moriah has been tremendously blessed under the stewardship of Elder Eddie Whidby over the past 28 years.  His study and passion for the Gospel are worthy of imitation.  We are all grateful for the service he has rendered to us at Moriah.  

This site created by Steve McCannon. This page last updated 10/08/2004