Leadership comes in all forms and sizes, but the results are the same. Leaders influence behavior and make a difference in people’s lives. Profiling leaders reveals a diverse combination of traits, but changing lives is a common theme.

Leader Profile

Casey Cariker, Oklahoma

Churches are resilient to most anything except major transition. Transitions occur during such things as relocation, a move to multiple services, and changing pastors.

Rejoice Free Will Baptist Church in Owasso, Oklahoma, has faced all of the above in the last three years with grace, anticipation, and expectancy. Rejoice is a multi-location church with live preaching at each site. They operate a 700-student Christian school and average around 900 in worship each week. Casey and his wife Andrea know this is where God wants them to be.

Casey is the new lead pastor of Rejoice. He recently swapped roles with Leonard Pirtle. Leonard had been lead pastor of Rejoice for 38 years, and Casey was the associate pastor. Leonard’s work and foresight prepared the church for this transition several years before it was time. God was preparing Casey for the handoff as he began his ministry at Rejoice as the youth pastor and gradually earned more responsibility. Such a shift takes balanced and intentional leadership.

Casey served at Rejoice Church for 12 ½ years before receiving the baton. Following a pastor with tenure is tough enough, but certainly more so when his pastorate lasted 38 years. This speaks volumes about the church and leadership team. Casey’s approach aligns with the goal of

Rejoice to be traditionally progressive. They recognize who they were yesterday while asking God what He wants them to be tomorrow.

Casey quickly added, “Rejoice Church is a group of joyful people who take God’s Word seriously, but do not take themselves too seriously.” Casey and Andrea complement one another in ministry and love spending time with their kids, Candry, Lilah, and Chloe. Casey

Cariker you are a great leader!

More About Casey

What are you reading right now?

• Jesus and the Gospels by Craig L. Bloomberg
  

• Church Planting by Darrin Patrick

• Radical Faith by David Platt

• Long Night’s Journey by James E. White

Biggest Failure:

When I fail to remove distractions in order to focus on my family.

What are your top three books of all time?

• Spiritual Leadership by Oswald Sanders
  

• Total Truth by Nancy Piery
  

• A Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns

A statement that caught my attention while interviewing Casey:

“We are trying to teach our people that God’s call is first to Jesus then secondly for Jesus.”

Leadership Profile is a regular column sponsored by Randall House Publications that features a different Free Will Baptist pastor or leader in each issue.

Contact Danny Conn to nominate a leader.