Brandon Patterson Reflects on His Time as President Carter’s Pastor
- Maina Mwaura CrosswalkHeadlines Contributor
- Published Dec 30, 2024
Brandon Patterson was a young seminary student when he received a call from Former President Jimmy Carter to serve as pastor at the Maranatha Baptist Church. Patterson can still remember, as a freshman in college, praying, "Lord, one day, let me speak in front of kings."
In 2017, God answered that prayer. In an exclusive interview with Crosswalk, Patterson reflects on his time as the late President's Former Pastor.
Crosswalk Headlines: President Carter called you personally to welcome you to the church. What was the conversation like?
Brandon Patterson: It was surreal. One Sunday afternoon, he and Mrs. Rosalynn invited me to their house for lunch. During this meal, they asked me to pastor the church. The conversation, however, was interrupted by the leader of a foreign country calling President Carter to ask for his advice. The Carters did all they could to make me feel important. I respect all they did throughout their life. But more than that, I love who they were as people. They were loving and kind, and the world is better because they lived in it.
CWH: What type of legacy does President Carter leave behind in your life?
BP: President Carter's life shows that following God is a practice of obedience. So often, people choose the easy path when it comes to following Jesus. But following Jesus should never be easy. Following Jesus means giving up your life for the One who gave His life for you. Until the day President Carter died, he spent every ounce of energy he had serving Jesus. His life is an example of what it means to follow Jesus. It is more than going to church. Following Jesus means living a life of sacrifice.
CWH: What ministries was President Carter involved in in the church?
BP: President Carter often said that he only had one life to live and wanted to serve Jesus with every second of it. Therefore, he was involved in every ministry the church had. He was a deacon, assisted with the food ministry, went to visit people who were sick, taught Sunday School, and helped in every way possible.
CWH: What personal story of President Carter stands out to you?
BP: I wish I had more time to talk about the stories I have of President Carter. If I had to choose one, it would be his constant dependence on prayer. When Mrs. Rosalynn was sick, he stayed up all night praying for her. Also, he often told me that he prayed more while in the White House than at any point in his life. President Carter fully trusted God. And he was constantly praying for miracles, and he had a hopeful expectation that God would move in his life.
CWH: How did the members of Maranatha Baptist Church respond to President Carter?
BP: While in Plains, the Carters wanted to be treated like every other person. They did not want to be treated as a celebrity or world leader. They wanted to be treated like a friend, and everyone honored that request. President Carter was deeply loved by everyone because he would do anything for anyone. If you asked him for help, he would move Heaven and Earth to assist you. If there was an unexpected funeral, he would change his schedule to attend the service. He would do anything for people, and we all loved him for that.
CWH: Was the relationship between Mrs. Carter and Former President Carter as genuine/authentic as it looked?
BP: It was more genuine than it looked. They spent almost every moment of their lives together. They traveled together, volunteered with each other at Habitat for Humanity, and attended nearly every event as a couple. Despite all of their time together, they were still as in love as the day they met. I dare say they fell more and more in love as each year passed. Every Sunday at church, I would look over and see the Carters holding hands. They had a deep love and respect for each other.
CWH: How did President Carter influence you as a Pastor?
BP: More than anything, he was an encouragement. I was in my early 20s when I was his pastor. It was my first full-time position at a church. I had no idea what I was doing, and I made many mistakes. He and Mrs. Rosalynn always believed in me, encouraged me, and prayed for me. Without them, I might not be in ministry today. I will forever be grateful for their support and inspiration.
CWH: What was your last conversation with President Carter like?
BP: In typical President Carter fashion, he wanted to know what he could do to help me. President Carter had a servant's heart and wanted to help everyone. During our last conversation, he and Mrs. Rosalynn told me they were rooting for me in my future endeavors, wished there was more they could do for me, and said they would always be there for me if I needed anything.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Hulton Archive/Staff
