Introduction
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As a Christ-Follower, I must continually cultivate the personal love relationship Jesus Christ initiated with me.
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As a husband, I am thankful for, deeply committed to, and madly in love with my beautiful bride, Crystal.
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As a father, I love being daddy to my two adorable daughters: Abigail and Elizabeth. I have a strong conviction to raise them in the love and teachings of Jesus Christ.
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As a pastor, I feel a great burden to shepherd and equip the saints to live a life that pleases God and brings Him great glory.
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As an entrepreneur, I seek to have an impact upon the Church and culture by operating a God-honoring business that helps to support my family. While I am not making tents, I am creating products that fulfill my needs at zealoushomes.com and zealouschristian.com
Who I Am
Favorite Quotes
“The ultimate end of our pastoral oversight must be linked with the ultimate purpose of our lives. This is to please and to glorify God. It is also to see the sanctification and holy obedience of the people under our charge. To nurture our people’s unity, order, beauty, strength, preservation, and increase must be our task. It is the right worshipping of God”
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” - John 10:27-30
"And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ." - Ephesians 4:11-13
Expertise
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Approachability/Relatability: Approachability is about being accessible, consciously breaking down perceived barriers, having appropriate body language, and using the right verbal communication and listening skills. Relatability is about connection. How well you connect with different people on a level of empathy and relation. Being approachable and relatable is key to building relationships and creating a strong team in which trust, confidence, and ideas can flow. I have long been told that I have the gift of being able to approach and relate to almost anyone. I would like to think that this is one of my greatest traits.
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Communication: As a pastor, it is imperative to be gifted in communication. This does not speak of eloquence or charisma, but mainly of the ability to present an argument or idea in an understandable fashion. Communication can be non-verbal, verbal, or written. I believe I am gifted in communicating well at each of these levels.
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Teamwork: Every church needs a team of individuals to function in unity if it is going to make an impact for the Kingdom. I believe another strong skill that defines me is that I am a person who works well in a strong team environment. It is easy to be a lone ranger, but a team takes work. In the end, the strong team will always accomplish more than the greatest lone ranger.
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Learner
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Intellection
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Responsibility
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Input
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Achiever
Skills
- Approachability - 95%
- Teamwork - 90%
- Mentoring - 85%
- Communication - 90%
- Leadership - 90%
- Administration - 85%
Professional Experience
Founder / Owner
ZealousHomes, LLC - September 2022 -
- Founded a Christian-based business that provides spiritual growth resources for individuals and families. Our goal is to ignite a stunning zeal for our followers’ sensational journey.
- We write, edit, and publish articles and resources to encourage a passionate zeal in following after Christ personally and at home.
- We offer a podcast to motivate and train Christians for the journey ahead.
- We have recently added an online store to provide Christian gifts and apparel designed to help proclaim Christ and shine His light into our culture.
- You can learn more at zealoushomes.com and zealouschristian.com.
Lead Pastor / Church Planter
Zealous Church - June 2022 -
- Planted and pastor a small, yet active church for the glory of God.
- Oversee weekly gatherings where fellowship around the Word is central to all we do.
- Provide pastoral care and administration.
Lead Pastor
Ephesus Baptist Church, Spring Hope, NC - August 2018 - March 2022
- Served as the Lead Pastor in a Church Revitalization Process.
- Saw positive growth as the average attendance grew from approximately 25-30 to 60+ souls every Sunday prior to Covid Pandemic.
- Oversaw a staff that included a volunteer secretary, the music director, and a ministry intern.
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Preached in all weekly services, lead ministry to children and youth, performed baptisms, administered the Lord’s Supper, and conducted funerals and weddings.
High School Science Teacher
New Life Christian Academy, Rocky Mount, NC - July 2017 - January 2018
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Courses Taught: Advanced Microsoft, Bible Doctrine, Biology, Chemistry, General Science, Physics, and Physical Education.
Transitional Pastor
Cornerstone Baptist Church, Spring Hope, NC - August 2015 - August 2017
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To provide oversight and guidance as the congregation moves toward healing, revitalization, and renewal among the church and community.
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To preach weekly services, lead ministry to children and youth, perform baptisms, administer the Lord’s Supper, and conduct funerals and weddings.
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Had the privilege to lead four youth to know and confess Jesus Christ as Lord.
Temporary Interim Pastor
Macedonia Baptist Church, Spring Hope, NC - October 2013 - October 2013
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Preached biblical sermons during the congregation’s transition to a permanent interim minister.
Part-time Keyholder
LifeWay Christian Stores, Rocky Mount, NC - March 2012 - February 2015
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Part of the store management team.
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Responsible for counting, recovering, and delivering bank deposits.
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Assisted shoppers in finding resources for their spiritual growth.
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Handled all shipping and receiving duties for our store.
Church Planting Internship
Wilson Community Church, Wilson, NC - September 2012 - July 2013
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Attended the weekly staff meeting where the church leaders evaluated past ministry and planned for future ministry endeavors
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Taught a 10 week class on evangelism using “The Story” curriculum.
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Co-taught the monthly “Connect 101” new members class.
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Led a small group that allowed me the opportunity to baptize four new believers.
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Received a firsthand look at how a successful church plant functions.
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Church Website: www.wccnc.org
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Sermon Preached at Wilson Community Church
Senior Pastor
Poovey's Grove Baptist Church, Granite Falls, NC - November 2010 - January 2012
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Preached expository sermons during our two Sunday Services.
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Facilitated prayer meetings on Wednesday evenings.
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Provided oversight to the weekly visitation ministry.
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Performed frequent visitation of healthy, hospitalized, and shut-in church members as well as the friends and family of church members..
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Met the churches needs through Pastoral Counseling, Administration, Ordinances, Funerals, Weddings, and other day to day functions of pastoral ministry in the life of the church.
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Church Website: www.pooveysgrove.org
Part-time Youth Minister
Benvenue Baptist Church, Rocky Mount, NC - March 2008 - January 2009
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Organized and led all youth activities with a gospel centered mindset.
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Assisted the pastor in the worship service.
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Assisted the pastor in leading the weekly visitation program: G.R.O.W.
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Youth ministry grew from one student to fourteen students in a period of approximately six months.
NRBA Youth Director
North Roanoke Baptist Association, Dortches, NC - September 2007 - August 2009
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Coordinated with Associational youth ministers to encourage, support, and enhance their ministry to students.
Full-time Minister of Students
Edgemont Baptist Church, Rocky Mount, NC - July 2007 - January 2008
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Organized and led children, youth, and college/career departments.
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Provided oversight to the various weekly programs available to children, youth, and college/career students.
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Assisted the pastor in leading a local weeklong mission project.
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Organized multiple children and youth trips and activities.
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Assisted Englewood Baptist Church in bringing Josh McDowell to lead a youth outreach event, by serving on their planning team.
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Assisted the pastor in carrying out his ministry duties when needed.
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Preached to the entire congregation at least once a month.
Part-time Keyholder
LifeWay Christian Stores, Rocky Mount, NC - November 2005 - June 2007
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Part of the store management team.
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Responsible for counting, recovering, and delivering bank deposits.
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Assisted shoppers in finding resources for their spiritual growth.
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Handled all shipping and receiving duties for our store.
Education History
Master of Divinity in Christian Ministry with Biblical Languages
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary - January 2005 - May 2010
Bachelors of Science in Biological Sciences
North Carolina State University - January 1998 - May 2001
Bachelors of Science in Botany
North Carolina State University - January 1998 - May 2001
Certifications
Certified NC Church Planter
North Carolina Baptist Convention and NAMB - November 2012
Certified Transitional Pastor
South Carolina Baptist Convention and LifeWay - October 2014
Pursuing SYMBIS Facilitator Certification
SYMBIS | Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott - December 2023
In the process of gaining this pre-marriage and marriage counseling certification. Should be completed by the end of the 2023.
Pursuing PREPARE/ENRICH Marriage Counseling Certification
PREPARE/ENRICH - December 2023
In the process of completing training to gain PREPARE/ENRICH pre-marriage and marriage counseling certification. Completion should occur by the end of December 2023.
Recommendations
Larry Curtis
Associate Pastor, First Baptist Church, Rocky Mount, NC
"Wayne Sullivan is one of the brightest young expositional preachers of our day. He is not only a visionary leader, but also has a pastor’s heart, and he is a man of prayer. His dedication to the Lord and His Word is evident in his faithfulness to God’s call upon him to pastor a church as well as his exemplary devotion to his wife and children. I cannot say enough about Wayne’s gifting as a pastor."
Danny Henderson
Former Store Manager, LifeWay Christian Stores, Rocky Mount, NC
"I have known Wayne Sullivan for years, and had the distinct privilege of working with him on two separate occasions. He is an outstanding young man and an exceptional preacher. His ability to interpret scripture and defend the Word of God have always impressed me as a fellow believer. Having had the experience of working in a retail environment with Wayne, I can also attest to his strong work ethic and attention to detail. I believe any company, church, or other organization would be greatly enhanced by his involvement and blessed by his deep devotion to his faith."
Mark Qualls
Missionary to South Africa and Former Store Manager, LifeWay Christian Stores, Rocky Mount, NC
Wayne Sullivan and I have known each other for about 20 years. We both worked at LifeWay Christian stores and he was a wonderful mentor and leader to the staff and truly valuable to LifeWay. Over the years, I have seen him grow immensely and I greatly respect his character. Wayne is willing to stand against unbiblical or unethical teaching and behavior backed by sound biblical theology even when it may cause him personal harm. He has shown great initiative with the development of an online community (Zealous Church) and merchandise store. It is exciting to see the new offerings and ideas he presents through this medium. These are all important elements of his character and personality, but by far I appreciate his love and compassion for others. He has shown great love for my family through prayer and encouragement while we have served overseas. He genuinely loves the people he leads and consistently shows a concern for their well-being.
Skills
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Approachability
95%
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Teamwork
90%
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Mentoring
85%
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Communication
90%
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Leadership
90%
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Administration
85%
Download Resume
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I Affirm the Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
The Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.
In December, 1987, the newly-formed Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood met in Danvers, Massachusetts, to compose the Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Prior to the listing of the actual affirmations that comprise the Danvers Statement, we have included a section detailing contemporary developments that serve as the rationale for these affirmations. We offer this statement to the evangelical world, knowing that it will stimulate healthy discussion, hoping that it will gain widespread assent.
Rationale
We have been moved in our purpose by the following contemporary developments which we observe with deep concern:
- The widespread uncertainty and confusion in our culture regarding the complementary differences between masculinity and femininity;
- the tragic effects of this confusion in unraveling the fabric of marriage woven by God out of the beautiful and diverse strands of manhood and womanhood;
- the increasing promotion given to feminist egalitarianism with accompanying distortions or neglect of the glad harmony portrayed in Scripture between the loving, humble leadership of redeemed husbands and the intelligent, willing support of that leadership by redeemed wives;
- the widespread ambivalence regarding the values of motherhood, vocational homemaking, and the many ministries historically performed by women;
- the growing claims of legitimacy for sexual relationships which have Biblically and historically been considered illicit or perverse, and the increase in pornographic portrayal of human sexuality;
- the upsurge of physical and emotional abuse in the family;
- the emergence of roles for men and women in church leadership that do not conform to Biblical teaching but backfire in the crippling of Biblically faithful witness;
- the increasing prevalence and acceptance of hermeneutical oddities devised to reinterpret apparently plain meanings of Biblical texts;
- the consequent threat to Biblical authority as the clarity of Scripture is jeopardized and the accessibility of its meaning to ordinary people is withdrawn into the restricted realm of technical ingenuity;
- and behind all this the apparent accommodation of some within the church to the spirit of the age at the expense of winsome, radical Biblical authenticity which in the power of the Holy Spirit may reform rather than reflect our ailing culture.
Affirmations
Based on our understanding of Biblical teachings, we affirm the following:
- Both Adam and Eve were created in God’s image, equal before God as persons and distinct in their manhood and womanhood (Gen 1:26-27, 2:18).
- Distinctions in masculine and feminine roles are ordained by God as part of the created order, and should find an echo in every human heart (Gen 2:18, 21-24; 1 Cor 11:7-9; 1 Tim 2:12-14).
- Adam’s headship in marriage was established by God before the Fall, and was not a result of sin (Gen 2:16-18, 21-24, 3:1-13; 1 Cor 11:7-9).
- The Fall introduced distortions into the relationships between men and women (Gen 3:1-7, 12, 16).
- In the home, the husband’s loving, humble headship tends to be replaced by domination or passivity; the wife’s intelligent, willing submission tends to be replaced by usurpation or servility.
- In the church, sin inclines men toward a worldly love of power or an abdication of spiritual responsibility, and inclines women to resist limitations on their roles or to neglect the use of their gifts in appropriate ministries.
- The Old Testament, as well as the New Testament, manifests the equally high value and dignity which God attached to the roles of both men and women (Gen 1:26-27, 2:18; Gal 3:28). Both Old and New Testaments also affirm the principle of male headship in the family and in the covenant community (Gen 2:18; Eph 5:21-33; Col 3:18-19; 1 Tim 2:11-15).
- Redemption in Christ aims at removing the distortions introduced by the curse.
- In the family, husbands should forsake harsh or selfish leadership and grow in love and care for their wives; wives should forsake resistance to their husbands’ authority and grow in willing, joyful submission to their husbands’ leadership (Eph 5:21-33; Col 3:18-19; Tit 2:3-5; 1 Pet 3:1-7).
- In the church, redemption in Christ gives men and women an equal share in the blessings of salvation; nevertheless, some governing and teaching roles within the church are restricted to men (Gal 3:28; 1 Cor 11:2-16; 1 Tim 2:11-15).
- In all of life Christ is the supreme authority and guide for men and women, so that no earthly submission-domestic, religious, or civil-ever implies a mandate to follow a human authority into sin (Dan 3:10-18; Acts 4:19-20, 5:27-29; 1 Pet 3:1-2).
- In both men and women a heartfelt sense of call to ministry should never be used to set aside Biblical criteria for particular ministries (1 Tim 2:11-15, 3:1-13; Tit 1:5-9). Rather, Biblical teaching should remain the authority for testing our subjective discernment of God’s will.
- With half the world’s population outside the reach of indigenous evangelism; with countless other lost people in those societies that have heard the gospel; with the stresses and miseries of sickness, malnutrition, homelessness, illiteracy, ignorance, aging, addiction, crime, incarceration, neuroses, and loneliness, no man or woman who feels a passion from God to make His grace known in word and deed need ever live without a fulfilling ministry for the glory of Christ and the good of this fallen world (1 Cor 12:7-21).
- We are convinced that a denial or neglect of these principles will lead to increasingly destructive consequences in our families, our churches, and the culture at large.
For More Information check out The Center For Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) who grants permission and encourages interested persons to use, reproduce, and distribute the Danvers Statement. Printed copies of a brochure are available for a small fee through the CBMW Store.
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