Pastor of the Month: Eddie Stith

Pastors carry a unique and sacred calling. Their lives are devoted to shepherding others—guiding, encouraging, teaching, and sometimes carrying burdens few ever see. Honoring pastors isn't about elevating them above others; it’s about acknowledging their faithful service, the weight of their responsibility, and the sacrifices they make for the sake of the Gospel and the church.

That's why each year in October we celebrate them with special events for Clergy Appreciation Month. So when one of our listeners said they'd like to give a gift each month to a local pastor through our ministry, we said, "Of course!"

We selected Eddie Stith of Church of the Heights to start with as a way to acknowledge that it's his church that first had the vision to start a local Christian radio station. Hope FM was born because of the hard work of their congregation, creating the station as a separate non-profit, knowing it was for the broader community.

Eddie, originally from Georgia, relocated to Jacksonville, where a visit to Palatka with a pastor friend changed his life. It was during this visit that he met the woman who would soon become his wife. After spending over a decade as a member of the church where she had grown up, he then became the youth pastor for many years. Following a brief stint at another church, Eddie returned to Church of the Heights in 2023, taking on the role of lead pastor.

His enthusiasm for the Lord and sharing His Word is infectious. Any time we've asked him to be part of things happening at Hope FM, it's a resounding yes. He's been such a blessing to us and it's an honor to serve the Lord with Eddie and his church family.

A big thanks to Ultimate Mobile Detailing for the gift certificate to bless Eddie as our pastor of the month!