Dr. Carl Peters

My Ministry Philosophy

My calling over the last 30 years has been that of pastoral musician. Over the past few years this calling has been refined and refocused to that of ministering through all aspects of worship and discipleship. More specifically, my gifts and calling are in communicating the Word of God to the family of God. Preaching, teaching and writing are great passions for me. My giftedness for ministry is expressed best through preaching, leading worship, teaching discipleship classes and Bible studies, and in sharing life with my family in the faith. Articulated below are the principles that guide my ministry.

Worship is the eternal vocation of all who follow Christ and is the primary purpose of the Church. We also have earthly tasks to accomplish “while it is day”, including: evangelism, discipleship, ministry and fellowship. As a pastor, I have responsibilities to equip the church in all of these important areas. Six concepts are most important in fulfilling these God-given imperatives.

First, I believe in the Authority of the Bible. God’s written Word is a divinely inspired treasury of truth that informs us about the covenant relationship offered to us by God, through Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. God’s Word is an unfolding series of interrelated covenants, culminating in the saving work of Jesus and the New Covenant. We are called into this story of salvation history and the covenant relationship it reveals.

Second, I believe in the Church as the Continuation of the Gospel Message. We must practice and proclaim the truth of the Gospel. As believers in Christ, we are called to “take up our cross daily and follow (Him).”The Church is God’s chosen vehicle to extend His gracious provision throughout the centuries. Through our worship, and our mission efforts (evangelism and discipleship), the Gospel is perpetuated from one generation to the next.

Third, I believe in the importance of the Church’s Theological Reflection on the Gospel. Paul called the Church, “the pillar and foundation of truth(1 Timothy 3:15).” God’s Truth must be preserved, and the Church is God’s safeguard against erosion and reinterpretation of eternal truths. In order to remain firmly established, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Church’s consensus, and mutual accountability must be embraced.

Fourth, I believe that the Church’s worship must tell and enact the Gospel. It is through worship that we retell and re-present what the Lord Jesus has done for us through His death, burial, resurrection and ascension. The two “ordinances” of the church demonstrate this for us. In baptism, we enact what Jesus did in the waters of the Jordan, on the cross of Calvary and the empty tomb. Death and resurrection are vividly enacted in this God-given rite of passage as the candidate is “buried with Christ,”and “raised with Christ”to walk in newness of life. Similarly, the Apostle Paul said of the Lord’s Supper, “When you do this you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”Paul also said that the bread we break and the cup for which we give thanks are a “participation”in the body and blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16). Clearly, our worship should draw us into the amazing story of salvation history.

Fifth, I believe that discipleship or spiritual formation in the Church leads to the embodiment of the Gospel. When Jesus called the Disciples, He said, “Follow me.” As we follow we are to conform more and more to the image of Christ. Jesus does not call us to self-fulfillment. He calls us to deny ourselves, to die to ourselves, to take up our crosses daily and follow Him. In order to do this, we must grow toward maturity in our faith. An intentional process of discipleship is vital if we are to fulfill the expectations of the Lord… “As you go, make disciples...”

Sixth, I believe that the Church is called to be the earthly embodiment of Christ in the world. We must be “missional” and speak the truth prophetically. We must be counter-cultural and stand against evil. Our profession of faith must match our daily lives so that the world will see that we are a “peculiar people,”living out our sacred commitments.

Worship is at the heart of all we do as followers of Christ. I ascribe to the concept that “the worship of the people shapes their faith.”How we worship is vital. My ability as a communicator, my experience as a pastoral musician and my studies in the Scriptural foundations for worship have equipped me to lead Anchor as a community committed to Scripturally defined worship. My calling compels me to share the eternal truths that transform us into the image of Christ.

Personal

• Born: March 29, 1965 ‚Äì Carlisle, Kentucky 
• Wife: Rene√© D. Peters, High School Math Teacher 
• Children: Daulton (19), Kendall (16), and Hayden (8) 
• Interests: teaching, writing, reading, choral music, basketball, baseball, football, weight lifting, really good coffee

Education

• Georgetown College
  Georgetown, Kentucky
  Degree: Bachelor of Music Education, June 1988
  Honor: Outstanding Senior Musician Award 

• The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary 
  Louisville, Kentucky 
  Degree: Master of Church Music, June 1992 

• The Robert Webber Institute for Worship Studies 
  Orange Park, Florida 
  Degree: Doctorate in Worship Studies, June 2003