Tommy Armstrong, Pastor

Cedar Baptist Church

Dillwyn, Virginia

pastor@cedarbaptistchurch.org

(434) 394-8287 

My journey began on a spring day in 1951.  God knew I would need strong, Godly parents, so that is what he blessed me with by giving me to Ike and Doris Armstrong.  My dad was a strong, hardworking man.  Always working, but somehow always there for me when I needed him.  My mom took on the role of encourager.  She always told me, “Don’t quit...fight...look to Jesus!” These examples of strength and encouragement helped me greatly throughout my life. 

I had a speech problem when I was young.  Everyone made fun of the way I talked and it caused me to just “shut down”.  I did not talk, in public, until I was about seven years old.   It was my parent’s faith in the Lord, strength and encouragement, as well as the loving patience of my grandmother “Maw”, that helped me to overcome my issue with speaking in public.  My Maw even predicted I would be a preacher one day.  

When I finished school, I went to work at Ukrops and was there for 30 years.  It was during my time at Ukrops that I began to feel the calling to preach.  I would go anywhere and everywhere that I was needed to preach and spread God’s word.  I learned a lot during this time.  Sometimes I might be preaching to as few as 2 or 3 people.  During this time, I learned to fully depend on God and to preach His word and His message the way God intended no matter the number of people that might be hearing it. 

My ministry also took another dramatic turn when I met the most beautiful woman.  Her beauty was both inside and out.  Her name was Margaret, and I married her in 1977. We have three lovely daughters (all are grown now), and one lovely granddaughter. Margaret is and has always been there for me and our family.  She is a large part of my ministry and she has been there for our church family as well.

It was on January 5, 1997 that I was called to preach at Cedar Baptist Church.  It was a good fit, of God’s making.  My Cedar family knows how to love.  We are not perfect, but we serve a perfect Savior, Jesus Christ.   Watching my mom, dad and Maw praying, taught me that it is not me that is in control, but God Almighty!  Have you ever thought  about how much Jesus did because he first took the time to go on his knees in prayer to the Father.  Each of us was put here to love and worship God and to help others.  I’m on my knees often, learning to listen and to hear God, so that I can preach, teach and help others.  So from a boy who could not talk, to a grown man who can’t stop talking about Jesus, my journey has brought me here to Cedar.  I love being the pastor or under-shepherd to the Cedar family, but I love serving Jesus Christ more.

Love in Jesus,

Tommy Armstrong

Pastor