‘Steve Peek Day’
First Baptist pastor retires, honored by church and community officials
The Rev. Steve Peek, who officially retired from the church in December, was honored in January by the Helping Hands Ministry, an offshoot of the church’s Special Needs Ministry he began during his 41 years of service.
Peek and his wife, Millie were special guests over a two-day period, allowing all Helping Hands participants to honor the pastor.
Special signage was placed just outside the building, honoring Peek’s service. He was also gifted with a special knotted University of Tennessee orange and white blanket the students and staff had created and prayed over.
Peek was also honored by church members and administrators Dec. 19 with a proclamation from both Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs and State Rep. Jason Zachary, naming Dec. 19 as “Steve Peek Day” for his service to the church and community.
“It’s not all that often you hear of someone working at the same place for 41 years, but that’s exactly what Rev. Steve Peek did!,” said FCB executive pastor Allan Taylor. “Steve joined the staff at First Baptist Concord as Children’s Pastor and served in many other ministries during his tenure at Concord.
“He started the church’s Special Needs Ministry, which he remains passionate about to this day [and] he spent his last years serving as senior adult pastor. He has made an innumerable number of hospital visits and conducted scores of funerals.
“Steve’s compassionate heart always motivated him to reach out to those who were hurting or grieving. He is deeply loved and will be sorely missed. God truly blessed First Baptist Concord with Steve’s commitment to ministry!”
Peek said he plans to spend more time with his wife and their children, who live in Virginia Beach, Virginia and Lakeland, Florida.
“And, I will stay busy doing things in our community,” he added. “People will still call on me as the need arises, and I will be so glad to help, however I can.
“My love through the years has been my ministry, and it is the gift that God gave me — that won’t change, no matter what.”
