J. Douglas Dortch, Jr., Ph.D.
First Baptist Church, Tallahassee, FL
“I’m Human. Thank God!”

First Focus Article

February 10 , 2008

Dr. Robert McMillan is certainly no stranger to First Baptist Church. Pastor here for fifteen years, so much of what we enjoy in our church goes back to Dr. McMillan’s leadership and service. His ministry solidified First Baptist as one of the flagship churches in our community.

Most remember Dr. Mac as a great pulpiteer. Indeed, his Scottish roots molded him into one of the great expository preachers in his day. I’ve heard a number of my contemporaries remark about the depth of Dr. McMillan’s preaching, and when I came to Tallahassee, I had several opportunities to experience his preaching gift for myself.

Now, we all have an opportunity to be blessed again and again by Dr. McMillan’s ministry. Education Services Consortium, Inc., a Tallahassee-based group, has issued a reprinting of a McMillan classic, first published in 1973, soon after he came to First Baptist, Tallahassee. I’m Human. Thank God! focuses on the need each of us has to be in relationship with God. While at some deep level everyone knows this need, we unfortunately try to meet it in so many wrong ways. In the process, we forfeit our true humanity for a mess of potage that leaves us feeling empty. Dr. McMillan has reminded us that embracing Jesus doesn’t mean surrendering our true self; on the contrary, it means embracing it!

I don’t know of a time when that message has been more needed. I meet too many people who have lost their emotional balance – either strutting in their pride or wallowing in their self-pity. Jesus gave us a better way, and Dr. Mac’s book points us in that direction.

There will be a book signing this Sunday, February 10, at 3:00 PM, at First Baptist Church, Bradfordville, in conjunction with the dedication of the McMillan Center. We will have copies of the book in our church that Sunday for you to purchase after either of our two morning services. The books are $16.12 (checks made payable to ESC, Inc.), and all the proceeds go to Dr. and Mrs. McMillan.

We owe so much as a church to Dr. McMillan, and also to Jeannie. They have blessed us and made us a better people in so many ways. This Sunday is our chance to be a blessing to them.