Draft Anniversary

Intentional, compassionate, and driven are three words used to describe Pastor Dr. Timothy W. Sloan. Twenty years in pastoral care and a lifetime of dedication to doing God’s work.

marry his desire of ministry and his curiosity of law. His decision to complete a Masters of Divinity and a law degree was ambitious but intentional.

Born in 1972, 60 miles north of Dallas in the quaint town of Sherman, Texas, Sloan grew up as an only child. His village consisted of his mother, grandmother, and cousins, who were more like brothers. Sloan made the most out of his humble beginnings. The love and support of his family helped shaped his childhood and the man he is today.

Sloan can’t imagine not answering God’s call, but if he wasn’t a Pastor he would be a professional football coach or a sports broadcaster.

Reminiscing about his upbringing, Sloan reflected on memories at his grandmother’s house. “Every summer my mom dropped me off at my grandmother’s house and I worked in the garden,” Sloan said. “Each day we had to be working in the garden whether that was planting or picking beans. My grandmother would make us lunch and then my cousins and I would jump a train to the local Boys Club.”

Jumping trains, walking around the city, fishing, spending time at the library and street football were activities you could find him participating in. It wasn’t until he was 11 years old that he became an active member of his church.

Sloan recalled sitting in his grandmothers house watching telelvision, when the Pastors wife, Mrs. Esther Brown, stopped by and told him to get up and took him to youth bible study. “That day changed my life. That is when I became a real church kid,” he said. “I would sit up under my grandmother and her friends. I developed an affection for it and would absorb their conversations.”

Sloan spent a lot of time listening and observing, which are two qualities beneficial for a pastor.

God was tugging on his heart strings, but pastoring was not always a part of his plan. After spreading his wings and heading to college at Morehouse College, Sloan accepted his call to ministry in 1991. He preached his first sermon in Sale Hall Chapel on the campus of Morehouse College. Sloan was determined to find a way to

When asked what the happiest moment of his life, Sloan paused and explained, both his marriage and children being born were monumental for him. He laughed and added, “I was a happy kid and had a great childhood, but I would definitely go back to all four years of college. College years were some of the best years of my life.”

May 15, 2022 Pastor Sloan will celebrate his 20th pastoral anniversary. Since coming to pastor The Luke Church in 2002, his vision has transformed the congregation, the building, and most importantly the people. Pastoring can be a thankless job, but the people are what keeps Sloan coming back to the pulpit Sunday after Sunday.

“Ministry is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

Over the years, he has experienced uncertainty, grief, trials, and like many of us, all while leading with grace and holding on God’s unchanging hand. Sloan has overcome it all.

“I’ve always felt like there were so many obstacles in my way, but I would always take them one by one,” he said.

Leading the church in 2006, was a hard season for Sloan.There was no template and it was scary.

A period of isolation brought back memories of being a loner as a child and building walls to protect himself. “At the time I was embarrassed about what would happen with the church. That was a defining moment in my life.”

When you hear Sloan say STAND, it is because he didn’t know how to do anything else. He simply followed what the bible said, which is very descriptive of his life.