The gospel of service from pulpit to college campus

GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY

The Rev. M. Lamont Littlejohn, pastor of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Shelby, is the first Black chair of Gardner-Webb University’s board of trustees.

Gardner-Webb University’s new trustees chair is familiar with the unfamiliar.

The Rev. M. Lamont Littlejohn Jr., pastor of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Shelby, is the first Black person to lead GWU’s board. A three-time graduate of the school, Littlejohn acknowledged his unique position.

“What I’m learning to do is embrace every door that’s open and even embrace the doors that are closed,” said Littlejohn, who was appointed in January. “Whatever stage I’m at, whatever door I get to enter into, whatever room I'm sitting in, that's an opportunity for me to show them God and to glorify Him and put a smile on someone's face. I just believe that whatever room I'm in, I'm there for a purpose: to help people. That's my goal. That's my passion.”

Littlejohn has been on a roll over the last six years with a string of history-making appointments. In 2019, he became the first Black person to chair Cleveland Community College’s board of trustees. The two roles have a common denominator: Both schools were in the market for a new president. Littlejohn was on CCC’s search committee when it made its hire, and he’ll lead Gardner-Webb’s search.

“That gives me a little experience,” he said. “I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to go through that search.”

Littlejohn said his goals as GWU’s chair are transparency, accountability and communication. He also wants to build cohesion among board members and keep them informed about the campus and community. He wants to establish a board retreat, so they can have more time to engage and learn about the GWU community.

“I think the more you can communicate, have transparency and accountability, if you do well in those areas, you tend to be successful,” he said. “If you don't do well in those areas, then you have low morale and just confusion. I want to get Gardner-Webb back to understanding our Christian identity. We’re not like other universities. We are not so much very conservative or very liberal. I think we’re moderate.”

Before moving into the higher education leadership, Littlejohn was a force at Mt. Calvary, where he was appointed senior pastor in 2003. At the time he was 26 years old and successor to Samuel A. Raper, a noted civil rights advocate, city council member and Mt. Calvary’s spiritual leader for 35 years. 

“He was a huge figure, 91 years old,” Littlejohn remembered. “I was not trying to fill his shoes but make my own shoes.”

Littlejohn decided he needed to more knowledge to help his congregation grow in their faith journey. He returned to GWU for a master’s degree, which he earned in 2007, followed by a Doctor of Ministry degree in 2016.

“I loved learning about the narrative of the Bible and how could I help people through this narrative,” Littlejohn said. “It was not me collecting a degree on a wall. Through preaching, through pastoring, I knew I had to get better for the people I was leading.”

Littlejohn credits Gardner-Webb’s intimate surroundings, academic rigor and tight-knit community with nurturing his growth.

“It was really about the relationships that were established from undergrad to divinity school,” he said. “I talk about the Koinonia Lounge — that was a safe place in Lindsey Hall. It was truly what that lounge is, a fellowship, a melting pot. We learned about each other, and we learned about each other’s journeys. It was fun times, sad times, even frustrating times there.”

Even with his growing duties at GWU, Littlejohn is dedicated to service through ministry. Mt. Calvary has grown its outreach in recent years by creating new partnerships to expand its reach. An example is the purchase of the former North Shelby School building for $550,000 in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic when the church was holding virtual services. 

“Now, three and a half years later, we have community partners and partnerships,” Littlejohn shared. “We are doing ministry beyond familiar with a health clinic, after school care, the Partnership for Children, Feeding Kids and Reading Kids Cleveland County, and a food ministry with Second Harvest. Most anytime during the week, there are between 100 and 150 people on that campus. We are doing ministry beyond Sunday. You could say at Mt. Calvary, we are open seven days a week, not just two. 

“As we continue to grow, we are far from finished. I still have some passion to do some other things that are beyond familiar.”

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