By Mickey Starling
Riverbend News
Born in Leesburg, Fla., in 1952, Center Hill, Fla. native Dale Croft found his way to Mayo in 1981, when he became the pastor of Alton Church of God. Though Croft left Mayo twice - first to pastor near Orlando and the second time to become a denominational leader in Mississippi - he always found his way back to the town he has grown to love. Today, Croft is pastoring Mayo First Assembly of God.
With 43 years of ministry under his belt, Croft is no stranger to the church community, but the kids in Lafayette County are also well acquainted with him. Croft taught music, art and health at Lafayette High School for 13 years. “Music was always my thing,” said Croft. “That's really what I thought I wanted to do.” His first ministry position was as a minister of music at a church in Kentucky, when he was 18 years old.
God obviously had other plans for Croft, who has since been on staff with nine different churches and has served as senior pastor for nine other congregations. Croft became a Christian at nine years old and through his many years of ministry, his “biggest moment” with God came in 2000. Croft's parents were brutally stabbed and beaten to death by two teenagers in a home invasion. The elder Croft had hired one of the boys to work on his farm in Sumpter County during the previous summer.
The boys had gotten involved in a bad drug deal that left them without a vehicle. The pair made their way to Croft's home, where they asked to use his phone in order to get a ride. When Croft saw them to the door after their phone call, one of the boys struck him on the back of the head with a glass bottle and shoved him back into the home. The boys savagely killed Croft's parents before stealing their car.
At the time, Croft was in between churches, and this tragedy caused his greatest trial of faith. “I became very angry at God for allowing this to happen,” said Croft. A couple of weeks after his parents' funeral, his anger boiled over while working in a cow pasture, where he vented his frustration. “I screamed at God while throwing my tools as high as I could into the heavens,” said Croft. “Then, in a rage, I ran across the field, crying. I ran until I fell, physically and emotionally exhausted.” While laying in the dirt, with tears streaming down his face, Croft told the Lord, “I don't understand why You let this happen to my mama and daddy. I may never understand, but regardless, all I know to do is to trust You and serve You.” That was when the healing began. “I immediately felt His love and within a few weeks, God opened the door for me to return to pastoral work. It was exactly what I needed because pastoring took my mind off of me and kept me focused on the needs of others.”
One of those responsible for his parents' murder is in prison and Croft now holds out hope for the young man to come to Christ. “Some people say time heals,” said Croft. “But, that's not true. Only God can heal. But, sometimes He uses time. Ultimately, He does the healing.”
The latest obstacle for Croft and his church has been dealing with the coronavirus. “We are only meeting on Sunday mornings right now,” said Croft. “The Church can be so inwardly focused that it misses its God-ordained purpose. In fact, the church building itself can become a bushel.”
Croft takes this analogy from the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 5:14-16, which states, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.”
“How can we be a light to others if we are hidden in our church buildings,” Croft continued. “My hope is that we can see revival and churches becoming more community-minded.” One of the many things that Croft is pleased about with the congregation at Mayo First Assembly is that they have been mission-minded for many years. “We are a giving church and we have been supporting a number of missionaries around the world,” he added.
Reflecting on his many years in Mayo, Croft smiles widely. “I've lived in some big cities and they always make me feel small, insignificant and even lonely,” said Croft. “They remind me of a big, busy anthill. I've never been anywhere that I've felt more loved and appreciated than in Mayo. Here, people really care about you and make you feel like family.”
Croft is a seventh generation Floridian. He and his wife, Amy, have four children and nine grandchildren. “God has been good to me. I am richly blessed.”