A man 'called to ministry'

Galen Scott has been involved in church work since 1969. His career in production arts led him from coast to coast with a variety of mega-congregations. Today, with a much clearer vision of ministry, he's enjoying a more relationship-oriented experience as the senior pastor at Sunset Bay Chapel in the FishHawk community.

Q: How long have you been with Sunset Bay Chapel?

A: Since its beginnings in 1998. I'd taken a break from ministry and was living on a boat in Ruskin. I started leading people to Christ and they wanted a church. So we met in the yacht club, moved to a Riverview trailer park, then Randall Middle School, and eventually built on this site in 2007.

Q: What's the personality of this congregation?

A: The strongest aspect is how people are loved. No less than 25 people will say hello to you, but I'd rather have people overwhelmed than underwhelmed. Our vision and purpose is "Love God and love people." You just have to come and be loved. This is an upscale community, yet we draw from every background.

Q: Where were you raised?

A: I was born in Maine in 1949. We moved to New Hampshire when I was 5 and Los Angeles when I was 13. My dad worked with industrial displays in the entertainment industry.

Q: How did you meet Jesus?

A: I graduated Los Angeles Baptist High School in 1967. But my life fell apart. I got married, had two children, and was divorced all in two years. I found Christ at a Bible study with (Campus Crusade founder) Bill Bright. But I had to get out of Southern California.

Q: Where did you go?

A: My pastor moved to First Baptist of Modesto, Calif., and took me into his home. His church was caught up in the "Jesus Movement" and exploded with growth. I felt called to ministry and interned there while I completed college at Cal State.

Q: What was your degree in?

A: Vocal music production. I also took seminars at the church's Center for Biblical Studies. I was hired as director of youth music production. That's when I married Tandy Kelt. We wanted to help young people together.

Q: How did your career develop?

A: In 1980 we moved to Pineville, W.Va., to help launch a contemporary ministry, then returned to California to start a new church. We made contacts all over the states with our touring groups, and in 1983 Bell Shoals Baptist Church called me to Brandon as pastor of worship arts.

Q: Was Brandon a good fit?

A: The growth was explosive. Pastor Tim Wilson wanted to bring fresh growth. I brought a set designer from California, and it just took off. Then after five years, Tim Wilson left, and the new pastor brought a more traditional slant.

Q: Why stay in Brandon?

A: In 1989, Tim Wilson asked me to help start Calvary Church. We called it church for the unchurched, and it exploded with growth. We had 3,000 people in two years. Then Tim Wilson left again, and again the new pastor wanted to go in another direction.

Q: That's when you thought you were through?

A: The lines between "worship" and "show" were beginning to get blurry; the desire to build crowds with a huge production. At Calvary Church I had 150 people on my production team and hired a technical director out of Disney. I didn't want to do that again.

Q: What's your style now?

A: I teach topically. I'm passionate. I'm casual. I wear tennis shoes, Levis and a Hawaiian shirt. I'm 62 and I want to finish strong. I want to reach people, to be loved by God's love. I want to break down all the barriers. I enjoy the "aha" moment in their eyes.