Reverend Donald R. Ruth Selected as
2009 Servant Heart Pastor of the Year www.servantheartaward.org
Reverend Donald R. Ruth is lead pastor at Saint John Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was nominated by Edna Cosey who submitted these comments about Pastor Ruth:
Our pastor is a humble-spirit kingdom builder. He reaches out to all races, ages, and socio-economic groups. His love for God is seen through the people he serves, especially children, youth and seniors. Salvation for this world and pleasing God are his number one priorities. He teaches by example; in giving, service, compassion, and his treatment of others. He labors in the Word and is forever interceding for others. The children just flock to him. He does not have enough arms for all of the children. Although a fulltime pastor, he manages to get involved in every aspect of the church, from serving food to cleaning the facility. Nothing is too menial for him. He has a passion for serving all people and does so with humility. He is about meeting needs, regardless of the cost.
His service extends beyond the church to other communities, local and international. He ministers quarterly at the prison, visits prisoners, has done revivals and missionary work in Trinidad, reaches out to Zimbabwe with prayers and finances, and has adopted three children abroad (Brazil, Indonesia, and Senegal) that we supply with material and financial support. He directs and teaches in a St. John Bible Institute, that he founded 7 years ago. Three years ago, he started an educational/recreational summer camp for kids ages 5-12.
The camp includes year-round tutorial and mentoring services for youth of the church and community. His goal is to reach out to youth with activities to enhance their lives that would deter them from becoming a part of the judicial system through crime/or unplanned pregnancies. He opened the church to 200 Katrina victims and volunteered his labor in the shelter operations. This awesome man of God is the very essence of love and untiringly gives so much to so many.
Pastor Ruth was born and raised in the local community and is a life-long member of St. John, where he served in many capacities prior to becoming Pastor. Pastor Ruth is married to Sis. Bernice Ruth and they have two daughters, Antigone and Fatemah. Pastor Ruth loves people and desires the best for them in their lives. His favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6, which reads, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths”.
