Today we’d like to introduce you to Larry Snyder.
Hi Larry, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised in Lancaster, PA. My parents always took us to church growing up, and as a young teenager, I made a decision of faith to trust in Jesus for salvation and follow Him with my whole heart. Beginning my senior year of high school, many friends, family, and church members began to recognize in me a call to be a pastor, but I was stubborn. I chose instead to head off to Penn State University and complete a degree in business. I began a career in banking and investments and married my amazing wife, Mindy. However, after several years of financial work, I finally recognized in 1999 that God had other plans for my life.
Since that time, my life has certainly been a big mixture of faith, learning, blessings, and challenges, and I wouldn’t trade any of it. I came into ministry at a large church in Sarasota, and after about 6 years of learning and growing under another pastor, it became obvious to my wife and me that we were called to start new works. We launched a new church in Hershey, PA, in 2006 and another church in Venice, FL, in 2017. Each was a very stretching time for us, but we were able to see people in our community served in amazing ways. We were able to see others grow in their relationship with God. It was hard, but it was so rewarding!
In 2022, my friend, Eric Want, was retiring from the church he started in Sarasota and asked if I would consider taking over as pastor. Again, Mindy and I sensed it was God’s timing, and I stepped in as the new pastor of the beautiful people at Freedom Christian Church. I’ve always strived to do hard things for God, and now four churches, two advanced degrees, and two children later, I know that this is exactly where I should be!
Freedom Christian Church fits my heart perfectly. Never will you find a more relational and loving group of people who will do whatever they possibly can to love Jesus and love other people. The name fits the church perfectly. When people come from all types of backgrounds, they immediately notice that the church is different. There truly is freedom to serve God, experience His love, and help others know Him better. There’s no pressure to be religious. It’s so simple that it is profound. Each year, we have been able to help people know Jesus in a variety of ways. We have a strong commitment to helping people understand the Bible. Nothing is more important to me because it has profoundly changed my life. We also have a strong commitment to serving others. We give away meals to those in need throughout the year. We collect for the homeless. We support many missionaries overseas, as well as send out our own short-term missions teams. As a pastor of now over 27 years, I so appreciate this church because of the love.
When I think about Freedom Christian Church, I can’t help but think of the words of the Apostle Paul: “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Cor 13:13)
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think that struggles and pastoring can go hand in hand at times because you are meeting people in their most vulnerable places. A common perception of pastors is that of dogmatic preachers but every great pastor that I’ve known spends a great deal of time living in the hurts and struggles of others. You can pour your heart and life into others and sometimes the criticism and hostility you receive in return can be deterring, but God has been good to carry my wife and I to stay focused on the real needs of others.
Starting churches was a stretch for our family and especially our children. Early Sunday mornings would see my son and daughter setting up chairs, plugging in cables and carrying supplies. They never complained even though their friends were sleeping in.
Like so many other people, COVID left its mark on our family as well. Our church planting work in Venice would never fully reach potential as the pandemic stole time, resources and momentum. It was a crushing time for me personally. It caused me to debate with God and journal my thoughts which led to publishing a book entitled “No Ordinary Work: Church Planting in the Shadow of the Church Growth Movement”. It turned out to be part helpful tool and part love letter to pastors of new and small churches.
I think the greatest struggle of all is that pastoring the church means living your life in a place of unfinished tasks. While many can go to work and close a deal, finish a project or advance up the ladder. Pastors silently wake each day knowing that each person is a work in progress and results may not come in their lifetime. You come to understand that and trust in what God has given you to do.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Most people called to be a pastor are coming from something other than any type of formal religious training. This led me to spend many years working part-time on my Master of Divinity degree from Liberty. It’s a 90+ hour program, so ten years later in the course of pastoring, starting churches, and raising a family, it was completed. I loved serving the church so much that I wanted to be even better at my craft, so in 2020 (in the midst of the pandemic), I completed my Doctorate of Ministry from Southeastern Seminary. My doctoral project focused on developing leaders in new and small churches.
One of my great professional joys is the time I am afforded each week to study and learn from the Bible for the sake of communicating amazing truths each week to others. I pride myself on my communication skills. Most weeks I invest 12-15 hours in preparing and studying so I can communicate with excellence. From the sermons each week to the things I have written and published, it is a joy to see and hear others experience life-change as a result.
What matters most to you? Why?
You might expect a pastor of a community church to say this, but Jesus matters most. Never in my life would I have dreamed that I would be here doing what I do now and it is because of what He did for me. I have been afforded grace, forgiveness, freedom and opportunities that are beyond words. I have peace and contentment in my past and future that I wish everyone could have.
My family is very important as well. My wife has been a rock and has taught me so much about sacrificial love, and because of her I have two amazing adult children!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fccsarasota.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freedomchristianchurchsarasota
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@freedomchristianchurch
- Other: https://a.co/d/fKqrTBn
