Published: July 07, 2008 01:51 am            

Doubly Blessed

Carlson serving as worship leader, counselor

After 26 years of ministry, serving at churches in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri, Dr. Rodger Carlson recently joined the staff of Norwood Heights Baptist Church in Palestine as the new minister of music.

“God opened up some doors for us to come back to East Texas,” Carlson said in a recent interview, explaining that the family spent seven years at Southside Baptist Church in Tyler. “This is like coming home for us.

“East Texas has a hospitality that cannot be matched,” he added. “The congregation at Northwood Heights has been receptive and welcomed us with open arms.

“It is great to be back in East Texas.”

As Norwood Height’s worship leader, Carlson will over see all things musical at the church, including adult and children’s choirs and worship services.

“My love for music came at an early age, from my mother,” Carlson said. “I spent many a Sunday beside my mother at the piano bench and I took piano lessons from the age of 10- to 19-years-old.

“Music has just always been a part of my life,” he added. “It was a natural progression — a calling on my life to take my talent and use it at the local church.”

Carlson also will have a secondary role in his ministry at the church — to establish a counseling practice in Palestine and in the Tyler area.

“I feel so privileged to have grown up in a Christian loving home,” Carlson said. “Family has always been a major part of who I am.

“But families today have been exposed to so much — they are falling apart,” he added. “I feel like God has equipped me to reach out to families and to bring restoration to the home.”

The need for counselors in general is great in East Texas, Carlson said, and a new state law allowing couples to receive a free marriage license after taking eight hours of pre-marital counseling will increase that need.

“That new law goes into effect in September,” Carlson explained. “Those who opt not to do the counseling will have to pay $60 for a license, which is double what is charged now.”

Carlson’s love for both aspects of his ministry, music and counseling, are equal he said, but each of them bring different kinds of fulfillment to his life.

“In music, I love to see people worship and to watch people express their hearts toward God,” he said. “And I just have so much fun doing it.

“In counseling, I love it when walls are torn down and healing takes place in relationships,” Carlson explained. “I like to see families restored, people facing their addictions and becoming healthy.”

Carlson was born, raised and attended high school in Mobile, Ala. From there he went on to attend college at Hannibal-LaGrange College in Hannibal, Mo., where he received his Bachelor of Church Music.

His graduate training consists of a Master of Education degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth; and a Doctorate of Philosophy and Christian Counseling from Cornerstone University in Lake Charles, La.

Carlson has been married for 28 years to wife, Sheila. They have three grown children — a son, Benjamin, who was recently married; twin daughters, Laura and Rebecca; and a new Yorkshire terrier puppy.

For more information about Norwood Heights Baptist Church or about counseling with Dr. Carlson, call 903-729-4938.

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Mary Rainwater may be reached via e-mail at mrainwater@palestineherald.com

        

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