Five Questions for Adrian Dixon
Interviewed by Justin Nash
Rev. Dr. Adrian Dixon is the lead pastor at Northside Community Church in Knightdale, N.C. He also works as the Director of Chaplain Services and Education at Duke Raleigh Hospital, and he serves as Field-Office Director for the southern branch of ACGC’s Ministry Training Institute. Nearing the end of his time at Campbell University, Adrian felt called to plant a church in the Raleigh, N.C. area. After much prayer, research and counsel, it was decided to plant in the growing Raleigh suburb of Knightdale. Adrian planted Northside along with two friends in 2002. The church held their first public service in February of 2003 in a store front space. In 2011, they purchased an old church facility and after some major renovations moved in in 2013. Since the church was planted more than 17 years ago, God has done some pretty amazing things in and through them. The heart of Northside has always been to be a church that loves and serves their community in the name of Christ. Because of the church’s work in the community and his commitment to service, Adrian was named Knightdale’s Citizen of the Year in 2017. He and his wife, Shoshannah, have three children: Harper, Cole and Graham.
What's the one big thing you got right?
AD: Taking risks. I think that not because every risk has turned out to work out great. But even when it didn’t work out, seeing the Lord work, and seeing what I learned, what we learned as a congregation and what my family has learned. Taking a risk has been the one thing that I haven’t regretted. And I guess you could manifest that with stepping out on faith or however you want to word that. But I feel like that’s the thing that I’ve never regretted, taking a step out into the unknown.
What's the one big thing you got wrong?
AD: There’s a couple of things that come to my mind, but probably patience – not being patient enough and not waiting enough on the Lord. So at least when I think about taking a risk, the expectation is that there’s a quick reward to it when the reality is that has hardly ever been the case. Of course, I can think of individual interactions with people or times in ministry that I wish I would’ve done something differently. But I think from an overall standpoint, I wish earlier on that I was more patient with how I saw the Lord work and more patient with people. I think I’m probably still learning that. Now, I’m more patient with where things are going and not trying to get out in front of it.
What brings you the most joy in ministry?
AD: Probably pastoring my family. I try to remember that’s my first congregation. And seeing them grow, not only physically, but coming to understandings of faith – seeing my wife, who is not the typical pastor’s wife, her heart for the Lord and heart for people regardless of my role and the church. So I think that’s probably my biggest joy. Right behind that is seeing people succeed in ministry and seeing the faith come alive for them; whether that’s the staff and the different roles they have and how the Lord uses them or people in the church who are stepping out, serving, many of them for the first time. And really getting to see a tangible result, even if it is not numerical or earth-shattering, just that fulfilled feeling that comes in knowing that I’m doing the right thing. And so seeing people really live out their faith and seeing how God’s working in them and their recognition of that.
What advice would you give someone in a situation similar to yours?
AD: Stay humble. For me, it’s a recognition that what I get to do both in my job at the hospital and my role at the church is really a massive privilege. There are a thousand people who would kill for the job that I have at the hospital and many who would kill for my position at the church. I just recognize that, in ministry, it gets tiring. I know that it gets frustrating. I know that it can get draining and all the things that it can affect, all the things that it can impact. But at the end of the day, I’m really letting those emotions surface and giving voice to them, but coming back to a place of recognizing what a privilege it is and what a trust that we have been given, even if others don’t recognize it. For me, it’s just remembering that. And I think that that keeps me very humble or at least in theory. I hope it does, because I look at my role at the hospital and I don’t think I really deserve to be doing what I’m doing here. And I look at where Northside is and I don’t, I certainly don’t, deserve that and to be a part of where they are. And I would not even compare it to other counties, congregations or other people. It’s just an awareness that, I’m in a very fortunate place, and I recognize who that’s from and where that’s from. I just wish that I would’ve learned that a little bit earlier on. Just stay humble.
What is the one thing you wish you were better at as a pastor?
AD: I think probably communicating and accurately teaching the Word of God. In my mind, if there is one role that is more specific in how people see a pastor, it’s probably the Sunday morning message time. The moment I become satisfied with my knowledge of how I’m sharing and what I’m sharing, and feel like I’ve become an authority on it, I feel like I’m doing the people who are a part of that worship a disservice. So for me, it’s accurately conveying the Word of God and doing so in a way that it truly does come alive, and it comes just a little closer to representing or honoring and what God intended for it to be.
Justin Nash, “Five Questions for Adrian Dixon” The Witness, Winter 2020