Southside Baptist Church has a new, but familiar face as its new pastor.

The Rev. Mike Flowers, better known as Bro. Mike, took the pulpit at Southside June 20.

A native of Atmore, he was a draftsman by trade, who said he felt the calling from the Lord.

“During the process, the Lord began working my heart to answer the call,” he said.

During that time, he lived in Mobile and was a member of Orchard Baptist, he said.

In January 1981, he went to Baptist College of Florida.

While in school, he served as the minister of students at FBC Samson.

In January of 1985, he came to Andalusia where he served as the minister at Northside Baptist Church for three and a half years.

In June 1988, he went to New Orleans where he earned his master of divinity in December 1990.

Then he did a long stint as a pastor in Texas.

In 2000, he moved to Northport to pastor Flatwoods Baptist.

He then took over as pastor at First Baptist Church Opp from 2004-2009 and then went to FBC Americus, Ga.

In 2015, he founded UNTIL Ministries, which is a ministry of church revitalization.

“UNTIL is about church revitalization,” he said. “It’s leading the pastor, staff and church leaders toward getting back to the design God has for his church. It’s getting back to the back to the basics.”

Flowers said that in December 2015, he came through Andalusia and Opp.

“I hadn’t been through Andalusia and Opp in a while and I got up with Greg White.”

Flowers said that White asked him if he would be interested in coming and filling the pulpit while the church searched for a new minister.

In January he preached the morning and night services.

“They asked if I would send my resume,” he said.

Flowers said he’s having a blast.

“We already know a lot of people,” he said. “My mom still lives in Atmore and my wife Shirley’s parents live in Satsuma.”

Flowers said his goals are to lead the church.

In his spare time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, golf and going to the beach and said he’s a big Bama fan.

He and Ms. Shirley have two children and are awaiting the arrival of their sixth grandchild.