Robby Britt was in-between visits and studies as he sat in the Youth Minister office at Southway Baptist Church in Brookhaven. The desk was covered in books, notes and study materials.

Britt is Southway’s new pastor, but his office is in the midst of remodeling — awaiting replacement of worn-out carpet and getting a new coat of fresh paint. He stepped into the role at the church on Father’s Day, June 18, but he has been familiar with Southway for most of his life.

A native of the Enterprise community, Britt visited the church in his early years and has fond memories of those times. After graduating high school, and while working on and completing his advanced studies — at Copiah-Lincoln and Southwest Mississippi community colleges, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and Andersonville Theological Seminary — Britt became a full-time pastor in 1996, serving as such at five churches in the years prior to coming to Southway in 2023.

When he would visit his family in Lincoln County, he would take time to “visit” Southway, too.

“I’d sit in my car out in the parking lot and pray for the church, pray for the area, and I wanted to come here,” Britt said. “I’m not a ‘big church’ type of guy. God put a love in my heart for Southway and I asked Him if I could one day come here as pastor.”

“Why Southway?” he asked. “Because God said, ‘OK.’ I asked for it and prayed for it. God answered the prayer.”

Britt had worked in youth ministry and music ministry, and had filled in preaching when he was asked prior to becoming a pastor, but pastoring was not what he’d always wanted to do.

“I had the house, the white picket fence and the 9-to-5 job,” he said. “I ran from God’s call for about four and a half years. I ‘wrastled’ with and ran from God, kind of like Jonah. Finally, I had to surrender. Six months later, I had my first church.”

A former athlete and a high-energy person, Britt loves to laugh and have a good time, but is no-nonsense and direct when it comes to his vision for ministry — “To teach the truth about Jesus. Not religion, not tradition, but how to have a true relationship.”

“I want Southway to be a missional, sending-out church,” he said. “I hope we grow people in the knowledge of Christ, to equip them and send them out. I want it to be a revolving door: bring them in, grow them up and send them out. We’re not going to hoard them up.”

Britt is the son of former Enterprise Attendance Center principal Billy Britt, and his parents are well-known in Lincoln County. He’s been married to “a very supportive pastor’s wife” for 32 years.

“We’re blessed to have two children who love the Lord and minister, a son-in-law in ministry, and a grandson we hope and anticipate to be a minister.”

“I came back to my hometown. I love Brookhaven and the people of Brookhaven,” said Britt. “In my mind, Brookhaven is one of the best examples of good pride in the community, planning for the next generation in the schools and the town. A lot of people carry themselves with integrity. There’s a lot of good folk here.”

But you won’t find Britt sitting around just enjoying the atmosphere. His calling is to reach other people for God.

“My target audience is the lost, the hurting, and others who want to get on board with that vision. I don’t care if they’re young or old, black or white or Hispanic — whoever needs the Gospel,” the pastor said. “I’ve seen people hurt by religion — I’ve been there myself — and I want to help break those shackles. Jesus is more than religion. He is God. He is relevant. I want to educate people in the Word and help them have the abundant life He intends — peace, love and family.”

Southway Baptist Church is located on South Jackson Street Extension.