Insights & Information

'The setting I always wanted to work in'

Tim Shoaf

Facilities Team Director Tim Shoaf officially said his goodbyes Jan. 14 to Triad Baptist Church, finishing his last day on the job to cap a nearly 40-year career managing school and church buildings.

Before joining Triad’s staff Aug. 11, 2008, Shoaf had served as director of facilities and later as director of security and transportation for 32 years at Forsyth County Day School where he also coached baseball.

Once at Triad, Shoaf marveled at the number and scope of its ministries — knowing Triad was a large, dynamic church, beforehand but not realizing all the ways the church was reaching others for Christ.

That turned out to be what touched his heart the most during his 7.5 years managing all aspects of the church campus, including buildings, furnishing, heating and cooling, and other systems, and the set-up and tear-down critical to its multi-use philosophy for space.

And it’s why he plans to keep up with the church even in his retirement.

“Being able to work in a Christian environment really meant a lot to me because that’s the setting I always wanted to work in,” said Shoaf, who accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in 1998. “I will always remember going down the hallways and hearing kids singing about Jesus and the privilege of working in that kind of an environment where you could openly talk about and praise Jesus.”

Shoaf said he’ll also never forget his Facilities teammates — Dan Nigro, Andy Bousman, Donna Bostick, Brandon Greene, and Charles McPeak — and work under Tim Gerber, executive pastor for children and ministries, Dennis Roberts, executive administrator, and Lead Pastor Rob Decker.

“They are all some of the finest people I know, and Triad is blessed to have them,” he said.

Shoaf had intended to retire in January 2017 but after praying with his wife over the Christmas break and talking to his pastor at River Oaks Community Church in Clemmons, he decided to retire now.

Before his last day on Jan. 14, Triad’s staff honored Shoaf with a retirement lunch.

Gerber said that deacon Norm Dudley, who managed an industrial plant before his retirement, will assume Shoaf’s duties on an interim basis until a full-time replacement can be hired in early Spring.

“We were very fortunate not only to have someone of Tim’s skillset on board during a critical period in the church’s growth but also someone who applied those skills with a servant’s heart and love for others,” Gerber said. “The work he did definitely paves the way for future effective use of our physical plant for ministry.”

While at Triad, Shoaf said he believed he and his Facilities Team fulfilled the church’s mission of pointing lives toward Christ by helping to provide a well-maintained, attractive, and secure facility.

“It’s my hope that through our work people have enjoyed their time at Triad, felt comfortable, and were inspired by that to become involved in the Christian life through the church and its ministries,” he said. “With Triad Baptist Christian Academy and Preschool and church activities and ministry events, it was a different challenge every day of the week. I loved it all.”

Shoaf said he considers security enhancements, the creation of the new Youth Room, and the opening of the Worship Center/Gym and parking upgrades — all while doing the essential day-to-day work so school, church, and community could continue to use the space — among his team’s proudest moments.

“We’ve put electric locks on all the doors, added card readers, and now have 49 cameras in the security upgrade alone,” Shoaf said. “And with all the new construction, we had all that going on but still ran and operated our normal facilities and made everything work as a team.”

In a 2009 Connections interview, Shoaf said a perfect day for him on the job at Triad was “knowing that I have served the Lord and made a difference in someone’s life by helping or doing something for them and thanking God for the opportunity.”

Last week, Shoaf leaves feeling that mission was accomplished. Now he has the time to attend to several projects, including home renovations, and directing the sale and rental of properties he and family members inherited. He also plans to continue to take care of his heart and health through regular workouts at the YMCA, to hit the golf links often, and to continue using his talents at his church, and to help those who need it.

“I’ve got a lot of projects to do that will keep me busy, but plan to stay in touch with TBC,” Shoaf said. “Triad has a great team and the church has a great future with the purchase of the 92 acres and what that will allow the church to do.

“I’m excited about coming back from time to time to see those things become reality.”

Tim Shoaf with Triad staff at retirement lunch
Phase 2 Shot of TBC B&W 17

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