A Winnipeg church is celebrating one of their pastors who has served their community for a quarter of a century.

Pastor Keith Eberhard has been serving Winnipeg's Church of the Rock as a pastor for 25 years, now. The church recently recognized him at a weekend service for the two and a half decades of ministry.

However, he says, his pastoral journey began much earlier. Eberhard says it was in grade two that he knew he wanted to preach the gospel and serve others when his teacher asked his class what they wanted to be when they grew up. 

"All of a sudden this thought came 'I want to be a pastor' but I stood up and said 'I'm going to be a fireman.'"

Even though he spoke those words, Pastor Eberhard says he always knew ministry was where he would end up. "All the time in my heart, I still knew someplace along the line I'd be a pastor. I'd be leading people and helping them to walk with Christ," says Pastor Eberhard.

Now, as one of the pastors of Church of the Rock since 1994, he has seen the church grow from 200 people to five campuses and online broadcasts. "It feels pretty good, they've been good years," he says. "In the midst of growth, God challenges us to personally grow as well."

"I've definitely had some struggles but [I] realized that if I do what's right and draw closer to my Lord and let God work in my heart then he gives me strength," Eberhard says.

He says another source of strength is his team at Church of the Rock. He loves each and every one of them. "The pastors and people that stand with you and can discuss and process, and help you move with greater confidence," really make a difference.

He says that one of the greatest tips of success as a pastor is investing in others. "Train up others to do the work of Christ. Train them to the ministry themselves and give them the joy of letting God work through them."