How did I end up
at New Galilee Missionary Baptist Church?
Surprisingly enough this
church is almost directly across the street from where I grew up.
Never in a million years did I think I would be a minister at that
church.
In short, I was raised in the A.M.E. Zion church. A.M.E.
stands for African Methodist Episcopal Church. This church whose
full name was Varrick A.M.E. Zion church was located across town.
One day under new leadership the church moved further away from
where we lived.
So my grandparents who raised me in the church
decided to go to a church near home. So they went to New Galilee
Missionary Baptist Church across the street. However, they sent me
to another church across the tracks call Tru-Way Church of the Risen
Christ.
My grandparents thought it better for me to go there since
many young people attended this church and they felt I would benefit
from interacting with church members my own age. It was at Tru-Way
Church of the Risen Christ I accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and
Savior and it was there where I embraced my call to ministry.
Meanwhile at my grandparents church the current Pastor Rev. Carter
passed away and a new Pastor by the name of John D. Thomas was
installed. It was only a year or so before the Lord called my
grandfather home to eternal rest; Rev Thomas preached the funeral.
Later that year, I am not sure what possessed him to do so but Rev.
Thomas asked me if I would come and help out at the church on
Sunday’s. He knew of my calling and preaching from my grandmother
and not to mention my church was across the railroad track from his.
After gaining the approval of my current pastor I began to serve as
minister at New Galilee Missionary Baptist Church.
Soon after Rev.
Thomas became ill as his cancer resurfaced. He became so ill that he
could no longer function fully as the Pastor of New Galilee. He
began to call on other preachers from his home church to help while
also wanting me to stay there and work. Soon the Lord called Pastor
Thomas home and soon after that the Lord called my grandmother home
as well. Through these hard times I persevered and stay true to the
promise I made to Rev. Thomas to help out at the church. When the
Lord called Pastor Wortha Dean Tompkins to Pastor the church, the
Lord also spoke to my heart and directed me to stay there at New
Galilee instead of returning to my home church and the rest is
history. To this day, I do not know the reason the Lord placed me at
New Galilee but one thing is for sure I am where I belong. |
