Skip to main content

Mcconnels Bethesda Presbyterian church to ordain its first black elder

MCCONNELLS during the period when Alberta Anthony joined Bethesda Presbyterian church in MCCONNELLS three years back, she felt a great sense of peace. Standing beneath the sanctuary's chandelier, she gazed at the balcony where her forefathers and her husband's-The Anthony's and the Davidson's-once settled. That was standard in many York County churches prior to the Civil War: White parishioners sat in pews;their slaves worshiped in the balcony. During Sunday's 11 a.m. service, Anthony willbe one of six elders ordained at the historic church,which was initiated in 1769. Three men and three women comprise the latest class of elders that will serve for three years.Anthony is the first black church member elected as a Bethesda elder."I feel like this is drawing me closer to God,"Anthony said. "I'm not doing this in opposition,not with an ethic... In heaven it will be blacks and whites."

Bethesda's spiritual mentor, the Rev.Daniel Smoak, called today's installation"a fascinating moment for the church." "But in otherwise, we're doing what we have always done, setting apart by prayer and the laying on of hands leaders chosen by God for service to His church," he said. "I believe Alberta was elected for leadership in this church for the right reasons – not as a political statement about race – but simply because of her gifts and service to the church "She and her husband James are good members; she'll be a good elder."Anthony said she didn't intend to change churches when she visited Bethesda with friends three years back. Her home church was St. Paul's Baptist, where she attended until she married James in 1972. She and James attended Galilee Baptist.She was active at Galilee, but felt led to change churches.

At Bethesda, the former fifth-grade teacher at Hickory Grove-Sharon Elementary attended services, went to Sunday school and Bible classes. Others recognized her servant heart,and she was elected by the congregation as an elder.In her new role, Smoak said, Anthony will be
asked to "consider ways the church can share the gospel of Jesus with a broken,detrimental and fragmented community and world. She cares about those things."Anthony also is interested in enlarging the church's yearly food drive and using her Techniques as a mentor to associate with the church's youth.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

YEAR 2014: Pastor Enoch Adebayo Prophectic Declaration

The Nigerian Pastor and general Overseer, Reedemed Christian Church Of God(RCCG) made this declaration known to touch individuals, the nation Nigeria and world at large.Here is his declarations -Individual; God said a divine promise of more than a decade ago will begin to find fulfillment. Someone can expect a prominent divine visitation that will radically alter the course of his or her life Someone will have the first taste. There will be quiet a fewnarrow escape of tragedies. -Nigeria; The future of Nigeria will be determined this year and not in 2015.The equation at the beginning of the year will be different from equation at the year end. Therefore .. Read more
Post a Comment
Read more

world watch list revals that North korea is still the greatest persecutors of christians

Leader of communist North Korea, Kim Jong|| BCNews For the 12th consecutive year. the hermit Communist country of North Korea remains the world’s most restrictive nation in which to practice Christianity, according to the Open Doors 2014 World Watch List (WWL). However, a major trend the WWL tracked in 2013 was a marked increase in persecution for  Christian communities in states that are commonly regarded as “failed.” A failed country is defined “as a weak state where social and political structures have collapsed to the point where government has little or no control.”The top 10 countries where Christians faced the most pressure and violence in the 2013 reporting period of the 2014 WWL are North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Maldives, Pakistan, Iran and Yemen. For the complete list, go to  worldwatchlist.us . Overwhelmingly, the main engine driving persecution of Christians in 36 of the top 50 countries is Islamic extremism, with the most viole...
Post a Comment
Read more

Random talks and 2014 projectioons- Pastors

  Tunde Fagbenle. Image: punchng.com And I say projections, not predictions. Prediction is what the herd of religious pastors, especially of pentecostal hue do in Nigeria particularly at this time of ushering a new year in. I have never stopped  to be baffled by it all, those hoodwinking balderdash they call predictions. And I'm more angrily perplexed at those(and they are in the millions) who lend their ears, let alone of hearts, to them. I don't believe in any of them. Indeed I don't even bother to listen or read to them both the message and the messenger. It's nothing more than a half- clever juggling of probabilities, no more than the pool gambling permutations, two from five,or any three from ten! The only difference is  whereas in the pool game you lose your money if you don't make the minimum number permed,these God-forsaking so-and-so don't loose anything, not money no face, by not making any number. Their blinded followers ensure that. If just one more ...
Post a Comment
Read more