HALLELUJAH! One can only imagine the faith walk that Rev. W.H. Parker took as he heard from God to embark upon the founding of the St. James Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in 1918. His journey began with the end of WWI, the devastation of the world’s deadliest influenza outbreak, and 53 years after chattel slavery in America ended.
In 2008, it is necessary to continue the faith journey. The United States is fighting wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq. There are outbreaks of drug addiction, a failing economy, HIV -AIDS, and the witnessing of a generation who potentially will not outlive its parents. An African American has a strong chance of becoming the President of the United States of America.
If ever there was a time for the church to be relevant, it is NOW! My vision is for St. James CME Church to be about our Father’s business. Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost. Our mission should be the same. Since 1918 St. James has had many visionary pastors of whose shoulders I humbly stand. It is no accident nor is it some strange phenomenon that God has chosen to assign me, the first female pastor of the church. I am ever mindful of the fact that some have planted, I am now watering but GOD gives the increase.
Happy 90th Anniversary, St. James. My prayer is that we follow the mandate given to the church found in Matt 28:18-20: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” NIV
Your Humble Servant,
Rev. Dr. Janice D. Blackmon, Pastor and Presiding Elder
THE ST. JAMES C.M.E. CHURCH WEB IS WONDERFUL. PASTOR YOUR PICTURE IS COLORFUL AND YOUR SMILE MAKES ME SMILE BACK AT YOU. I FOUND THIS WEB BY SEARCHING FOR THE CME CHURCH IN GHANA TO INFORM SOMEONE THAT I WILL BE VISITING GHANA ON A MISSION TRIP AND WOULD LIKE TO VISIT OUR CHURCH AS WELL. PASTOR CAN YOU STEER ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. WE WILL BE IN GHANA FOR 3 WEEKS ON A MISSION TRIP. I SAID A PRAYER FOR YOU THAT GOD WILL GUIDE YOU AND GIVE YOU GOD’S WISDOM AND STRENGTH AS YOU LEAD HIS PEOPLE DURING DIFFICULT TIMES. I HOPE YOU AND YOUR DAUGHTER ARE DOING WELL.
Comment by JILL JACKSON, LOCAL PREACHER — February 19, 2009 @ 7:28 pm