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Men of St. Paul Encourage Other Men to Weather the Storm
By Tricia Hall
Sojourner’s Truth Reporter
Men of the historic St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church
organized their annual Men’s Day celebration during the
March 9, 2019 weekend. The two-day celebration kicked off
with a Saturday morning breakfast which featured Rev. Floyd
Smith, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, and concluded with
a spirit-filled Sunday morning worship service.
Biblical scripture Philippians 4:13 served as the
inspiration for the 2019 celebration theme, “Men, don’t stop
in the storm,” and Rev. Stanley Clark, an associate minister
of St. Paul, was the Sunday speaker.
“God was in the building yesterday,” began Rev. Clark. “I
want tot thank my pastor Rev. Willis, for this opportunity,
to serve under him to share a word with you today. Our job
is to uphold our pastor’s arms when he calls upon us. I also
want to thank the men for this opportunity, my brothers in
Christ are on point today.” |
Pastors James Willis and Floyd Smith and Councilmen Tyrone
Riley and Gary Johnson
Pastor and Deacons |
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Church members and guests were surrounded by various black
and white decorative items, and every man of the church wore
the same symbolic black and white tie during the service.
“The tie represents spiritual uniformity and is something we
plan every year. This year, black and white was decided
because of the theme. Take a moment to look at the storm,
when the storm is ragging there are clouds that surround
you. When we depend on God, you can’t let darkness of the
storm stop us. Even though darkness it is because of God’s
light, we can battle the storm,” explained Rev. James Willis
Sr, pastor of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church.
Rev. Clark was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, relocated with
his parents and siblings to Toledo, graduated from Libbey
high school, served his country with military service from
1980 until 1989 and earned rank of Staff Sergeant, married
his wife in 1994, loving father of five children and two
grandsons, and founding pastor of The United Vision Church.
Rev. Clark was under the leadership of Toledo-area pastors
Rev. A. Charles Ware of Eastern Star Missionary Baptist
Church, Rev. Robert Wormely of Southern Missionary Baptist
Church, and currently Rev. James Willis Sr of St. Paul
Missionary Baptist Church.
Saturday’s Prayer Breakfast opened with a blessing of the
food by Deacon Bobby McDole, Jr.. Deacond Darryl Reed served
as master of ceremony after the breakfast. The guest
speaker, Rev. Smith, is a Toledo native who accepted the
gospel ministry as his life calling at the age of 18. He was
ordained in 1974 and was called to pastor his first church
in 1982 while still a student at the American Baptist
College.
Smith became pastor at Calvary Baptist, his childhood
church, in 1989
Various congregations and St. Paul ministries submitted
words of gratitude for the Men’s Day Weekend Celebration
including: Warren AME Church and pastor Rev. Otis Gordon
MinD; Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church and pastor Rev.
W.L. Perryman, Min.D; Third Baptist Church and pastor Rev.
K. David Johnson, MinD; Mount Ararat Missionary Baptist
Church and pastor Rev. John Walthall III; Mt. Nebo Baptist
Church and pastor Rev. Cedric Brock; church ministries Love
Circle, The Circle of Job, Genesis Circle, Matthew Circle,
Ruth Circle, Deacons Ministry, Deaconess Ministry, American
Baptist Men, Trustees Ministry, American Baptist Women,
Christian Board of Education, Choir Ministry; local
businesses John H. McKissick senior apartments, C. Brown
Funeral Home, and State Farm Insurance with Jan Scotland.
Pictures (primary)
:0169: St. Paul’s choir, deacons, and ushers
: 0172: Jan Scotland; guest speaker Rev. Clark and his wife
Pamela; First Lady Willis and Rev. James Willis, pastor of
St. Paul; and Deacon Darryl Reed, Men’s Day Chairman
: 0189: Rev. Clark (speaker) and Rev. Willis (pastor)
: 0197 Men’s Day honorees
Pictures (other)
: 0186: Men’s Day Choir and congregation of St. Paul’s
: 0185: Men’s Day Choir and congregation of St. Paul’s
: 0195 Deacons |
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