Memories of Pastoring my first church in 1992
1992 were some difficult, fascinating, confusing and interesting times for me. My new wife (1 year and a few months of marriage) believed in me, and never gave me a hard time. Thank you Jesus.
Instead of trying to do it herself, She allowed God to form me into a man. This is a flaw in many marriages today. Once a women knows the workings of her husband, she will become uncomfortable with the marriage. Her desire for security will drive her to make adjustments in her home and life, even at the expense of her marriage. Some of those adjustments will translate to reshaping or dominating over the man she expected to provide her with security.
The man, on the other hand, if he is not constantly learning a new trade, skill and if saved, hasn’t learned to lay before God, that man will have a failed marriage.
After being ordained in Baltimore Maryland in 1991, I set out on a mission to open a church and it didn’t matter where. I knew my salvation was in doing the will of God. I discovered early in my saved life that Christ forms His righteousness in us when we are active participants in His will.
Over the years I’ve watched my fellow Elders die, sitting down waiting to be appointed to do something (by our Pastor Bishop Bonner). I didn’t want that for me, I wanted to dream and live in the dream.
I’ve learned that there are two kinds of dreams. The ones you craft from nothing or the ones that someone craft for you. Bishop Perkins didn’t know what kind of person he invited to come to this great State of Washington. He was use to leading people, directing their entire life, financial, relationship, work and more. Most people welcome this type of leadership, but I had both vision and the strength of the vision – from the Lord.
Anyway, I packed my family and we traveled by greyhound bus over 3000 miles from Detroit Michigan, with 11 luggage bags, money donated to me from Solomons Temple and a heart filled with hope. I Trusted in God, I didn’t have a vision then, only hope, but Christ sure shaped one in me once I got there. It didn’t come by praying only, but through the struggles I faced, which forced me to pray. While praying, in the midst of my struggle I received my direction rom the Lord.
Most people reject persecution, trials and tribulation. This is wrong. You are formed by, the Image of Jesus Christ is formed in you by the Holy Ghost through them. Your thoughts and ideas about your problem must be modified. The expressions of the Holy Ghost that the church rejects, speaking in tongues, dancing in the spirit, shouting uncontrollably in the spirit and rejoicing are necessary in order for God to form in us His ways, His Righteousness, His Thoughts. We are renewed only when we go through and yield to the work of the Holy Ghost in them. But the expressions of the Holy Ghost are not voluntary expressions formulated by men and calling them the ways of God. You must pray in your situation until the Holy Ghost expresses HIMSELF.
Because we I didn’t know anyone in Washington State, I relied heavily on the Lord speaking too me.
I learned that dreams and the strength of the dream is but for a season. When God gives you something, he gives you a young mans strength to accomplish the vision.
Bless you.