By Fletcher Word
The Truth Editor
St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church held its annual Men’s Day Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, March 8 and 9. Pastor James Willis and congregants celebrated this year’s weekend with the theme “Men of God Striving to Get on the Right Side of God.”
As usual, the weekend opened on Saturday morning with a prayer breakfast. The event typically is a sit-down breakfast buffet. This year, however, the event also included a drive through service for attendees. All together about 150 guests attended the breakfast – an open fellowship, said Pastor Willis.
Sunday’s service opened with a musical selection by the St. Paul’s Men’s Day Choir – the men adorned in green ties and pocket handkerchiefs – the color of the day.
Brother Aaron Cooper led the Call to Worship, followed by Deacon Charles Mathews’ invocation and a welcome to the congregation by Brother Orlando Gray.
A responsive reading by Deacon Darryl Reed was followed by a congregational hymn, musical selections by the St. Paul’s Men’s Day Choir, a scripture reading by Deacon Thomas Kirby and an offertory prayer by Deacon Michael Evans.
Pastor Willis then introduced this year’s speaker, Rev. Stanley E. Clark, Sr, St. Paul MBC assistant pastor.
Rev. Clark, a Pine Bluff, Arkansas native, is an Army veteran and a former student at the University of Toledo, Stauzenberger College and Toledo Bible Institution. He founded United Vision Baptist Church and served as pastor from 2010 to 2016. He serves his ministry in the community by helping those recovering from drugs and alcohol and others who need help.
The Men’s Day celebration closed with remarks by Deacon Joseph Diggins and a benediction offered by Pastor Willis.
Numerous congregations and groups congratulated St. Paul MBC for its celebration of Men’s Day, including: Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church; Mount Ararat Missionary Baptist Church; Third Baptist Church; Mt. Nebo Baptist Church; State Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson; the board of the John H. McKissick Senior Apartments along with other individuals, churches and church ministries.