{"id":18838,"date":"2026-03-19T19:46:44","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T19:46:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=18838"},"modified":"2026-03-19T19:46:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T19:46:44","slug":"st-paul-mbc-holds-men-day-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/19\/st-paul-mbc-holds-men-day-weekend\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Paul MBC Holds Men\u2019 Day Weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Pastor James Willis, Sr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Fletcher Word<\/em>
\nThe Truth Editor<\/em><\/p>\n

St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church held its annual Men\u2019s Day Celebration on March 7-8, 2026. \u201cMen of God Walking in God\u2019s Will\u201d (Ecclesiastes 5: 15-17) was the theme of this year\u2019s celebration.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose words speak directly to the heart of godly manhood,\u201d wrote Senior Pastor James H. Willis, Sr. \u201cGod has entrusted each of you with the power of choice \u2013 choices that shape families, strengthen the church and influence generations.\u201d<\/p>\n

The weekend celebration began on Saturday moning with a Drive -By and Eat-In Breakfast. Congregants and friends joined Pastor Willis and guest pastors Otis Gordon and Damon Horton for a breakfast buffet prepared by church staff.<\/p>\n

Also on hand was State Rep. Elgin Rogers who shared some thoughts with those gathered. \u201cFor where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,\u201d (Matthew 6:21), he said in opening his remarks. \u201cIt\u2019s not about Elgin, it\u2019s about the people you can help,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Rogers\u2019 message on Men\u2019s Day Weekend was to inform attendees that he has introduced a bill that will focus on men\u2019s health. \u201cTake Your Dad to the Doctor and Dentist Day,\u201d is the title of the proposed legislation which was inspired by the recent passing of his own father.<\/p>\n

Rogers also spoke of some funds he has managed to bring home to Toledo to assist the YWCA in their capital campaign and for the MLK Kitchen for the Poor for the operating expenses.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only way we stay together is if we stand together.,\u201d he added in closing.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, service began at 10:45 with a musical selection from the Men\u2019s Day Choir, then a Call to Worship by Bro. Jason Fisher.<\/p>\n

Deacon Chrles Mathews followed with the invocation and Brother Demitrius Haynes welcomed the congregation and guests. After the recognition of those guests, the Men\u2019s Day Choir presented another musical selection.<\/p>\n

A scripture reading by Deacon Thomas Kirby and an Offertory Prayer by Deacon Michael Evans led to the introduction of the speaker by Pastor James Willis.<\/p>\n

The Sunday speaker was Toledo Councilman John Hobbs, III.<\/p>\n

Hobbs was appointed to City Council in 2020 and subsequently won election to retain his District 1 seat in November 2023. He serves as vice chair of the Regional Growth, Developmental & Small Business Enterprise Committee and chair of the Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform Committee, among other assignments.<\/p>\n

Hobbs, a graduate of St. Francis de Sales High School and The Ohio State Barber College, earned a bachelors degree in Public Relations from the University of Toledo.<\/p>\n

He is the founding Pastor at Dominion Fellowship Church, where he has served for over two decades.<\/p>\n

Hobbs address to the congregation followed the event\u2019s theme \u2013 \u201cMen of God Walking in God\u2019s Will.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s Men\u2019s Day Celebration was organized by Deacon Bobby McDole, chair, and Deacon Joseph Diggins, co-chair.<\/p>\n