GOD IS FAITHFUL ... PERIOD!
First and foremost I want to thank God for His love, mercy and grace. I also want to thank my wife, the incomparable Mrs. Angela Monique Fort for her genuine (that's a big word); support and excitement with respect to the Pastor's Summit 2009. I also have to thank the steady and sweet Sis. Angela Garmon, (a member of CMBC and the person who worked diligently to bring this event to pass); for her kind, consistent and most of all Christian character in causing the Pastor's Summit to take place.
Now then, let me say that the Pastor's Summit was, in my estimation a life changing event. The goal of the "Summit" was to have a "safe place" where select senior pastors could come together and share their hearts with one another where the work of the pastoral ministry is concerned.
From the very beginning my goal was not a numerical one. I wanted no more than twelve pastors for the Summit with the thought that the smaller number would better lend itself to the intimacy, honesty and building of what I hope would be real relationship between brothers of like faith, mind and heart.
From the very beginning my hope was that a time of personal refreshing, revival and renewal would take place in the lives of those pastors in attendance. With the largest emphasis of that refreshing, revival and renewing being of a "Spiritual" nature.
From the time the vision for this Summit was birthed and I began to put feet to my faith (this happened in October 2008)- in terms of contacting the hotel, producing the initial flyers and beginning to share the word, via word of mouth about the event- to the time it all came to fruition much took place.
As a Christian pastor seeking to host this event, out of a need I see for this event to take place and with the approval and leading of our most High God, I wrestled early on with trying to attract senior pastor's with the lure of a nationally known pastor and/or preaching personality as our Summit facilitator. To this end, I initially contacted three men. one of them significantly better known than the other two with respect to being a national preaching personality. Those three men were the inimitable Dr. Charles E. Booth; the inimitable Pastor Harry R. Fort; and the inimitable Pastor Fred Campbell. From here I had flyers produced and mailed out, sharing news of this event; and had the event advertises via the HOPE Ministries website on the world wide web.
Within months of the Summit Pastor Harry R. Fort was no longer one of the facilitators. With weeks to go until the Summit, I decided to cancel the event out of personal frustration and a closer look at my financial obligation. Consequently I shared the news with my wife Angela and contacted Dr. Booth to share the same.
For whatever reason I delayed sharing that decision with Pastor Campbell.
With weeks to go until the Summit, I had a change of heart and was moved to move forward with the event- honestly knowing the entire time that the need for this event and the calling to do it, host it, have it ... was what is most important.
It's Saturday evening now. 6:26PM on October 24, 2009. And let me say this "To God be the glory for the things He has done"! The Summit by all indications was a success. And by "indications" I speak of the spiritual indicators that count most. By "success" I speak to the original goal of having a safe place where senior pastors could come and grow together.
The location of the Summit is the beautiful and secluded Sheraton Wildhorse Pass and Resort in south Chandler Arizona. The location was a very important decision since I wanted to have this event take place somewhere that was accessible yet gave a sense of being secluded... almost isolated. The location was important because I wanted some place that was "excellent" in terms of it being a quality, top shelf, first class- if you please hotel/resort. The Wildhorse Pass Resort and Spa is all of those things and more.
The lone facilitator or conversation starter as I like to call it for the Summit was Reverend Fred Campbell, pastor of the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Redwood City California.
The senior pastors in attendance at the Summit were, Pastor Troy C. Allen, of Phoenix Arizona; Pastor/Dr. Johnny Baylor, of Carson California; Pastor Shawn Buckannon, of Sierra Vista Arizona; Pastor Michael Collier, of Mesa Arizona; Pastor Melvin Foard, of Queen Creek Arizona; Pastor Abram Moore, of Coolidge Arizona; Pastor Claudell Myles, of Phoenix Arizona; and Pastor Welton Pleasant, of Los Angeles California. Counting Pastor Campbell and myself there was a total of ten senior pastors.
Our time together was probing, powerful and precious. I believe that healing and genuine love was shared this weekend. From our initial dinner and session on Thursday, through our three meals and three sessions on Friday, and our breakfast and closing session this morning The Lord worked on us. We shared more than meals these last three days, we shared an experience that can never be repeated.
I've already begun mentioning and setting up meetings with Mr. Merold Porter, my sales representative at the Wildhorse Pass Resort and Spa for next years Pastor's Summit. And unless The LORD says otherwise, we will have a glorious time with Jesus and one another.
To my brother pastors who attended this years Summit, let me say: Thank you for coming. Thank you for caring and thank you for committing your time, resources and most importantly yourselves to this weekend. To Pastor Fred Campbell, thank you for leading us as our facilitator for the weekend. We had no "agenda" so to speak, we simply asked The Lord to take control. To my other fellow pastors who said they were coming and did not. Or, who wanted to come and could not. Let me say that I've already begun working on The Pastor's Summit 2010. The weekend has already been determined. It is Thursday, October 21st through Saturday morning, October 23rd. The location has already been decided. It is the Sheraton Wildhorse Pass Resort and Spa in south Chandler Arizona. And a numerical cap is being worked out now. With respect to the number of senior pastors in attendance I don't want to exceed 20. And, at this point I am thinking of stopping at 15.
That said, if you are a senior pastor who is interested in coming begin doing a few things: 1) Pray. Ask The LORD if the Pastor's Summit 2010 is for you. 2. Begin putting some financial resources away now to that end.
Then, once you've heard from The LORD, please contact me via the information provided on either the HOPE Ministries website (WWW.HOPEMINISTRIESAZ.ORG); or the Canaan Missionary Baptist Church website (WWW.MYCMBC.ORG); and let me know of your decision.
Now, may the love of God and sweet communion of The Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
Sherman J. Fort, Servant of JESUS CHRIST
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
THANK YOU LORD!
Recently I've had the opportunity to preach for two wonderful brothers.
The first, Rev., Dr. David L. Wade, Pastor of the historic Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Mesa Arizona. I've had the distinct pleasure of knowing this gregarious, generous, giving Pastor since he first arrived in Arizona a few short years ago.
Pastor Wade was scheduled to go out of town on preaching business and asked me to come and share The WORD of GOD with his people at Mt. Calvary. I'm thankful that The LORD gave me clearance to leave my Canaan familly and preach at Mt. Calvary that Sunday ... particularly since Pastor Wade and I pastor different churches in the same city. In truth, our churches are just a few miles apart.
The Calvary Church family proved to be welcoming, warm and friendly. The service was vibrant. The choir (yes, I said choir... not praise team); sang one of my favorite gospel songs from bygone years. Namely, "Uncloudy Day". Dr. Wade's associate Minister and Deacons were kind as well.
It is my prayer that our God was pleased with my attempt at preaching His WORD to His people (those Dr. Wade calls "the sweet members" of Calvary.
I thank my God for this preaching privilege.
Most recently, just last week in fact, I was blessed with another wonderful preaching opportunity. Believe it or not, I preached for the inimitable Rev., Dr. Emil M. Thomas.
Pastor Thomas serves as Pastor of Destiny Church in the Washington DC/Baltimore Maryland area. WOW! What an experience. When it comes to Dr. Thomas it has been my distinct pleasure and privilege to know him for better than twenty five years now. When I was a much younger preacher he allowed Pastor Fredrick L. Fairley, Pastor Thomas E. Fisher, myself and so many other
"young preachers" to preach at the Jerusalem Baptist Church, in Palo Alto California- during his tenure their as Senior Pastor.
Not long after I began serving as Pastor of Canaan Missionary Baptist Church, Pastor Thomas preached at CMBC. And, since that time he has become a favorite of both Pastor and people. In fact, Pastor Thomas has now exceeded my friend and brother Rev. Fredrick L. Fairley Sr., as the preacher who has preached most often at CMBC. I believe he's conducted our Annual Church Revival for five years in a row. And, if The LORD says the same he will join Pastor Louis B. Jones II, one Sunday in January 2010 as our special guest lecturer that day.
Let me get back to the point. Pastor Thomas allowed me the privilege of preaching for him last week at Destiny Church. His church is alive, vibrant, kind, friendly, warm and welcoming! The music provided by the Male Chorus was excellent! Not only was Bro. Jones on point with both playing and singing, it was The Holy Spirit active in these men that took service to another level.
And, in spite of Pastor Thomas telling a joke about the Washington Redskins football team, the men presented him with an authentic Philadelphia Eagles/Michael Vick Jersey. They gave him the real thing. The men remembered his making reference to the jersey some time earlier and gave it to him on this their first Annual Men's Day.
Again, I hope The LORD was pleased with my effort to preach His WORD at Destiny church.
Thank you Pastor Wade. Thank you Pastor Thomas.
THANK YOU LORD!
Grateful,
Sherman J. Fort
The first, Rev., Dr. David L. Wade, Pastor of the historic Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Mesa Arizona. I've had the distinct pleasure of knowing this gregarious, generous, giving Pastor since he first arrived in Arizona a few short years ago.
Pastor Wade was scheduled to go out of town on preaching business and asked me to come and share The WORD of GOD with his people at Mt. Calvary. I'm thankful that The LORD gave me clearance to leave my Canaan familly and preach at Mt. Calvary that Sunday ... particularly since Pastor Wade and I pastor different churches in the same city. In truth, our churches are just a few miles apart.
The Calvary Church family proved to be welcoming, warm and friendly. The service was vibrant. The choir (yes, I said choir... not praise team); sang one of my favorite gospel songs from bygone years. Namely, "Uncloudy Day". Dr. Wade's associate Minister and Deacons were kind as well.
It is my prayer that our God was pleased with my attempt at preaching His WORD to His people (those Dr. Wade calls "the sweet members" of Calvary.
I thank my God for this preaching privilege.
Most recently, just last week in fact, I was blessed with another wonderful preaching opportunity. Believe it or not, I preached for the inimitable Rev., Dr. Emil M. Thomas.
Pastor Thomas serves as Pastor of Destiny Church in the Washington DC/Baltimore Maryland area. WOW! What an experience. When it comes to Dr. Thomas it has been my distinct pleasure and privilege to know him for better than twenty five years now. When I was a much younger preacher he allowed Pastor Fredrick L. Fairley, Pastor Thomas E. Fisher, myself and so many other
"young preachers" to preach at the Jerusalem Baptist Church, in Palo Alto California- during his tenure their as Senior Pastor.
Not long after I began serving as Pastor of Canaan Missionary Baptist Church, Pastor Thomas preached at CMBC. And, since that time he has become a favorite of both Pastor and people. In fact, Pastor Thomas has now exceeded my friend and brother Rev. Fredrick L. Fairley Sr., as the preacher who has preached most often at CMBC. I believe he's conducted our Annual Church Revival for five years in a row. And, if The LORD says the same he will join Pastor Louis B. Jones II, one Sunday in January 2010 as our special guest lecturer that day.
Let me get back to the point. Pastor Thomas allowed me the privilege of preaching for him last week at Destiny Church. His church is alive, vibrant, kind, friendly, warm and welcoming! The music provided by the Male Chorus was excellent! Not only was Bro. Jones on point with both playing and singing, it was The Holy Spirit active in these men that took service to another level.
And, in spite of Pastor Thomas telling a joke about the Washington Redskins football team, the men presented him with an authentic Philadelphia Eagles/Michael Vick Jersey. They gave him the real thing. The men remembered his making reference to the jersey some time earlier and gave it to him on this their first Annual Men's Day.
Again, I hope The LORD was pleased with my effort to preach His WORD at Destiny church.
Thank you Pastor Wade. Thank you Pastor Thomas.
THANK YOU LORD!
Grateful,
Sherman J. Fort
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