Monday, November 8, 2010

E.V. HILL II ... THANK YOU JESUS!

This past Sunday I had the blessed opportunity to preach at the famed Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles California, Rev. E. V. Hill II, pastor.

This opportunity came about because Pastor Welton Pleasant II, invited Sis. Fort and I to participate in Marriage Conference 2010 held at his church. Consequently my friend and brother, Rev. E.V. Hill II, pastor of Mount Zion M.B.C., Los Angeles California heard about my coming to Los Angeles and extended an invitation to preach at "Zion".

Pastor E.V. Hill II, and I have known each other for some time. In fact, I've had him scheduled to preach at Canaan at least twice in the last several months. Neither one of those invitations came to pass. However, if The LORD see's fit, Pastor HIll will be with us in January of 2011.

That said, let me declare to one and all that "Zion" has it going on! What do I mean by that? Well consider that the last time I was at Zion it was the Memorial Service for the late Dr. E. V. Hill I. The service took place on a Friday night and the place of course was jam packed.

When I went to Zion this past Sunday it was my first time seeing the new facility since the fire. In a word it is AWESOME! It's beautiful! The sanctuary says "worship". So many sanctuary's don't communicate that today. It's modern. I mean the technology is there (cameras, screens and all); but if you're not looking for it you may miss some of it. The camera's and all are "under-stated". They are not obtrusive. The wood in the church works. I've seen so many churches with wood that are dark and maybe even foreboding. Not so here. The wood is warm and light. The key color is the same ... green. But now the green seems to me to be a richer, dark, emerald green. Last but not least let me say something about the sound system! Great!

In addition to all of this the Praise Team ... yes I said Praise Team at "Zion" was outstanding. The choir ... magnificent. And Pastor Hill of course was gracious to a fault. A ridiculously charismatic, sharp and always well groomed brother ... I thank The LORD for the kindness showed to me by Rev. E.V. Hill II.

If you live in South Los Angeles, do yourself a favor and visit Mt. Zion M.B.C. if The LORD leads you so to do.

safe in CHRIST,
pastor fort

THANK YOU CHRIST SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH, LONG BEACH, CA.

It's not often that I have the blessed opportunity to receive an invitation that involves both my wife and I working in ministry together. However, that's exactly what happened this past weekend.

My friend and brother, Rev. Welton Pleasant II, pastor of Christ Second Baptist Church in Long Beach California- invited Angela and I to participate in their Marriage Conference 2010.

This blog is being written to say a big THANK YOU to the pastor and people of Christ Second Baptist Church. Sis. Fort and I had a wonderful time sharing in ministry together. The Conference was wonderful. The Couple's Ministry Leaders, Deacon and Sis. Brown were very kind. The people of Christ Second Baptist Church were gracious to a fault.

All that said, what I enjoyed over the course of the Conference may very well have been the "refreshing" voice(s) of both Sis. Angela Fort and Sis. Teresa Pleasant (daughter of Dr. Fred Campbell, pastor, Mt. Zion M.B.C., Redwood City, CA.).

Angela and Teresa joined Pastor Pleasant and I in facilitating our respective Sessions. Wow! How very refreshing it was for me to hear them. Their voice, their perspective and the way they communicated the things they shared was wonderful to watch and witness. I thank our God for blessing us with gifted wives.

In addition to participating in the Marriage Conference, Pastor Pleasant also afforded me the privilege of preaching at the church this past Sunday morning. My, my, my ... what an experience!

Pastor Pleasant and I have been friends for some years now. I knew him when he served as Pastor of South Los Angeles Baptist Church in Los Angeles California. And what a great church South Los Angeles was. However, let the record reflect that our God has blessed Pastor Pleasant at Christ Second Baptist Church.

The worship was wonderful, the campus is great. The staff (from the Church Administrator to the young ladies working the Video ministry piece on both Saturday and Sunday); were all gracious and kind.

Most certainly I struggled some in preaching last Sunday morning, but still the people were gracious. I pray that they received what The LORD wanted to them to hear this past Sunday. I pray this is true more than I pray that they "enjoyed" the sermon; or that I'm ever invited back.

Thank you LORD JESUS CHRIST for this opportunity. Thank you Pastor Pleasant for the invitation.

Safe in CHRIST,
pastor sherman j. fort