Can I Get A Witness?

Sister Loretta and Tony

A wonderful surprise during this time of deputation has been visiting a wide range of churches. I am blessed to be able to spend this season of my life visiting different congregations and enjoying a myriad of styles of worship on Sunday mornings.

A recent visit to our first African American supporting church made our family feel like we had arrived in heaven. Pastor M.L. Carter Jr. is the senior pastor of Holy Missionary Baptist Church in Pomona, California and his lovely wife, Donnie, along with the rest of the joyful congregation sang with passion and reverence unlike anything I had ever seen. Their love for the Lord was evident as they greeted one another with ample hugs and kisses. Young and old folks clapped and lifted their voices as the organ played old hymns and spirituals. As we took our place in the pew before the 11:00 service began, we unknowingly sat next to Sister Loretta, the spiritual mother of the 41 year old church. Sister Loretta is nearly 80 years old but her ability to confirm the pastor’s message with an “Amen” or “Praise the Lord” could be heard from one end of the pew to another. Reverend Carter’s message from Matthew 28:18-20 challenged the members to boldly share the Gospel because Jesus would never leave them nor forsake them. As the minister sighted the scripture of the last verse of the book of Matthew, he turned to the choir behind him and asked,“Can I get a witness?”  The members of the brightly robed choir all replied, “Oh, yes!” And with that reply, I realized how delightful it was to watch Pastor Carter stand in the pulpit and receive an affirmation to the unrelenting challenge to “Go and make disciples of all nations….”

My prayer that is that I may I learn from the members of Holy Missionary Baptist Church in their demonstrative love for God and for each other. 

-Laura