Encouraging those who encouraged me

Yesterday I had the pleasure of chatting with a dear friend Clinton Chambers. We commented how little we truly recognize those who have blessed our lives and ministry, often in favor of those we aspire to have what they have and sit where they sit. So we want to gently encourage all of us to make today a Thankful Thursday. A time to thank those who have been a true blessing in our lives and to connect, or sadly in some cases reconnect to them to tell them how how much they mean to them. Be they pastors, brothers, mentors, teachers, friends, or confidants they have positively impacted my life for the better. Hopefully do not just do it on Facebook but reach out make a call, receive a call, send a card or letter today.

As a core group I want to start today by thanking Rev Dr Miles J Austin, Rev Dr. Kelmo C Porter, Rev James L. Barnes, Rev Dr. Frank S. Harrison, Rev Kenneth N. Cudjoe, Sr., Rev Dr Vater Colbert, RevJeffrey Reaves, Rev Dr. Geoffrey Van Guns, Rev Jimmy Yarbourough, Rev Dr. Robert Earl Houston, Rev Larry McElroy, Rev DrSteve Bland Jr, Rev G L Spurlock, Bishop Herbert James, Apostle Darrell Maurice Yancey, Apostle Baker, Pastor Johnathan Stubbs, Rev Bernard Boulton, Bishop Mitchel Ford, Sr. Plus to the multitudes of ministers I never met and probably never will but read their work/books incessantly, I say thank you.


Starting today with:

I want to thank Rev Dr Miles J Austin, Sr who served as my pastor at the Bethel Baptist Church in Westfield NJ. He baptized me into the Christian Faith. He ALWAYS made time for me to hang out in the church, play the piano (although not well and banned from doing so by my mother) teach Sunday School as a youth, and just be by his side. He and his wife tolerated my nerdy crush on his daughter who definitely was not interested in me, but was always polite about it. He developed within me a genuine love and respect of being in the church and the "annoying" habit that I know gets on folks nerves about being to church early and starting on time, no matter who has not yet arrived.