Brotherhood

The Emotions From Today's Worship

As I sat in service this morning, I gained a larger appreciation for what God is doing at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. More so for how He has blessed our congregation with an outstanding young leader who has elderly wisdom. Pastor Ray Eugene Owens, is an example of focused determination, Christ-like confidence and a true expression of desire to "help somebody." (Plus this brother can flat-out Preach!)

Don't get me wrong I have had some great men of ministy in my life:

• Pastor Anthony R. Pettus, Sr. - Pastor Greater Progressive MBC- Ft. Wayne, IN - My Spiritual Father who taught me the importance of dedicated study habits, pulpit edicate, servent leadership and to always strive to improve my God given abilities.
  
• Pastor Ricardo Taylor - Pastor Mt. Carmel MBC - South Bend, IN who encouraged me to go beyond preaching and teaching - but to not be afraid to sing songs of Zion in public.


• Bishop Donald L. Alford, Sr. - Pastor Pentecostal Cathedral - South Bend, IN who has spoken into my life ever since I was called to my first Pastorate - When I debated accepting the call, it was Bishop Alford who taught me that 'just because you start in one place, doesn't mean that's where you finish'", Those words echo in my ministry still till this day. Why, because I'm still a Pastor-only 10 years later I'm a Pastor in waiting.


• Pastor Allen Gary, Pastor Billy Kirk and Pastor Sam Chase, all pastors who have gone home to be with the Lord, but before they left took time to pour into me lessons about how to wait on God.
  

Now, Pastor Owens, who has become more than my pastor, is even more than a friend. To quote an old song "he ain't heavy, he's my brother".

2008 for me was a year of challenge [from a major ministry disappointment to the passing of my father Sears L. Staples, Jr. to dealing with personal issues that stem from missing a parent] but through it all Pastor Ray Eugene Owens has been here for me. Just like the Word says...God will give us Pastors after His heart.

When I needed a brother, a friend, a pastor to believe in me and encourage me to "keep on keeping on"...Owens was there! When I said maybe I should just quit, Owens was there! When I said-I think I'm not going to preach for a while, Owens stood-up from the pulpit that God had recently assigned him and said "Macedonia every third Sunday, Pastor Staples will be preaching from this pulpit," Yea, Owens was there!

The Definition Of Brotherhood

Brotherhood 1 : the quality or state of being brothers 2 : fellowship , alliance 3 : an association (as a labor union or monastic society) for a particular purpose 4 : the whole body of persons engaged in a business or profession. This is how Webster defines brotherhood, but on the real, if I had my own dictionary and defined the root word BROTHER, I wouldn't use words, I'd simply put a picture of Pastor Ray Eugene Owens.

It is my prayer that every preacher, every church, every community could have a pastor/preacher/teacher/friend/BROTHER like the person in which God has blessed me and the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in South Bend, Indiana.

Perhaps Solomon said it best in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 - (9)Two [are] better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. (10) For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him [that is] alone when he falleth; for [he hath] not another to help him up.

Brothers & Sisters don't go it alone-but find a brother that puts some brotherhood in your life, your ministry and your future...pray that God places an Owens in your life!