Still Holding On
By Robert Burgins, Jr.
This past Sunday True Worship Missionary Baptist Church (1401 4th Ave. Southwest-Bessemer, AL. 35022) celebrated their fifteenth year anniversary. We took the pleasure of visiting a blessed day for the congregation and passionate ministry, as 8:30 started promptly with an energetic Praise and Worship portion led by Minister Timothy Jennings followed by morning services which included moving messages and glorious songs.
We had the opportunity to speak with present True Worship Missionary Baptist’s Pastor, Apostle Leonard Wood who told us, “We want to celebrate this day by remembering what God has done for us as well as those who founded and co-founded this establishment to be a part of delivering wholeheartedly, the messages of God so that we may help someone. I’ve been walking with God for forty-eight years now and I just want to share personal experience and anointing to contribute to the ongoing purpose here and we’re just looking forward to uplifting God and celebrate still being able to do so here.”
The evening program held the same energy as the morning services. The evening program featured Pastor Douglas Caddell (Canaan Baptist Church of Bessemer, AL.) and choir with a powerful message to conclude the spiritually festive day.
Co-Founder of True Worship Missionary Baptist, Dr. Valerie Wood spoke with us through sheer emotional passion saying, “Celebrating today brings back memories. It hasn’t been easy, but if not we’d had a relationship with God we wouldn’t be here today.” We also asked Dr. Wood what would she say to others in this ever changing and unpredictable environment that’s become a part of daily earthly existence and she said, “Through this journey here at True Worship Missionary Baptist and personally, we’ve had many ups and downs, yet the key to it all as I’ve learned, is to keep holding on change will come and trust God always.”
We send our celebratory congrats to the mission and ministry of True Worship Missionary Baptist Church and all of our salvation stations (community churches) that will celebrate spiritual milestones this year.
We also would like to celebrate the memory of the great spiritual leadership of one, Pastor Jesse L. Oakes.
