Riverside set aside Sunday August 21st 2016, as a day to honor our pastors – Rev. Marvin Locklear and Rev. Tom Morgan. Both pastors had members of their family in attendance to share this day with them. Brother Marvin was accompanied by his wife, Camalain, as well as other family members. Due to continued health restrictions, Brother Tom was unable to be with us; however, members of his family – his father, Muriel Morgan; his mother, Evelyn Morgan; and his sister, Jennifer Morgan — represented him.
The day began with the youth and adult choirs honoring our pastors in song. Following the choirs, Brother Marvin preached the Word challenging all that were in attendance. After being feed spiritually, the congregation adjourned to the fellowship where we were feed physically. As usual, the ladies of the church went out of their way to prepare a feast in honor of our pastors. After the delicious meal, the church honored each preacher with small tokens of our appreciation and gratitude for their service to the church and to the Lord.
The youth and children of the church showed their appreciation to Brother Marvin through the pictures and short sayings that were used to decorate each table as well as the fellowship hall. These pictures/sayings are being compiled in a scrapbook to be given to Brother Marvin as a gift from Riverside’s Youth for Christ. Overall, it was an excellent day of fun, food and fellowship honoring two men who are very dear to hearts of Riverside Memorial Holiness Methodist Church.
I would like to conclude this article by sharing three verses, which are meant to encourage and challenge all of our pastors, exhorters, missionaries, and evangelists in our conference:
“And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” (Jeremiah 3:15 KJV)
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”(2 Timothy 4:2 KJV)
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)
To all the ministers in our conference, I want to say that we may not always show it, but we do appreciate and respect who you are and what you do. Please continue to Preach the Word – tell it like it is, not just what we want to hear!