Thanksgiving Service

Wow... A capacity house filled the Mount Olivet Baptist Church today to offer praises to the Lord on this beautiful Rochester Thanksgiving Day. What a beautiful Thanksgiving Day this has been. My family and I woke up to a hot breakfast prepared by the most beautiful and loving wife, Lady Yvonne. Rickey Jr, Rishard, Yvonne and myself sat down and Thanks was lead by Rishard and Rickey Jr. I am truly greatful for my family! Ricketa is in Memphis at my mother's and Rico is in Atlanta with Danielle's family! Church today included Pastors James Cherry, Jr. and Antioch Baptist Church, Richard Douglass and Zion Hill Baptist Church, Frederick Johnson and First Genesis Baptist Church. Moderator Ruben Golf, Reverends Duhart, Kittleberger, and a host of local Pastors and ministers attended the service. People brought non-perishables, gave old fashioned testimonies, and the Combined Choir blessed us tremendously! I was honored to serve as speaker for this event! Well thank God.... My family is taking a "last call" in the kitchen before the food is put away for the night! This is my second "Thanksgiving" in Rochester! Everyday is Sweeter than the Day Before!

Happy Birthday Moma

Moma Mamie Harvey celebrated her big __th Birthday a couple of weeks ago. You talk about a woman whom the Lord has been good to... it's my Moma. She raised nine children and all of them (us) are God-fearing, none-smokers, drug free, Christians, Church members, Church workers, gainfully employed, family men and women. School Teachers, Administrators, Nurses, Politicians, Electricians, and of course her Best Child is a Preacher! :-) Now that's a direct of result of both Moma's prayers and whippings! Lawd she could out whip any man any day when it came to us! And she made us get our own switches... We had a "Switch Tree" and Moma didnt play! She only said go to bed one time, and when she thought it again, we had better already be sleep or in the bed with our eyes closed! We dared not ask for that expensive $25 tennis shoes in those days, because we knew Moma didnt have the money for that! While we didnt have all of the latest and trendiest fashions, we were clothed, fed, educated, taken to church, and more importantly loved. We were taught how to work because we saw Moma work. She would get up in the morning, cook a pancake, salmon croquettes, butter and syrup. While we were eating breakfast, she would be running a load of clothes, sweeping, making beds, doing house work so that home would be nice and clean when we returned. After breakfast, Moma would wash the dishes, get us out to school, then walk to the busline, catch the bus, work all day....but somehow, she managed to get home in time to have a hot dinner for us Everyday! Often it was pinto beans, with some type of meats, neckbones, fried chicken or something like that! Well, those days have changed! Moma's little children have grown up and are able to first thank God for a Mother who raised us in the Lord.... secondly, give back to Moma as she gave to us! Somebody wrote these words in a song: Give me my flowers while I yet live, so that I can see the beauty that they bring. Friends and loved ones may give me flowers when im sick or on my sickbed, But I'd rather have just one tulip right now, than a truckload of roses when I'm dead. Speak kind words to me while I can hear them, so that I can hear the beauty that they bring. This was our way of sharing with Moma flowers while she lived. Happy Birthday Moma!

Katherine Logan Ice Cream Social

This Ice Cream Social took place with Katherine Logan right behind the Youth Day where Scholarships were awarded to Graduating Seniors of Mount Olivet Church... Ms Katherine Logan is like the founder of this Scholarship Program... She was honored at the Church and celebrated with fellowship, fun and ice creams.... Pictured are those who worked on the Scholarship Committee....

The Caravans

One of the joys of my ministry has been the opportunity to know the Famous "Caravans" who paved the way for so many gospel singers. I have a picture with Cassietta George of the Caravans who pinned the tune, "Walk Around Heaven"... I actually booked her last couple of programs and traveled extensively with her... Of course that was before the day of digital cameras but I did manage to get some footage with her. Blessings be upon the lives of the living Caravans who continue to carry the message of Jesus in song... Albertina Walker, Dorothy Norwood, Inez Andrews, Delores Washington, and Shirley Caesar... Mount Olivet has hosted already, Dorothy and Inez.... I hear a ringing for Shirley Caesar.......

Dorothy Norwood

Dorothy Norwood showed up in the place as Mount Olivet Baptist Church celebrated its 99th Church Annivesary and she was dressed to kill..and she blessed our hearts... she readily tells her audience of having reached her three scores and ten years...and yet she's still going strong. Of course she took us down "Old School Boulevard" with a litany of old churchy hymns that we really appreciated...After a great worship service on Sunday as today.... we are yet thanking God for a wonderful and unforgettable 99th Church Anniversary Celebration!

Reverend Roy Headman

Reverend Roy Headman was the first Pastor with whom I worshipped and heard preach upon moving to Rochester and joining Mount Olivet Baptist Church in their Thanksgiving Tradition which includes a Tri-Church Fellowship with Zion Hill, Antioch and Mount Olivet. The fellowship was at Antioch and Reverend Roy Headman delivered the message! The next time we shared a pulpit together was at Mount Olivet's recent revival with Pastor James Cherry Jr delivering the message. Our next time together was at the Baptist Ministers Association a couple of Monday nights together. Our next time together will be in heaven! Roy Headman's life and work Wake - Monday 10/26/09 - 6pm-9PM Funeral - Tuesday 10/27/09 - 11AM Both at the: Antioch Missionary Baptist Church 304 Joseph AvenueRochester, New York 14605-1940Rev. James L. Cherry, Jr. PastorPhone Number 585-454-6096

Baltimore Pit Stop

You would have had to be with us to understand the wonderful time we had as we traveled together on the Chartered Bus to Baltimore. It was a great bunch, good travelers, plenty of fun and laughter, good Tyler Perry Movies to watch along the way. We even watched the movie with the Black woman who had the white daughter who was ashamed of her.... You know the Black woman sold her pancake recipe... It was a tear jerker along the trip. Well.....somebody remembers the name of the movie... I dont! But it was good.. .Kinda like we do sermons, can't recall the name, but it was good! Oh we were headed to Silver Springs and Baltimore, Maryland.

Dorothy Norwood In Concert

You already know by now.... Listen... Get the tickets..... I have a few tickets to the Private Reception that will take place just prior to the 6:00pm concert.. Call the Church office today and get them from me... 585 232 6742 I want to see you there at the concert... I only have 10 Private Concert Tickets left.... so you will need to contact me personally TODAY in order to attend this fabulous Reception with Ms Dorothy Norwood.... Meet her personally, take pictures, fellowship with others and enjoy the great foods prepared for this reception!

Thursday Night Revival

Reverend Melvin Brooks and I go back some fifteen years or more in Pastoral Ministries... I think we met in Detroit while the both of us were conducting revivals in that city back in the day! Then in later years, whenever I went to Detroit, Melvin would come over from Buffalo on Friday of the revival...and we along with the host pastor would fellowship.... That's where I started eating Alligator meat... That's good eating.... We always went to Fishbones.... Well, Melvin did a great job in our revival...he's a great preacher and friend... By the way... Melvin and I date back to the years when I was pastoring in Memphis and he was pastoring in Chicago..

Wednesday Night Revival

A great cloud of witnesses from the Faith Temple Apostolic Church followed Bishop Jerry McCullough over to Mount Olivet Baptist Church on Wednesday night as he came in the doors flanked by his Armourbearer and his brother; Alphonso McCullough. His wonderful choir, well prepared, and great worshippers sang just before he got up to preach. We had lots of laughs about our fishing experiences and the fellowship among us! Bishop was very candid in his message "God Is More Than Enough" about how God has been good to him and how God has spared his life and how grateful he is to God for the blessings and grace of God in his life. Thank you Bishop McCullough for the great blessing you were to us!

Voices of Clouds

The Voices of Clouds have made a great name across the country in quartet singing... We were honored to have them as our guests on Sunday night..... It was a delight to sing the old quartet "Search me Lord" with them... They will celebrate 55 years of singing this year. We salute them in their great works....These guys can and will stand tall with any of the groups out there..

Tuesday Night Revival

Reverend James Cherry Jr (center) and the the Antioch Baptist Church came to revival to worship...In no uncertain terms did either come to play. The choir did a great job singing and Reverend Cherry brought a good word.....The Fellowship was good, the churches enjoyed being together, the community was out in support of both churches. Reverend Myrick; the President of the Baptist Ministers Alliance was there last night as well along with associate pastors from the Antioch Baptist Church. We look forward to Thanksgiving when our churches along with other community churches will be together again in fellowship....Join us tonight in our 4th Night of Revival as Pastor Melvin Brooks and the Cedar Grove Baptist Church of Buffalo, NY share with us in this service...

Great Night In Revival

Wow! Wow! Wow! What a great night it was last night in our first night of Revival.... Mount Olivet Baptist Church came out in tremendous numbers as well as people in the Rochester Community! I'm noticing a pattern that has been consistent my entire time here... This is it: Mount Olivet members supports their church fully! I told them last night; that this is a great time to be Pastor of Mount Olivet and a great time to be a member of Mount Olivet...Perhaps one of the most unique churches ever... Last night; the Mega Choir sang, Mr Michael Ruffin did scripture, Mrs Irene Ingram prayed the evening Prayer, the people worshipped God, I delivered the Word on the "Butterfly Effect" 2 Corinthians 5:17.... and the Spirit moved from start to finish! It was T-shirt night, and the place was adorned with the Mount Olivet 2010 T-Shirts.. We will wear T-shirts on Friday as well..... Pastor James Cherry and Antioch Baptist Church, will be our guests on tomorrow or tonight; depending on when you're reading this Blog... You dont want to miss these services.... Dorothy Norwood Concert Tickets are available every night before and after service! Get your tickets quickly!

October "Baltimore Trip"

Plan to travel with me to Maryland, October 10th thru 12th. Silver Springs, Maryland with the People's Community Baptist Church and Dr. Haywood Robinson III, on Saturday evening and Israel Baptist Church and Dr. Harley Wilson on Sunday morning. Call the Church office for Bus and Lodging information... Lodging arrangements must be made by Tuesday, September 22nd in order to secure the discounted rate. We will have a great time.... Look forward to traveling with you! Among the cities that I have traveled to for ministry, Baltimore remains one of my favorite places... Folks there have always been warm and very welcoming and the hospitality is second to none and the Crabcakes and Crab there are the best I have ever had! hmmmm I can taste them now!