On a lovely 1st day of June, my great church home, the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church on 5th Street, gathered with several Christian friends to honor 13 years of dedicated service to my awesome parents, Pastor and Sister Edward J. Kline, Jr. Our service guide for the occasion was one of the fine educators in the history of the Madison Parish School System — Sis. Hazel Suluki. The guest pastor for our fellowship was one of the most dynamic men out of that fabulous Reuben McCall High School Class of 1997 — the Reverend Terry Wells with his band of believers at the Magnolia Missionary Baptist Church of Newellton, La.
And I can assure you, readers, the worship experience was truly anointed from start to finish! Pastor Wells’ officers at Magnolia rendered a splendid devotion. Our member at Bethlehem on 5th Street, James Rollins, Jr., did a fantastic job on his first time speaking at Bethlehem on 5th Street for a worship service. Bro. Rollins’ welcome was warmly accepted by Sis. Birdia B. Allen of our great friends at St. John on Florida St. Sis. Allen is the president of the Federation of Ushers in the Madison Parish Missionary Baptist Association. I was glad to see three of Bethlehem's musicians come our way for this fellowship (Bro. Elroy Fontenette, Clint Johnson,, Joe Straughter, Sr., and Deajoe Straughter). Our dynamic Daughter of the House, Pastor Dorothy Singleton, played her part giving the occasion for my parents in such an awesome way as only she could do it! Once again, that jack-of-all-trades brother of mine (Kenneth James) gave our church family's tribute with awesome love and admiration. He once again touched on how some of our townspeople prefer our pastor to do their weddings (and even funerals) when those special occasions took place over their own church pastors! With our big attendance we had on hand, my brother Kenny joked that he hoped that Bethlehem on 5th St. bought enough chicken, ribs, and sausage.
Awesome Pastor Terry Wells spoke from the scripture which was slated for the fellowship (2nd Corinthians 10:3–4 verses). Pastor Wells gave us some powerful points in this message as to how to deal with God's people in everyday life (especially God's messengers). He also shared how the Creator doesn't give the hard stuff to weak soldiers in His army, how to love the hell out of people, and how we have the power (through the Lord Jesus) to do things in the world just as He did during His earthly life and public ministry. As Pastor Wells got through speaking, he asked my parents to come to the altar. Visiting pastors and wives formed a circle around them. And for the first time at that particular service at Bethlehem on 5th Street, my parents had an intercessory prayer prayed around them!
The words of thanks from my parents were truly heartfelt by the members and visitors of Bethlehem on that Sunday afternoon. And for the first time in his life, Pastor Wells was awarded my mother's “Talk of the Universe” caramel cake! My co-worker, Pastor Eddie Reed-King, told Pastor Wells that he would enjoy it tremendously (because my mother had baked him one out at St. John on Mound Project several years ago!) On behalf of Pastor and Sis. E.J. Kline, Jr., thank you all for coming to visit us at Bethlehem on 5th Street for their 13th year of service. And God bless you all!
