VICTORY ENVUE CHILLICOTHE WORLD CHANGER'S ISSUE

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Victory Envue In this issue of Victory Envue we are highlighting Chillicothe’s World Changers and I have the immeasurable opportunity to speak with someone who is basically the Gospel Mayor of Chillicothe. There would be no world changing going on if it weren’t for the foundation this man has laid, Bishop Melvin Maughmer, Sr. Bishop, I have lots of, but I want to start with something simple like how did you start?

Bishop Maughmer, Sr. I started my ministry in 1961. I came into the Original Glorious Church when my first son, he wasn’t quite two years old. And they asked me if I would go up to Akron and take a church over for a while. Me and my wife got together and went on up there and we stayed there. And I was up there until the initial Pastor recovered from a stroke! So they asked me would I go and take over the Community Holy Church in Barton, Ohio, for eleven years.

Then the General Bishop asked me and my wife, to come back to Chillicothe to take over our current church. I've been there for over 47 years there at the

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church. I've been doing it so long as one day the Lord spoke to me, told me that it's time for me to step back and to let my son take over.

He is my third son. He's not my oldest son, but he's my third son. And so, God told me that it's time for me to step down and let him take over. And so, I talked to my wife and she said, well, then you should draw back.

So I drew back, and I'm so glad I did, because I have really seen God use him and he has grown so much in the year that he has been in there that I know it was nothing but God working through Him. Victory Envue Bishop, you're so deep and rich in your teaching. I've had an opportunity to look at some of your videos and some of your footage and just watch you. And the thing that I noticed before you even start speaking is there seems to be a transformation that happens with you before you start preaching. Is there a conversation going on between you and God? Bishop Maughmer, Sr. Oh, yes, I would not want to say or want to do anything until I have contact with God Almighty. And

that comes, as my youngest son always says, from studying and talking to God in prayer. And he never puts you out there and makes you ashamed of what you are doing because that would be defeating His purpose. But if we do communicate with God, pray that we stay connected with God and listen to the voice of God. When he says that's enough, then you step back. If he says go a little longer, you go a little longer. But you listen to the voice of God and by listening to Him, you get the message, the message to give to the people and how to give it to the people.

Victory Envue What was your hardest message to preach?

Bishop Maughmer, Sr.

Bishop Maughmer, Sr. Well, this also happened in Barton Ohio. This person came off the street and you could tell he was possessed.

And he came in and he walked down middle aisle of church and you could see the change in his eye. So, I stopped what I was doing “it's time for us to come together because we got something here that is going to take all of us fighting against it!” The man's eyes change from a human's eye to, I would say, a serpent's eye. And so, when we started praying when we started praying, his countenance changed. We began casting the demon out.

And as we cast out, the demon began to speak through him against us,” You can't preach anyhow!” I said, “I beg your pardon”? I said, “My God will give me the ability to preach!” The church just kept rebuking them evil spirits, and they screamed when they came out. As they were coming out, they began threatening us, “I'm going to kill you!” I always come back with this, “You can't touch me unless Jesus allows you to touch me.” That same per-

What was my hardest message? I think one of the hardest messages to preach is preaching to someone who has lost a loved one. And so many times I know I'm going to son came back to church. He came in because he get some kickback from some Pastor’s when I say this but God started telling me when I was preaching a funer- said he just left a pub, so we started rebuking al to stop telling people their family is up there looking down. You know, your family is fast asleep. And if your family were able to look back down on Earth, they would be irritated and upset because of the things they would see back down on earth.

Victory Envue Right. It's amazing to me because we got a lot of well meaning, good, intended messages, eulogies that have people looking down from a place they've never looked up to. Now, your son let it slide that you got a deliverance ministry, and he might have mentioned something about you being able to cast out demons. Tell me about one of your demon casting out services.

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Victory Envue No sir. No sir.

Bishop Maughmer, Sr.

him until he started walking towards the door. Before he left, he turned to say, “I knew your grandmother, I knew your mother, and you can't preach anyhow!” I said, “I'm sorry you feel that way because my preaching comes from my God. I rebuke you in the name of Jesus!” The demon started screaming until it finally came out!

The demons let you know that they're coming out, just like they had to get permission from Jesus to come out. The man who was possessed by a demon, Jesus had the authority to cast them out and they came out. And that's the same authority and power that we have as children of God. We don't see it much anymore, but we still have the power to cast out demons. We should never allow the demon to control us or to cast our minds off Jesus. We need to keep our mind on Jesus always. It got so bad when I moved back to Chillicothe, oh, Lord.

We lived on Fifth Street, and all the people that knew me were calling my house and said, “We know you still believe in casting out demons we're going to send somebody up toyour house!” And it got so bad that I had to tell them, stop sending people to my house because they are disrupting my children. And I'd be downstairs rebuking demons, and the demons be upstairs talking to my children, and I had to tell people, don't send them here to me anymore.

Victory Envue Do you think the church has lost its power?

Bishop Maughmer, Sr.

Once you begin to pray and call on Jesus then its between you and Jesus and the power of God, you're able to rebuke demons and cast them out. We have to cast them out so that they will not deceive people. So many people are deceived by the spirit of the devil because he's wise. He is very crafty in his ways. Look what he's done to our parents in the garden. He fooled them. But today I'm glad that there's still that power among us and with us. And when we stand up in the name of Jesus there's no demons in hell can hold us down. They can't stop us, all we got to do is cast our cares upon Jesus because he cares for us.

Victory Envue Amen. Bishop Maughmer are you an activist? Do you participate in politics or community projects?

Bishop Maughmer, Sr. Well, we always try to collaborate along with the community leaders of our city. We always try our best to collaborate along with them, but we can't go on their program the way they want to do things. We got to do things the way God tell us to do it. I'll vote for somebody if they deserve it. I'll pray for them, I pray with them, I even talk to them and work along with them. But don't push my God out that you might bring in what you want.

We got to preach the word of God. No matter where we go, we got to preach the word of God. We got to hold up the bloodstain banner. There's one thing Jesus does not want us to take down. You don't want us to belittle anybody, but he wants us to stand against that devil and let that devil know who he is and put him in right place where he needs to be.

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So, you're just as enthusiastic today?

Bishop Maughmer, Sr. In a way we have! We should be able to rebuke Demons. I tell you what, whenever we start doing that, it's not going to Yes. be an easy thing because the demons do not want to come out.

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Yes.

So, what's next for you? What's the next thing for you?

Because you sound like you're still strong. You sound like you still have the momentum and the desire to continue to fight in this army of the Lord. What's the next thing for you? What are you going to do next?

Victory Envue Has the church got comfortable? Has it gotten comfortable, lazy, and just want Jesus to come now?

Bishop Maughmer, Sr.

Yes, but see, they got to stop. Are they ready for Jesus to come? See, those who think they're ready, they may not Well, my things I want to do, I want to do it towards my be ready. I remember this old man, he worked at a wellson. I got three sons, and all three of them are ministers. ness shop and the young man said to me once, I said, sir, And my oldest one, he's up in Michigan and my next old- you always know you take your watch out and you know, est in Memphis. But my youngest son he's the one that just the time that the bell was going to ring for dinner, for God told me to step back and let him take over. And I lunch or anything and he said, son, he said, he said, what have seen in the year that he's been doing it, God has I do, I stay ready. And that was particularly good. Reblessed him in such a magnificent way that it would blow member, I stay ready that I don't have to get ready. So, if your mind. But it doesn't blow my mind because I know we are ready to go, that's good. We can ask, come Lord what God can do. His love changes a person, no matter because I'm ready to go. what they’ve done or where they’ve been. He can change that person from what they were to what He wants them One thing about what people got to realize, he didn't save us just to save us. He saved us that we might be his service to be. and build up his king here on earth, but he also wants us I remember this one time me and my wife went on a to be ready. Because first, He gave us a cross to bear. cruise. So, we were eating dinner. So, after dinner, I And that cross that we bear, that means that we are going walked outside, up on the deck, and this older lady comes through for his namesake. But what we are going to have out with her husband, and said, “Sir, I want to ask you a question”. I said, “yes, ma'am”. She asked, “Are you a minister”? I said, “yes, ma'am”. She looked at her husband and said, “Didn’t I tell you he was a minister?” She must have noticed how I carried myself. Everybody stepped around drinking or something like that or talking angry, but I didn't do that kind of stuff. And so, I told her, “I said yes. I'm a minister for Jesus Christ. And I let my light shine wherever I go”. I want people to know that I'm serving a God who's able to keep me.

Bishop Maughmer, Sr.

People tell people, you can't go there and still be the same, that's a lie. I can go anywhere. You need Jesus. I just have a love for hurt people. And I just pour my soul out and I tell you what, I am so proud of what God has done for my son, especially my middle son. He was doing drugs bad, but God completely took him out of it through the power of Jesus!

Victory Envue Bishop, is the church lazy?

Bishop Maughmer, Sr.

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to do, we cannot accept a crown until we lay down our cross. And that's the reason I'd be glad when pastor will not tell people your loved one is looking down, but that they are fast asleep. And then those that sleep he brings with Him. When so many people trying to make people think they are this and that they should tell people the truth of the word. If God don't tell you to say anything like that, don't say it because what you're doing, don't say it. If God didn't give it to you to say it's better for you to not say it so that you don’t hurt somebody or damage somebody, but just do what God tells you to do. And that's the reason God bless me and my wife. The kids that we had, we had a daughter, she was the oldest but she passed away. But she was the type of person, if people come to her house to cover her, she would end up covering them. And many of the young ladies came to me before and said, your daughter just spoke the words that just gave us what we needed.

My sons do the same thing.

I don’t write book? I'm not going to author a book. I just

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us some advice, what would it be?

Is there a book in you, some memoirs? Is there a recipe

or something that you're going to leave so that we don't lose this wisdom that you still carry?

want them to take from what they know about my life, and they can do what they want because they've been with me all these years and they grew up in the church. So, I never started writing anything down. But I know I should have started years ago. I just thank God for what has transpired in my life and in the lives of people that come in contact.

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You've seen a lot of growth you’ve seen a lot of things go well and you've seen a lot of things go backwards. I won't say bad, but I'll just say backwards. Is there anything that you can leave us pastors who are still trying to walk in our anointing, Pastors like me and men like your son, who are still trying to figure out what’s next Lord? if you could give

Bishop Maughmer, Sr. Well, my advice is to any younger person coming into the ministry and wanting to work for God, listen to what the

Bishop Maughmer, Sr.

Spirit is telling you. Don't get lifted in pride but let God

My son said the same thing, my middle son asked me why elevate you. Let God lift you up, let God pull you out and

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let God do the speaking. See, people don't realize that when you preach the word of God, you're speaking for God. And you should only be speaking on the things that you know that he is giving you to say. Don’t be like Herod who came out, he put on this beautiful robe and came out and he began to talk to the people and the people began to praise Him and began to exalt him and Herod accepted the praise and what happened? The angel was standing by, and the angel called up the worms and the worms ate him up because he would not give the glory to God. I will never give God’s glory to people. You can't just say, look what I have done, but you should always say, “look what God has done!”

Victory Envue Amen.

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became the Assistant Pastor. Did that for 20 years. Never really had a desire to do that, although it was prophesied to me, and I’m blessed with the opportunity to interview quite a few of people said it to me. I said, no, that's not for me. Growing up, Chillicothe’s World Changers. This one is the one to watch. seeing your father go through what he went through, I said, no, This one is the one coming up out of the field. So, I'm excited that's not for me. Never had a desire to do that. Never had the to be able to talk to Pastor Mike Maughmer, who is not only itch to do that. But when God's got a call on your life, you're the Pastor of The Original Glorious Church of Chillicothe, but uncomfortable at everything else you do until you do what he I am talking to Chillicothe’s King David. Tell me about your wants you to do. And I was just uncomfortable at everything beginning and how long you been Pastoring. that I did in the church. I did it. I tried to do it well. I tried to Pastor Mike Maughmer do it with excellence, but I was just uncomfortable. And I Certainly. Well, first, thanks a lot for this opportunity, and I'll thought it just drew me back to the pulpit back to leading people. People were drawn to me. So that's kind of how I got into pay you later for all those good things you said about me.

That's great. I've been Pastor since I started in 2020, February pastoring. I knew the call was on my life, although I ran from of 2020. So, I've been at it a little over two years now. I kind of it. The Bible is specific when it says, “I called you when you were in your mother's womb.” So, my calling was back then, was destined to Pastor. My father was a Pastor, as you well know, and I helped him. I started out playing the drums, and but I ran from my calling for many years. Many years. then I moved on to the youth department as the youth director Victory Envue and kind of just advanced in different things, worked in differPeople don't understand calling is not the same as coming. ent areas, then became the Minister of Music, and then finally Victory Envue

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Pastor Mike Maughmer Exactly, because as quick as you come, and you can be gone for sure.

Victory Envue Let me take you back to something you said about your dad. You said growing up, you saw a lot of the things that your dad had to go through in the office of Pastor, was there anything that you saw your dad going through that made you wish he hadn’t answered his call? And whatever that was, was it the reason that kept you from responding immediately to your call?

his bed in the middle of the night and pray for those people. And I ran from that. I did not want that. The man in me said, “no, that's not for me”.

I was enjoying playing the organ, playing the drums. I had a fun time, and I could play a few songs, I could go home, I didn't have to worry about everything else.

Victory Envue Let me ask you this real quick. Did you ever feel resentment towards the time that was being taken from you and given to people that didn’t even appreciate it?

Pastor Mike Maughmer

Pastor Mike Maughmer

Absolutely. I noticed that back then you were in church four days a week, five days a week, sometimes seven days a week. And he was there. He had to be there in the big church. So, he was there for Monday night meetings, he was there for Tuesday night prayer, Wednesday night Bible study, choir rehearsal on Thursday, Friday evangelistic service, Saturday evening service, and Sunday he was there. So that meant I was there, and that was bad. So, as I got older, I started playing sports in high school. My father was incredibly supportive, parents were encouraging. But I noticed that if he had church on Friday, I had a game. He was going to church. And that's one of the things I seen that I didn’t like. Not that it was bad for me.

I mean, he had a job to do when he had church, he had to go to church. So, I seen that. I've seen how he was working Pastor, meaning that he had to work a full-time job. He was a construction worker for 35, 40 years and Pastoring. So, he would preach on Sundays and try to sleep and get up at 05:00 in the morning and go drive 2 hours to go to a cement mason job.

I did not, because that's all I knew. So, I really did not resent any of that because he's been a great father. He's always been there for me, even when I was younger. And honestly, when I was younger, I didn't realize it. It was just being the son of a Pastor is what we dealt with, and I didn't even give it a second thought. Then as I got older, have my own kids, I realized, wait a minute, I need to be at their stuff. So no, I had no resentment about him spending time with the church. but I've never had any resentment for that because I was just used to it. That's just what it was, being a Pastor son. You knew on Friday nights if you had a football game, your mother would be there, my father would be at the church running the service.

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So, these weren't losses for you, these were lessons.

Pastor Mike Maughmer Absolutely. That's kind of one of the reasons why I didn't

So, when I see that, I thought, that wasn't for me. I don't believe I need to work that hard. So that kind of kept me running from the call that was on my life. And another thing, I've seen the way people treated him. He gives us all. People wouldn’t always come to church but if their sons in jail, they want you to go down and pray for him 02:00 in the morning and he would get up out of his bed, having to get up and go to work at five. So, I seen that. I've seen people bring people to my house that needed deliverance. And he would get up out of

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PASTOR MICHAEL MAUGHMER take over pastoring earlier. Although I walked in the office of a Pastor, I did all the administrative work I saw after the church. And as my father got older, I did it more. But he agreed that until my sons graduated, until they were done with high school, that he wouldn't ask me to take over.

And I agree, I'll do whatever I can, but once they graduate and I've done everything I can for them, then I can take over and I give my full dedication to the church. And I just didn't want to not give the time I could to the church that I should. So, it worked out well, I guess. Yes. Victory Envue That's a perfect segue to my next question. It's going to sound bad, but I don't want it to sound bad. Was it your plan to participate in the call of God anyway? Or do you feel you were a little manipulated into this position instead of wanting to step into it? Do you feel like you had an obligation to fill a void, or fill a spot because your dad was just getting older?

Pastor Mike Maughmer

I slowly realized that, yes, this is a calling on my life. No matter how much I ran, people just flocked to me for advice, for guidance. “Hey, can you pray for me? Can you do this?” I understood, yes, that's my calling. That's why people come in my church, they are drawn to me, because I am called to be a Pastor. I can say I never had to desire.

Like, you see, most Pastors, they're eager to get a church.

And I was offered a church organization years ago and I turned it down. I was like, no, that's not for me.

And if it's not for me right now. So, it wasn't something that I was eagerly excited to do, but I don't feel I was forced into it, or I had to take over because my father was getting older. Not at all. God had that call on my life and I had to answer. And again, going back to what I said, I was just uncomfortable at everything I did. I always pray for my friends that leave the will of God. I have friends that have backslid leaving the will of God, and I pray God makes them uncomfortable where they are, so they must get back to Him. I had to make sure this was done. I had to make sure the church was open. We’re a small church, so the Pastor must do a lot of stuff. I had to make sure the furnaces were working. So, I wasn't obligated because my father was getting older.

No, when I was younger, when I was younger, I felt, man, I don't want to do this. I felt pressured, people telling me, I'm going to be a Pastor. You're going to take over for your father. I didn't see it. I was younger, not only younger in Victory Envue my age, but younger in my walk with God. I wasn't mature Is there a measuring rod between you and your dad, is in my walk with God. As I got older, I started raising my your style different? kids, my sons, and trying to be that example to them. Then

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Victory Envue You just opened the door to my next question. Is it intimidating when you know that your forerunner is still watching? Is having him present more intimidating than the scriptural, “cloud of witnesses?”

Pastor Mike Maughmer No. Funny even though he's older, he's a young, minded man. So, he's always been eager to receive change he just thinks young. He thinks about bringing young people up and letting them learn and turning over to them.

He's always been progressive as far as wanting to pass the mantle on to younger people who have different ideals, not better ideas, but different ideas. Am I nervous at times? You're always nervous when the person who's taught you everything is there every Sunday to critique everything you do. So of course, there is some type of nervous energy. However, it's also a blessing because I can glean from him. I can go ask him, “hey, how should we manage this? How should I do this?” So, he's right there to give me that advice, and he doesn't force his way. He'll wait for me to ask. He'll know when I'm going to ask something, “hey, this is going on. How Pastor Mike Maughmer should I handle this? What do you think?” So that's s a No, I've changed some things. And that's one thing tremendous blessing right there. And I think for him about being a Pastor or leader. You got to be careful at being so young minded, being wanting to pass the manwhat you change. And some of the things we've changed, tle, one of the things that he hangs his hat on is restoring there was nothing wrong with the way we were doing young ministers who fall in, because, let's face it, it's a things, we’ve just made them more modern. A lot of different time than it was when he came up. So, a lot of times when you switch Pastors, people leave. We haven't times when young ministers fall, people kick them out to had that. We have had no one leave and my father's church. And he's hung his hat on training how to restore supportive of the changes we are making. And some of young ministers back, to walk with God just because you those things, you just don't change. Some things are go- make a mistake. We're faced with different things, So, he ing to stay the same until God comes. The transition has has a very progressive young mind, and he's open. been amazingly easy. And I think the reason the transiVictory Envue tion is easy because my father is still there. He's still the Bishop of the house. He's Emeritus Bishop and Emeri- Is there a training camp with that idea in mind? Because tus Pastor. And I tell him if he comes in on a Sunday, I that's an incredible work! That is something that the body can study all week long. If he comes in on a Sunday and sorely needs. say, “hey, you know, I'm going to preach today,” guess Pastor Mike Maughmer what? He's going to preach today because he's still the Absolutely. He does have that, and he's done it for our Bishop. And we respect that. I respect that. It's been national organization. He's written some literature, things easy, seamless.. like that, and some outlines and talked to our board,

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and he's done that over the years. And so, I glean from all was a decent athlete in high school. My sons are trementhat as well. That's great to have him there for, that for dous athletes. I mean, Hall of Fame athletes. I'm proud of sure. that because I taught them how to shoot. So, I have no problem with that. Break my records. So, I think that's Victory Envue how my father looks at it. He understands. He's trained Let me ask you, I'm going to paint a scenario for you. So, me. I am, because he was, and it goes well. this is a what if.

Victory Envue Victory Envue So, what's next to you? What are you getting ready to do What if you are at a highly publicized, packed house of next? Are you getting ready to grow another church? Are Pastors and leadership, and you hear somebody say, “Hey, you getting ready to branch out into business? What else is Pastor Maughmer,” and they come running in you and in you? your dad's direction, what do you do if they run up to you Pastor Mike Maughmer and shake your hand and sidestep your dad? What would you be thinking? How would you work that issue? Would I don't foresee me starting any churches and at least any you think your dad would be humble enough to say, “they time soon, I don't see that. I don't think the office of bishare talking to my son.” or would you pass it over to your op is in me. I've never had a desire to do that. People dad? What would you do in a scenario like that? chase titles way too much, and God never intended for us to do that. A good friend told me one time, he said, if Pastor Mike Maughmer you're a pilot, you've been given the ability to fly a certain I think he's humble enough to understand that I've taken type of plane. And he said, you can be a pilot of a 747 over that mantle, and he's humble enough to know when commercial airline. If God has given you that gifting, then people now say, “Pastor Maughmer,” he's okay with that. I you fly that plane. But if he's only given you the gifting for think he's been Bishop Maughmer for so long, and if any- this time in your life, to fly that Cessna. Then you have to body knows him, they're going to say Bishop Maughmer. fly that Cessna the best you can until he tells you to fly a So, they're going to establish that. But he's humble enough 747. That's where I'm at. I want to fly this Cessna. 123 to accept the fact that there's a generation that he hasn't West Main Street is my Cessna, and I'm trying to fly that touched and I'm touching that they're going to know me, plane the best I can. Once I become good at that, then and he understands that, and he has no problem with that we'll see what's down the line. For me, I think one of the whatsoever. things that I can do is help young ministers who are coming up, counsel them and tell them, look, don't be so quick Victory Envue to move into this Wow, that makes me proud. Look, That's an amazing office. Don't be truth. so quick to move Pastor Mike Maughmer into this position because all of that That is. And I think the reason being is because a lot of will come to you. times when Pastors turn over the mantle and turn over a Pay your dues. church, it may not be to their son. And I think that's a Be good at where unique thing. That's not something that's common when you are right your son can take over, you know how to bow out. Your now. Fly that son is going to do you proud. And everything that you have taught me now, you can sit back, and you can just see Cessna! everything you taught me coming to fruition. So, you don't really worry about all that because, you know, inside of you, I am because you were. So, it's like me and my sons, I

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Pastor Victor Davis

Praise the Lord. I am excited to be interviewing another one of Chillicothe’s World Changers. I didn't realize that there was this much power in Chillicothe. But this is the reason Chillicothe has stood so long, because of the people that spiritual defend it, that undergird it. Today I’m speaking with Reverend Victor Davis the Pastor of Quinn Chapel.

The first year I'll be perfectly honest with you. I was a little hesitant because this is my fifth church, and it is approximately 103 miles away from my home. And all the churches I have pastored have been a distance, the closest being fifteen miles away from my home in Hamilton. I've never totally relocated. So, when the opportunity came to go to Chillicothe, to Quinn Chapel, I was not familiar with Quinn Chapel.

Victory Envue

Thank you so much for asking me.

I was familiar with the city, some of the history of the city, but not specifically the church. And as I read up on the church and was told some things about the community and the church, it was more intriguing. So, I was talked to by several members of the church as well as my providing elders, who asked me to consider going. And because I was a senior pastor, I had an opportunity to say, no, I didn't want that assignment. But my wife and I prayed upon it, and we decided that it would be the place that we would accept and go and try to do the Lord's will.

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I am excited to have this opportunity to talk to you today and to talk about not only what you contributed to Quinn Chapel, but your overall contribution to Chillicothe. To the people of God. To the kingdom of God. Welcome, Reverend Victor. Welcome. Thank you so much for being a part of Victory Envue. Thank you so much for agreeing to sit and talk with me today.

Pastor Victor Davis

So, let's start with the basics. Let's start with born and bred. Wow. So, you were hesitant but not reluctant, right. You weren't saying, oh, good God, that church, that area, that Pastor Victor Davis location is too messed up. You just wanted to make sure Okay. I'm born and bred from the city of Hamilton, Ohio, that you were going to be able to deliver. You are going to be able to deliver effective ministry. and have been there all my life. Other than traveling on business or social issues, I've been a resident of Hamilton all my life.

Victory Envue How did we end up crossing over the border? How did you arrive in Chillicothe?

Pastor Victor Davis Well, as a Pastor in the AME Church, you can be moved every year by the bishop. You receive a letter, a notification that every year you're eligible to be moved to a new pastorate. So, I'm use to that ever since I've been in the church.

I’ve been in ministry seven years in November in Chillicothe.

Pastor Victor Davis Victory Envue

Yes, certainly that was the major part. I was hesitant beSeven years Quinn Chapel has been under the leadership cause, again, Chillicothe is far different than where I'm of your divine calling. So, tell us about your first year as the from and from the area, southwestern Ohio. And I didn't know what to expect, to be perfectly honest with you. But pastor of Quinn Chapel.

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as I said, we prayed on it and we said, let's take the challenge and we moved on.

Victory Envue That's awesome. So, did you have a POW wow with any of the other pastors? Did you say, hey, what kind of spirits are over this region? What kind of people attend these services? Because Chillicothe has come a long way and it still has a lot of growth to do. Did you wonder, look, am I completely equipped to oversee everything that comes with this territory?

Pastor Victor Davis Yes. I didn't wonder about whether I could do it. I was worried about how receptive the membership would be because you have no idea about them. I knew it was a historical church. In fact, the oldest church west of the Allegheny, the oldest AME church west of the Allegheny. So, the history intrigued me because I'm somewhat of a history buff, so I love that aspect of it. And then I wondered, naturally, I wondered about the membership, what mindset they would have, what did they want in a pastor. Because I know who I am, and I know what I bring. I go out, what you see is what you get. And I'm very honest and very loving, very caring, and I wanted to be that with the membership. So, if there was any hesitancy, it was would I be able to do and be who I am?

somebody who was of a different denomination than I was. And he didn't allow that to stop him from fellowshipping, or our being friends. And we established a friendship then that goes on to this day. He was from the community. He knew how conservative the community could be. He knew that as far as the racial and ethnic makeup of the community, what it was like, we Victory Envue talked about where I came from and my activities in my So, when you come into a territory, which is what we're community. We got to talk about that. And so, it just talking about, when you come into a territory, you know allowed me to be more comfortable. And then the very that there are certain mindsets that are still embedded next person that came to me was Reverend Eric Carson in certain people's theologies. Right. So, were you confrom First Baptist Church of Chillicothe, who had been fronted by contrary beliefs? And if you were, how did there one year before me. So, he was new. He had been you navigate around them? there a year. He was from the city of Columbus, which was much bigger and the more progressive, and he had Pastor Victor Davis an opportunity to come and share with me.

Well, that's a good question. I was not confronted. I knew there was some inquisitiveness on the part of the So, the doors were knocked down as far as two pastors, membership, and in fact, let me back up a little bit. My making me feel welcome in the city. Then I was not as concerned about that as I was to just stay comfortable in very first week there at Quinn Chapel, Bishop Melvin who I am and what I can do and let God lead me to do Maughmer came over from the Old Glorious Church what I'm supposed to do in Chillicothe. When I met of God. He came over and introduced himself to me with the membership, my wife and I provided a meal and welcomed me to the community. That by itself helped me tremendously because I was concerned how for the church officers, I think the week before that I I would be received by the community or the other pas- went there so they could get to see me and know who I tors. By doing that, it allowed me to know that there was was and know who my wife was and let me be honest

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with them. And I told them what I believed in. I'm not talking about the Bible, just who I am. I'm a person who believes in doing all that I'm challenged to do by God and by myself, because I challenge myself all the time. And I said, I'm the type that will get involved as much as I can, and I will take the church to the levels that I can if they allow me to lead them.

Victory Envue That's exciting. What I love most about what you said was that you didn't allow the enemy to see a spirit of competition. And the very thing that someone could have considered your competitors ended up being your comrades.

know you on a personal basis, so I think they're more receptive. They're inquisitive. Who is this new person coming in here? How will he leave me? What will he be like? Will they be too aggressive? Will they be too passive? Will he stick with the word of the Lord? Will he come outside of that? All those questions are raised. But I pray that after all these years, I've eliminated those questions because I told my church I would do what God would have me do to be what God would have me be.

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A lot of people who are coming into these ministries and the people that have already been there, the foundational folk, the mothers, the fathers, the people that came with the Pastor Victor Davis building. Right. Did you have many people coming in sayAbsolutely. And to this day, it makes me feel more comfort- ing, “oh, I don't want somebody coming from the outside in able. and bringing those old city, those sinful city thoughts into our country town.” Did you have any pushback?

Victory Envue Yes, that does make a difference. That makes the world a difference when you know that you're already walking on territory that has other inhabitants on it and you're on the outside coming in. Did you think, hey, why didn't you step up and take on this ministry? Why are you calling folks from the outside in?

Pastor Victor Davis Yes, not to that degree. I had some outside of the church.

There were more people questioning me outside of the church than in the church. That’s where people look at you a little differently, and they made a habit of finding out who

Pastor Victor Davis Yes. Well, I don't know what the mindset was of the bishop at the time, but I know my presiding elder, who I admire tremendously, who's been a tremendous blessing to me, told me that they wanted me to do it because they thought I had the personality and the leadership style that the people would accept that it was a tremendous church. It was a historical church. The folk were dedicated to God and dedicated to their church, and they just needed someone that would continue to take them to the level they wanted to be at.

Victory Envue Do you think it's easier for people to receive from an outsider than someone who's local?

Pastor Victor Davis Now, that's complicated. That's a yes and a no. I was told years ago by some elders in the church who said that folks, when your local folk want to read you, but when you're outside, they know nothing about you other than what a resume may say or what the leadership may say to them. They don't

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you were. I'm an outgoing person, so I go out and I speak to everybody. And there were people in the community would not even speak back, people that look like you and me. So that made me feel like, yes, wow. It's a very closed community. But one of the things that I did, too, I might add, I made it a point of getting in contact.

retire from the AME Church, but I'll never retire from the ministry. I always tell people, right, the bishop appointed me, but God anointed me. So, the title Pastor comes with me wherever I go. So, when I must retire from the AME church, I won't retire from preaching the word. I won't retire from a social agenda and a religious agenda. That's who I am. I will continue to preach God's Word, and I will conWell, I already knew the former pastors from being in the tinue to do the things God would have me to do. And while same connection in the AME church, so I knew them prethere. And we got a very proactive church. I've had city viously, but I made it a point to say that they were always council members in my church, board of directors, memwelcome back at the church. And I've had the former pasbers of different organizations and fraternal organizations tors have spoken to church, and we've done things together. and other Christian organizations. So, we're blessed from So that opened the door as well. I was not one of those that standpoint, very politically rooted. I will continue to ones coming in saying, we're going to change everything that challenge the system because I look at it as Jesus challenged you previously did. the system. You will not make me or my church less than I We looked at it and we talked about where would you like or my church are. You cannot put us down. to go? What have you not done that you'd like to do? And Victory Envue those type of issues came up, but we settled them, and we're still doing that. As I say, it's a historic church. I'm proud to That's why you are named Victor, because whether you're say I'm the Pastor. I brag about it. I let people know that in a battle that you were called to or a battle you created for this is the 201st year of Quinn Chapel. We were supposed you will come out victorious! What closing or parting words to celebrate the 200th year last year, but the pandemic alwould you leave with your successor? What would you say tered that. So, God be willing, we're doing it on August 28 to Timothy? of this year.

Pastor Victor Davis Victory Envue I would tell Timothy, stand tall, stick out your chest and What’s next for you, Reverend? I mean, the church is alrealize you're going to be hit more than you could ever imready two hundred years old so longevity is assured for the agine. But if you stay true to God, be faithful, know that edifice, but what’s next for you? Are there any books in you you’re important, and you'll make change. a legacy of written instruction you can leave behind?

Victory Envue Pastor Victor Davis That's powerful.

Well, I'm going to take it as far as it allows me to take it. I'm a pusher of culture. I believe in history. I'm very pro who we are as a people. My church knows that. I try to keep that in front of them. We're special people in God's site, and we can never allow anybody to make us less than we are. So, I keep that in front of I'm a big proponent of pushing the youth, addressing youth education. So, we're very blessed to have members of our church, young folks who are now in college that we were able to get scholarships to, and that while I'm there trying to be active with some of the other churches, I have participated in all the churches, most of the churches speaking at them or they're coming to our church. So, I believe in supporting the other churches as far as where I'm going. Lord knows it won't be long. I must

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VICTORY ENVUE MAGAZINE 2022

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Victory Envue I'm talking to the honorable, illustrious, excellent, phenomenal Overseer Obadiah E. Harris, Sr. He is not only a prolific and prophetic voice in the ministry as the Senior Pastor of Lift Up Jesus Church, but he is also a well renowned award-winning author of quite a few books, most So, when you look through his visualization, you recognize that you can have a global effect wherever you are. recently?

Now from California to Florida is like two or three thouPastor Obadiah E. Harris, Sr. sand miles, but there are over 60,000 miles blood vessels The Doctrine of Last Things. in the human body.

Victory Envue The Doctrine of Last Things and The Celestial Advantage are both award winners. If you have not had an opportunity to read them, you want to get both books: overseer, my cousin, my friend, Obadiah. You are born and bred in Chillicothe. Many people want to get out of these small cities, but you're an influential person in this city. Tell us how your ministry started in Chillicothe.

Pastor Obadiah E. Harris, Sr. Well, you know, I'm a home-grown young man who came up in a Pentecostal Apostolic church. So, you know, I'm a person that I've known church all my life. There's always been a deposition of the Word in my life in which my mother, Evangelist Mary Ellen Harris, and then my dad Obadiah Harris Jr. Always a deposition or deposit of the Word which guarantees us that there is going to be a return. And by return, the Word is planted deep inside us and goes into vast arenas of invisibility. But then one plant and one water, and God gives the increase. And Bishop George Steele was prolific in my life, but there are different times when people have said that I should stray from this particular territoriality. But the reality is that God never directed me to venture out because no place is a big place. Everything is small when it comes to what God has to do because he sits upon the circle of the earth and beholds all the inhabitants thereof as grasshoppers.

So, something larger is happening inside us, even as the circulatory system exists inside us. Is that something that we can calculate as far as Cardiology is concerned, and Hematology is concerned? How much larger is the sphere of revelation in the spirit world inside us? So, we always want to keep our eyes on the prize. So, from Chillicothe, a small place. Look at Bethlehem of Judea and how the least came out of there, but then the greatest came out of there. So, I'm here with God's help.

Victory Envue So, you are a part of a community, you're a part of the development of the community. You're very integral when it comes to being present in the community. You're not hidden, you're not ashamed, you're not ashamed of spreading the Gospel in this community. So, when we talk about Chillicothe being a world changer or having world changers inside of it, what do you think is your most significant contribution? And do you still have more to give?

Pastor Obadiah E. Harris, Sr.

I think I've always got more to give because I think in every segment of life if you don't look at the superficiality of external deterioration, you can ask God about your gospel proliferation. By that, I mean that though the outward man perishes, the inward man is renewed. You may not be able to run as fast as you used to. Still, at the same time, the thing that you learn in the realm of the spirit, the

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wealth of experience, is something that I want to continue to disseminate to the people with the gospel message and eliminate the destructive tendencies that exist in the community. So, my greatest dimension is understanding how powerful the name of Jesus is and trying to get all men to see what is the mystery of this Gospel that comes through Jesus Christ. And the word mystery, mysterium, refers to secret things that only devolved through knowing the password. The password of Jesus opens the mystery of every secret in the world, every complication in the world. I want people to see Jesus, which I provide for this community.

The other thing is always that a prophet is not without honor, saving his own country, among his own kindred and his people.

So sometimes, people don't always understand the prophetic nature of your influence, and you must keep in mind that God does not want your greatest work to be inside the walls of what we call the Church of the Brick and mortar. My ministry is inside the Chillicothe school system, where I worked for the last 20 years. I’m in of the community every day. It's just like people are buying my books, like hotcakes as I go out in the restaurants, and they have an interest. And there's a gravitational pull in the Holy Ghost much larger than the limitations of the church's walls.

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all bounds and refers to a river that's restricted until it overflows. And we can't do that if we're in the confining limitations of our own human strategy.

Victory Envue Exactly. Do you think the pandemic was a supernatural setup?

That it forces the church to come outside its protective shell.

Right. People believe you're ineffective if you don't have a facility.

Pastor Obadiah E. Harris, Sr. I think it's all a reactionary situation. I think that many people have allowed spiritual lethargy to grab hold of them, and they're in a large dose of comatose, and when the pandemic hit, they're part of what I call the fearocracy. They're afraid of what can happen to them, but they don't seem afraid to go to the stores.

They don't seem afraid to go to nightclubs often. They're not afraid to go to the ball games when it comes to church. They're afraid that they're going to catch something. But the church itself is a place that should be so energized with Jesus that there's an efficacious spirit of healing there and revealing there that it's not what's going to happen to you but what's going to happen for you.

Everybody needs to come to church because that's where God's healing genius is concentrated on a different level.

That's good. Okay, so let's talk about the walls of the church.

Are you saying that it's time for the church to start considering removing walls and start going back to beating the street?

Pastor Obadiah E. Harris, Sr. I think so. The Bible told us to go out into the hedges and high place and compel men to come in that my house might be full.

And I think the church has become a place of socialization many times. It's become too much of an organization, and it's become something in which there are pontifical presences of people that sometimes are men worshiped more than Christ. And it's a situation many times where so many have been bitten by the most vicious ticket in the world, called politics. And we need to get to a point now where we go out and tell people the truth because the absolute truth is incomprehensible to man, and this is the one the eyes of their understanding being enlightened that they may know what is the hope of this calling and the richness of the glory of the inheritance of the saints and the exceeding greatness of his power to us with that belief and exceeding means overflowing

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The task of the mask is something that has darkened the perspective of many people because they go around in masks protecting themselves. But when they do that, it won't come out of that. The leukocyte cells that God is white blood cells that God has put inside of our bodies are soldier cells that can fight disease. When you keep that mask over your face, you put yourself in a situation where your body that God has equipped you with can't confront those germs, weakening your system. The other thing is the early church was a predecessor of the situation because leprosy existed in that world, and they would cover their face, and the leper would cry unclean.

Yet during that time, the apostle James said if any sick, let him call for the church's elders and pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the people had to stay 150ft away from a leper on a regular day and a half a football field away on a windy day. The regular people, he said, church call for the elders and lay hands. And he didn't say lay hands on everybody but the leper or lay hands on everybody that doesn't have some other kind of disease. But he ders that now you are a global ministry? said let them call, right?

Pastor Obadiah E. Harris, Sr. Pastor Obadiah E. Harris, Sr. When the church is kept out of the hospital and kept out of the convalesce lessons places and locked out of the church, then shame on us because when disease and pandemic hit, then we need to have a pan Jesus, and pan means all that can effectively rebuke and counteract any disease or any devil that comes against him.

Victory Envue He's always going to be the solution. He's always going to be the resolution to what is troubling this world, and he's always going to be it.

Pastor Obadiah E. Harris, Sr. The solution, as you said, the resolution. People may have a resolution, but he's the solution.

I think so. I think that as the apostle Paul said, I've become all things to all men, but I might save some. In biblical times they took advantage of the way that God constructed the world, and they would go up on a mountaintop and take advantage of the natural acoustics that God had made in order to very advantageously take advantage of the acoustics of sound and the trajectory of sound that it could have bound the same God that made the world in such a fashion and would have them during the sermons on the mountain to go up the mountain and then find a place there.

God wants us to seek the mountain tops in the peaks of spiritual opportunity and the opportunistic, be in tune with the opportunity and have unity with the opportunity. So, we can do everything we can to preach the Gospel in every corner so that all men will hear the Gospel and be without excuse.

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Victory Envue You aren’t just in the four walls. I can testify to that. I mean, you have a television ministry; you have the books; you are visible on the social media platform. Is it possible that God has chosen the media to spread this Gospel throughout the earth so that you're no longer limited to the Chillicothe bor-

Your whole idea, mantle, and mandate are to lift Jesus. You don't have any other hidden agenda, and you're all about lifting up the name of Jesus so that he can draw. So, what's your next level? What's next for you? You've done books; you're doing television; you're 24/7 ministry. You're a walkingtalking

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book, dictionary, your filled with all kinds of scriptural knowledge and information.

What's next for you? What are you going to leave us when you've been poured out like a drink offering?

Pastor Obadiah E. Harris, Sr. I think we do that the individualistic aspects of our life allow the same Gospel to be proliferated through our individualism uniquely. I think that the people under our ministry recognize that this is a relay for life. As we pass the baton to them, we not only pour into them our individualistic revelation of God is given to us, but we allow that to be blended with their individualism. So that my Obadiah, Jr has so much of me, and Marshall, he has so much of me, yet at the same time, they're able to take it to a higher level because I've given them all that God has given me, and then God adds something to them.

And I think that's important. And I think one of the things that are happening with me right now, I'm differentiating between a lot of the secularistic concepts that sound good but at the same time are not consistent with the Bible. And one of those is this everybody says, be all that you could be. And that sounds good, that sounds energetic.

need to let people know that they are a piece in the puzzle of what God is putting together as far as the eternal world concept is concerned. And in that conception, don't get anything from the devil because that will cause deception. Because to deviate anything, in other words, go ahead.

Victory Envue I was going to say that what you're saying is even after your piece has been placed, there's still so much more to your story.

Pastor Obadiah E. Harris, Sr. Exactly. It will continue to elaborate and reverberate and will collaborate with other people to whom I pass the baton, remember this, every professor needs a successor. God has something for me to do in this realm. And here we are, just like they had the school of prophets in biblical times.

Then when it was time for Elijah to leave and depart as a picture of the Raptures, he was sent to heaven with fiery horses and chariots and the mantle who fell on Elisha, and he was able to do twice the miracles in every situation. God wants the church to be a greater work that's done because even Jesus said greater works It sounds like it's saturated with determi- than these shall you do. Because I go into nation, and that's faith prolific. But there's the father, so the mantle will fall on anothsomething wrong with that. It's not about er man. And if he's dedicated to God, he'll be where I was and take it where being all that we can be.

God wants to go. And as we get closer to It's about being all that God wants us to the finish line of eternity, God's going to be. And if we're not in with God to be all accelerate what he does in such a fashion. that he wants us to be, then we're deviatBecause time is short and God's going to ing from the blueprint of his conception get it done, there'll be no debate about and his divine scheme and purpose, not what the people of God want. just for the totality of the world, but for how we fit in as a constituent part. So, we

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them individually in a positive thing that, I could see about them yet at the same time try to introduce them to the fact Yes. So let me ask you this. In the grand scheme of things, that Jesus wants to do for them what God did for him. And in this new age that we're living in, this counterclockwise he doesn't want them to be limited holistically, but he wants culture that we're living in, they're doing the opposite of them to be holistic. If we're not spiritually holistic, we can be what God says. Is it more important that the church is relevictims of the devil to go ballistic. And by that, I mean this. vant or just present?

Jesus was God in the flesh but the representative pattern of Pastor Obadiah E. Harris, Sr. man. He increased in wisdom, increased in stature, inWe always got to keep in mind. And I think if you have the creased in favor with man and favor of God wisdom, progressive mental growth, stature, physical growth, favor with love of God inside of you, then you have a kindness and a genuine love that is indicated with everybody you encounter. man, social growth, and favor with God's spiritual growth.

I'm trying to get them to see in society, intellectual in a socieBut there's a difference between having love for everybody ty that's given over to the elastics of gymnastics and building and being a people pleaser. We ought to obey God rather up the body muscular chore and a person's capacity is than man. And I think if we obey God, he will take us to step by step on this journey and through the process, and he stretching, to stretch themselves spiritually and see that Jesus Christ allows them to taste and see that the Lord is good. If will continue to give us the recipe of success because it will they read it and ask God, they'll see, that the Lord is good! consist primarily of biblical ingredients. I think that the church will continue to be relevant contemporaneous because in the same way that manna came down from heaven and they didn't leave it left over the leftovers that bread worms and became stale bread. I think God will give us fresh bread, but the fresh bread will be made in the ovens of heaven.

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It will consist of the spiritual ingredients in which God oversees his church's kitchen. He will maximize our satisfaction guarantee through his words live on all those that find it. So, there is a strict strategic necessity that we are individuals with biblical centricity that we walk in the center of God's Word, not deviate to the left or the right because if we deviate to the left or right, then we're not right.

Victory Envue That's why we have men and women like you sitting in these pulpits, walking these streets, and teaching and touching people because you are the hands and feet of God. So, if you are the hands and feet of God, what would you say to somebody who picks up this magazine, picks up this periodical on purpose, or accidental. How would you, in just a few words, tell them it's time to get their life right with God? How would you tell them to start that process?

Pastor Obadiah E. Harris, Sr. Yeah, I, first, try to be prayerful with them. Still, I would try to introduce them to the fact that maybe if I were talking to

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Victory Envue Every kingdom that God has ever created is multifaceted and multicultural, and it's diverse, it's inclusive, it's surprisingly different in a lot of areas. But the one thing that remains the same is the name that we all claim, and that is the name of Jesus. And so, as I highlight the Chillicothe world changers today, I would be remiss not to add the incomparable Pastor Mark Pfeifer. And he does pronounce the "P," yes, I know it's weird, but this is a judge-free zone.

We're not going to throw any stones at people just because they pronounce the Ps in their name (joke). But this kingdom-minded man is essential to the body of Christ, essential to what's going on in Chillicothe, essential to what God is doing on the earth. And I am indeed honored to be able to introduce Pastor Mark Pfeifer of Open Door Church.

Tell me about Open Door.

were in our early twenties and just had hardships like many couples, we were both broken people. And I needed to find a community of people that would be nonjudgmental and love us and let us love them. And I left the denomination I was a part of, and I felt like the Lord said to go to Chillicothe, of all places. And the verse he gave me was from Revelation chapter three, where Pastor Mark Pfeifer Jesus said, behold, I've set before you an open door, and no man can shut it.

That is an exciting story. Our church And we started our church with five was born out of the dysfunction and people in a living room, and frankly, hardship of my wife and my marriage. that didn't bother me. I felt like I would We had our first child, and I was travelwork at McDonald's if I had to and ing at the time as an evangelist. And teach the Word to hungry people in a because I was gone so much, because living room if that's what God wanted she was a young mother, because we

because Nicki and I needed some authentic friendships from people that would not judge us. And that's what we found in that Bible study. Yes, of course, five turned into a dozen, and a church was birthed out of it, as we have now. But we stayed true to that initial vision and the name, although I did not think of it at the time as appropriate, because one of our values is accepting people the way they are. And that's a value because the people in that Bible study had to accept Nicki and me the way we were struggling in our marriage at the time. Of course, we made it; we've been married since 1985 with three kids and five grandchildren. Of course, we made it through, but we made it through because of the friendships and the companionships of people in the church in those first few years. So that's how our church began, and that's why we don't have much of what you termed the ecclesiastical language and those types of things.

Victory Envue And saying that doesn't mean that you're less relevant or influential; it just means that your power comes from a place of pain. And that was entirely Jesus' ministry. Because he suffered, you can't get any more than he suffered.

You're pursued at birth by a henchman who was determined that if he can't kill you, he'll kill something like you. So Open Door speaks volumes about God's purpose on the earth. Jesus said, I'll stand at the door; you open it. I'm not going to open your door; I'm not going to kick the door down. I'm coming in, and I must come in invited. So, let's talk about Open Door. How long have you been the pastor there? Why Chillicothe?

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it and see it's not the apocalypse. Right. Are you still finding hungry people? Are you still finding people saying it's one thing to want something when you think it's over and there's not going to be anymore, and it's another thing to want something when the storm is calmed down and back to business as usual? Are you still finding that hunger?

Pastor Mark Pfeifer

Pastor Mark Pfeifer The only reason we're in Chillicothe is that as we prayed in that season when I wanted to quit traveling and start a church, Chillicothe was the place that God said to, "Go." That's the only way I can explain it. So, we've been doing this for 31 years.

Victory Envue So how have you managed to with the Pandemic, with the meth problem that they have there, with all the issues just like any other large city or small city or however they throw Chillicothe in the equation, how have you managed to continue to have a vision in that area? Do you see it getting any better? Have you seen it change since you're present since you've been there?

Pastor Mark Pfeifer Since COVID? Our church has done remarkably well. I'm not exactly sure how to contextualize that with reasons other than we were closed, for I'm trying to remember we were closed for a couple of months. And it seems like during that time, people's hunger grew. So that when we started back, people were excited to get back, and we've continued to grow and be strong during this time. And I don't know if I have a reason for it other than a season. People are looking for answers.

Victory Envue How easy is it for you to give those answers in the wake of the Pandemic? I won't say it's over, but people have survived

I would say yes. The reason is that we tried to paint a picture of what was in our hearts that became revealed during the Pandemic. And that gave people something to think about where they were in their life and to evaluate themselves. And the second thing we did was to try to paint a picture that no matter what happens, we have, as a church, a job to do. And even no matter what. Yes. And even with the recent Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, there's again a kind of trauma in our country. Yes. And when that happens, people are inclined to find the safest place they can find around people that will be a strong community.

And so that's what we've focused on creating: a sense of community and family in our church. And even though that's been there from the beginning, it's been necessary since 2020. And so, we try to facilitate that with different small gatherings, home groups, and ways to pull people together so they can do life together. And even with the recent baby formula shortage, we have people in our church just finding it and then calling each other and buying formula.

People bought formula and didn't even have babies because they knew people in our church needed formula. That's what it means to be a family and a community. That's where the strength lies.

Victory Envue That’s the Book Acts at work, bring it all in the until nobody has a need.

Pastor Mark Pfeifer Yes. I think that when people feel like they're self-sustaining and feel that they're strong enough to be by themselves without help, it is not the kind of attitude that brings them together in the kingdom of God. The Gospel begins with our admission, and we can't save ourselves. The Gospel begins with the admission exactly that I've got issues. And once we come to grips with our weakness, then we can be strong.

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Victory Envue And the mission of that is community. It's about fellowship, and it's about bringing us together. It's about unity.

Even if we have individual personalities, we're still united.

So, yes, you're right. The community should be the focal point. But now, with all these autonomous auto-bots running around here, they think they don't need anybody, don't need anything, and certainly don't need God. How do you tell people that? Even in the times where the Bible says, you're going to be free to marry, and you're going to still go on business as usual, this is when God is saying, you need me more so now than ever.

Pastor Mark Pfeifer

ture necessary? And there might be runaway inflation and a strong recession. How's your food pantry? Are we ready to take in people that need a place to go? We had a chance to answer these questions in 2020, and I hope we're ready.

Victory Envue And do you know what? That is the perfect segue to my next question because you would think that when the world gets in trouble, there's this awakening that says we need to get closer to the Creator instead of the created thing. But it seems like even with the example of Roe versus Wade, the church became the problem. It's like everybody is accusing the church of somehow conspiring with this government. What do you do, Pastor Mark, when people come to you and say, how could God let this happen? Why is God allowing our rights and our privileges to be taken away? What do you say now when the church is being reevaluated for a cross?

Correct. I think that you're quoting something very appropriate, which is Jesus talking about, as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be. And Noah built an ark for his family to save them from the flood. And that represents a moral structure based on righteousness in God's Word. Because Noah was a preacher of righteousness, and he walked with Pastor Mark Pfeifer God. In different ways from different perspectives? I think that Pastor Mark Pfeifer first, the most critical evaluation will come from God. Jesus told us that people would hate us, and if they hated Him, That boat represents a moral structure in which our famithey'd hate us. So, our first and most crucial evaluation is lies can be safe. Mom, dad, married, having kids, and that from God's perspective, are we upholding the Bible, the is the structure of the ark. And I think people will be standards, and the morals of the Bible regarding Roe v. pounding on the door when the floods come. Now, I don't Wade? I would refer you to my Facebook post, which think God closes the door as he did with Noah because gives my position on it and the position of our church offiJesus is the door now, and the door is always open. But it's cially and our elders. And in that article, I just tried to exnot until the rain comes that people realize, oh, my goodpress that Roe v. Wade is going to the states, and I don't ness, I got to find an ark. And if we can create the kind of churches with moral integrity and character-driven, that moral structure creates an artist to withstand the floods.

And that's what we must prepare for; when the sun shines, we're preparing for the flood.

The only thing God said to me in 2020 when the Pandemic was first emerging is that this was a test run. I felt that from the very beginning. I didn't feel like it was the end of the world. I didn't believe that it was going to kill half the population, but I did believe it was a test run. God gave us a little test run to say, okay, let's check our systems and see how we're doing. If people need food, are we ready to give them food? If we've got to collaborate with other churches, are we ready to collaborate? Do we have the kind of struc-

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think anything will change, and people will get abortions.

It's going to be legal. It's up to the state. But the church should also put our money where our mouth is. And if we're going to be pro-life, we ought to ensure that we provide the resources for people during pregnancy and care for them even afterward. Because the church has a burden these days to be more of a person's family than their own family at times because of the breakup of the biblical family, of mom and dad and kids, and so that's been one of the changes I've seen over 31 years more.

which side of the spectrum you're on, I don't see that the church's mission has ever changed. We're going to love people, care for people, and share the Gospel with people.

Victory Envue Does the church still willing to die for the Gospel? Or is it easier to ignore the issue so we don't get into physical, spiritual, financial, or economic trouble?

Pastor Mark Pfeifer

Yes. We have a gospel that's worth giving our lives. The question is, do we have the kind of people willing to give Victory Envue their life? And I would hope we do. I don't know how to Right. evaluate that until the time comes that you must give up your Pastor Mark Pfeifer life. And that doesn't mean giving an offering when you'd rather keep your money to go on vacation. Yes, so there are It's necessary to be a family for people because their families many opportunities for us to give our life. It's teaching a have broken apart.

Sunday school class. Would you rather not? It's taking in an Victory Envue unbelievable mother that doesn't have a place to go. Those But how do you answer that it's the church's fault if it wasn't are common. so judgmental? We're supposed to be separated from the Victory Envue state, but whenever there's a problem going on anywhere in Pastor Mark who's in more danger, the comfortable or the the world, the church is at the center of it. It's this Bible that conforming? we teach. If people wouldn't think that it was so bad if we didn't teach it, how do you teach your congregation to stand Pastor Mark Pfeifer strong and to stand firm on what God is saying in this new Who's in more danger? Comfortable? or Conforming? age?

Victory Envue Pastor Mark Pfeifer Yes. The ones who are just going to say, Come, Jesus, come.

Yes. They don't want to get involved. They say, "Just come back Victory Envue and get rid of all of this. Or the ones saying Jesus' Word was for that time, that culture, those traditions, he wouldn't have What do you tell them? As some churches say, don't say understood how to relate to this new age". Are those mindanything, don't argue? sets safe?

Pastor Mark Pfeifer Pastor Mark Pfeifer No. Our church has been traditionally pro-life, so most of That's a good question; I'm not sure I can answer that. It's our people, when it comes to Roe v. Wade, don't believe in like saying which soil was more valuable, the soil with stones abortion anyway. So, they would say that the Bible affirms or weeds? It's hard to say, but I say this if I hear your deGod's affirms in the womb. John the Baptist, he told Jeremiscriptions correctly. If someone's comfortable and they're ah, forms you in your mother's womb. And so, we have not engaged the way they should be, I think there's some been taught for years that the Bible affirms a human being in hope for them that God can do something in such a way in the womb so that we would be pro-life because of that. Roe their life that it finally wakes them up because that person is v. Wade and the Supreme Court decision will bring it back sleeping. The other group of people sounds like prescribers to the states, and our mission will be the same. No matter is somebody that's created a position against the Bible in the

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church. So, the second group of people that you say conforming, if they've created a philosophical position against the church, I say they would be worse off. Yes, because at least the comfortable have a chance to wake up, the conforming must admit they're wrong and change their message, and human pride is substantial against admitting that we were wrong.

Victory Envue Pastor Mark if you could imagine for a moment, someone 15 years from now reading your interview. They pick up this magazine and read your witness, and all the world is in chaos. How would you share the Gospel with them?

What do you say that could potentially help them choose to give their life to God? Pastor Mark Pfeifer

First, in some apocalypse, it sounds like you're describing; I would say that John said that Jesus is the alpha and the Omega, the beginning, and the end. He is worthy to open the scroll, and he reigns over historical past, present, and future, and that no matter how confusing life seems, God is still sovereign and to believe that and put your trust and rest in that and rest in him entirely he's got this.

I would also add the words of Joseph in Genesis 50 the devil may mean it for evil, but God means it for good.

That's a little paraphrase, but Joseph said to his brothers you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. And it's still a testimony that no matter what evil happens, what people do to us, no matter when they reject us and kick us to the curb, they meant it for evil. The devil means it for evil, but God means it for good. He's going to bless us.

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Victory Envue

Victory Envue

So, I am pleased to speak to one of Chillicothe's World Changers. The Honorable Incomparable Reverend Olie Burton, the Senior Pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church. And you, sir, are in Springfield, and we're talking about Chillicothe, are initially from Chillicothe?

Oh. So, what is the connection then between you and Chillicothe?

Pastor Olie Burton No. I'm originally from Springfield, Ohio.

Pastor Olie Burton I have a sister that lived in Chillicothe ever since 1960, when she got married; she moved from Springfield to Chillicothe. And my wife and I used to visit her and her husband before he passed. Once a year, we would visit, and we thought Chillicothe was quite quaint. And we never had any intention of living here because I thought I would never leave where I resided in

Maryland. But things begin to happen.

We became amp investors. One day, my wife and I decided, well, let's downsize.

We didn't know where we were going to move. And then we came to Chillicothe in April 2005 to visit with my sister and her husband. And we took them out to dinner. My wife noticed these condominiums we had never seen before because they were unique.

And she asked our brother-in-law, who was Jake Valentine, could we go up there and see those condomini-

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We moved here on October 31, 2005, and we became members. Four years passed and my wife and I were still enjoying Chillicothe. As I said, it was quite a quaint place to live in and not as fast as it was in the DC and Merlin area. We’re used to the fast lane.

But anyway, four years went by in 2009, and my children lived in Maryland. So, my wife and I went back home for Christmas in 2009, and I got a strange phone call from my cousin. He lived in Chillicothe and moved there in the same year, and he got married in 2005. And he said, the people in Chillicothe, once you become the president of the NAACP, I said, what?

Victory Envue

Did you think someone must be using your identity?

Pastor Olie Burton Yes. I said, what are you talking about? They said, well, I haven't done anything anyway, right. I said,

well, let me rent to own it. So, when I got back to Chillicothe, I saw the previous president, Robbie Robinson. Well, Mr. Robert Robinson, Senior. And I said I went to his house, sat there, and talked to him and his wife. And he told me you are a great candidate. Did I say, well, don't you have anybody available? She said the word on the street is you're the one you are. Yes. I said I'm not a member, and you become a member. And I said, well, the fast forward, I became the president, and they left him in 2010, I became the president, and I held that position for six years, whereas I turned it over to Mr. Robinson's daughter, which she's been the president.

I did excellent groundwork for her. I got black schoolteachers fellowship with the Chillicothe School board. Got well known in there. I got assigned to a couple of boards, goodwill, South Central board of the Carver Center board. I got involved in the Masons, which led to many friendships. Got close with the mayor of Chillicothe. I got on a panel

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here for revitalizing the downtown Chillicothe area.

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Victory Envue

Pastor Olie Burton

We're talking about uncommon favor that God has on your life. And I'm sure it didn't start when you were married, right? I'm sure you were a favorite baby boy, too, right?

You're right. God orchestrated all this.

Pastor Olie Burton

Victory Envue

Oh, yes. I was called a preacher when I was five years old. I knew that. I went through my trials and tribulations, being disobedient, and trying to fight the call because I didn't want to pursue it. I did everything but become a preacher. I taught Sunday school, I ushered, and I became a Deacon. But God told me that's not your call, and I didn't call you to do any of those things. I called you to preach. So, when I received my call in 1996, then everything began to change rapidly, but it was still a process.

It sounds like God called you to Chillicothe!

So, were you Pastoring in Maryland?

Pastor Olie Burton

No, I was an Associated Pastor in my church. Never wanted to be a Pastor. Never had a desire to be. I was a preacher, and I was a reverend. Let me start this over. I just retired from the military in 1990. I spent 30 years in the military. All I wanted to do was live a quiet life.

When I retired in 2005, all I did was I got another job because I was forty-seven when I retired. Got another job Victory Envue just to watch. This year, I started out as a substitute teachSo, your life has been a supernatural setup, right? er. That's all I wanted to do. And then, one day, the school's principal said, we're going to make you a fullPastor Olie Burton time teacher. I didn't want to be a full-time nothing.

That's the keyword, and it was a setup. And that's what I I said, why did you pick me. To be a full-time teacher? preached about it, and I walked right into it.

She said, there’s something about you. And guess what Victory Envue class they put me in? Special needs children. I said that's a special gift for the school, and I don't have that gift. She You walked right into it. So, let me ask you this because says, yes, please do it. I said OKAY, I'll do it. I did it for you've been doing this a long time, and you're going to be one year, and I couldn't take that because that wasn't my celebrating an anniversary, the seventh anniversary, this gift. I left that when 911 came about. I tell my wife, I got weekend, right? 25th through the 26th, so, do you ever to do something about this. So, I became a security wonder what you would be doing if you hadn't become a guard at NIH. That's the National Institute of Health in Pastor?

Modes of Maryland. I'm already retired, and I'm not Pastor Olie Burton teaching school anymore. I started a new career and didI'm an activist, so I would always be involved in the comn't know anything about security. I'm outside one-day munity. I just can't sit on my logos; so that's why when I directing traffic, bringing people to this parking lot at retired, I wanted to help people get involved and make NIH. One of the managers of the security company people's lives different If I could be of any assistance. came out. He said, come inside a minute. I said now, what have I done? He said, “you don't belong out there, There is no such thing as a born leader. But I know that do you?” I said, “what do you mean?” He says, “starting I am a leader because I'm more a leader than I am a foltomorrow, I want you to become one of our managers. I lower. saw you talking to one of our clients and how you managed the situation, I know there’s something different about you.” I became a company manager where I went from $25,000 a year up to $97,000 a year in one day.

Victory Envue Yes, that comes with its own pressure.

Pastor Olie Burton

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I know what I can do when I put my mind on a thing. I know one thing for sure, I’ve got the Midas touch! Only because I'm highly favored, and I don't take that for granted. I knew not to do that. This is the strange thing about my journey; all this happened in ninety-six. I am 53 years old, becoming a preacher. They'll tell you I'm already over the hill to become a Pastor. So, I know that's not going to ever happen because, at my age, most churches typically want younger men and women to pastor.

So, I never do that. And I knew that I would never be in and running as a candidate. But if things continued through my journey, I would put in for churches, but I would never get them because I knew it was because of my age. So, I stopped pursuing them. I knew at five year’s old that someday I would pastor at the same church I was baptized in! I knew my goal was always to preach at my church, not to become the Pastor just preach. All I said, Lord, give me one time to preach before I die at Mount P Zion Baptist Church.

Victory Envue And the last thing you did was decided to seek the kingdom first, and he gave you that.

Pastor Olie Burton

He called me back the following Sunday, the following Sunday. This one, I believe, was in April of 2013. Guess I Pastor Olie Burton started alternating with another preacher every other SunYes, he allowed me to. I preached there for the first time day during holidays. So, after three or four months of in 2013. The former Pastor was let go, so I knew the posi- mine, they asked me, would you be our interim Pastor? I tion was vacant. I called up one of my classmates who was said I will. I will be if you're looking for a Pastor. So, I bea member, I said, “anytime you need somebody to preach came Pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church in 2014. So, I in there until you all get a Pastor”. The chairperson of the preach Sunday, and my servants begin to get better. I bedeacon board called me up the following week and said, gan to show the people we fell in love with each other; “would I preach till Sunday”? I said, wow, which was even though I didn't know them because I'd been going for quick. So, you know, I jumped on that. Yeah, 50 years, we had no connection.

I knew I wasn't that good of a preacher because if you don't preach enough, you're not going to be. You're already scared, and you're not going to deliver down to my service. But I always do what my older, my last Pastor told me, always treat people with love and kindness.

Victory Envue That right.

So, after a year, I asked them; “I said I've been in the past four years. I can't keep up coming from Chillicothe. My wife and I keep coming up this highway in one hundred miles round trip what you're paying me because that's wearing tear on my car. We got to eat out every Sunday because we don't have time to prepare no meals, right? I'll give you a couple more months until you find somebody”.

And they asked me, “well, why don’t you put your name in for the position?” I said, “well, I can't do that because

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you can't have an interim Pastor to become the Pastor because it's not fair to the other candidates. I'm preaching, and I'm not going to do that.” They said, “why don’t you quit being interim and put your name in to be Pastor?” I said, “well, I can do that. I said, well, let me pray on that”. So, I went into prayer, returned, gave my resume, and then voted. We're not going to mess around, and we're going to vote at the following year's meeting.

So, I got a phone call saying, “You’re selected!” I said, “wow! God, you got jokes. I'm 72 years old! God orchestrated this move!

that organization. It’s hard to get young men to join the masonry, one of the most well-known community organizations. So, when you look at it, it's primarily outsiders that are on the boards of these organizations including me.

Victory Envue

Pastor Olie Burton

Victory Envue So, what's next for you? And do you have a successor picked out?

Were there any losses or things you wish you had an op- Absolutely. I come from the Baptist. I don't know if you portunity to do, but those opportunities taken from you know anything about Baptist. Baptist is so stringent on allowing women in the pulpit. My church would come because of what you stand for and represent? under the Western District Association. My church is in Pastor Olie Burton Chillicothe, and we come under the Eastern Association.

No. For some reason, that never happened to me. BeWell, me being the Pastor of mountains, I'm a maverick. cause I hate to get biblical because what God has for me, They do not like the churches under the Western; they he has for me, and he directs my path. don't have women in their pulpits.

Victory Envue Right.

Pastor Olie Burton Everything I did was based on faith. But in the end, we agreed to disagree. Because you can think for yourself.

So, I never belittled nobody here. All I do is make recommendations. Terri, if you notice, every organization here in Chillicothe’s run by outsiders.

I think I have had six women preachers since I became the Pastor. They do not allow my women to sit in their pulpits when we go to their churches. But when they come to my church, my women do not give up their seats because they are preachers of Mount Zion or just associated Pastors at Mount Zion, you have all rights and privileges, and I want them to always remember that.

Victory Envue Let me ask you this because that's a perfect segue for my next question. Is this the epitome of the Prophet not accepted in his own home, or is the Prophet's personality keeping them from being accepted in their own home?

Pastor Olie Burton

Absolutely. Because local people don't want anybody to tell them what to do. Especially from someone you’re used to. Our Mason is the second oldest Mason lodge in the state of Ohio. But even now, you do not have one person from Chillicothe in

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Victory Envue I’m here with Chillicothe World Changer, Pastor Eric Carson, how are you doing today, Sir? Pastor Eric Carson Doing well, doing well.

Victory Envue Let’s start off by going back to a time before you were the Pastor at First Baptist Church in Chillicothe, Ohio. Tell us a little bit about your background, where you grew up, who influenced you at an early age, and maybe even when you realized and accepted your calling.

Pastor Eric Carson Well, I grew up in Columbus, Ohio, in the Lindon area.

I was always in church growing up. My parents didn’t just take us to church, they went to church with us. We went to church as a family. My brother and I grew up at Trinity Baptist Church under the late Reverend Dr. E.A. Parham. That’s where I got my foundation. I grew up in the church, as I said, me and my brother were often the youngest ones at various evening services and Bible studies. At prayer meetings, we were the youngest, sometimes we were the only young people there, that’s how our parents raised us. I often remember, growing up, there was a particular street my dad would park on, and we would

walk down 20th avenue. Everybody would be outside playing and the next day they would tease us, mainly me because I was six years older than my brother. They would call us church boys and things like that because we were going to church while everyone else was outside playing.

But I am so thankful for that foundation, I’m so thankful for that upbringing. I started working in the church, back then they were not too trusting of young people. I grew up and I was given the trust of cleaning the church, I started off as a relief janitor. One of the older janitors, a Deacon of the church, Deacon Mathew Stratton, would go on vacation and visit family in Tennessee, he did that every August. That’s how I got started working in the church. They entrusted me, and I don’t use that word lightly, they entrusted me to care for the church. I even had keys and that was a big thing. From there, after being a custodian, I started serving in various ministries. Choir, I was the choir president, I was on the usher board where I supervised the youth, and I was a leader of the men’s ushers.

Victory Envue Oh man, you did it all!

Pastor Eric Carson Yes, I held various positions as I grew up within the church. I worked in media, I was ordained a Deacon,

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and then I preached my initial sermon. I went from there to serve, my last role, as an executive assistant Pastor to Reverend Dr. Victor Davis, who is currently now the Pastor of the church. The rest is history. You know prior to that I served a number of years in the funeral profession. I am close to 38 years in the funeral profession. I started out at Diehl-Whittaker and now I am currently serving at Marlan Gary Chapel of Peace. That is a ministry for me within itself. Caring for people in their time of need, I take great joy in that.

My very first job was shining shoes at a barber shop.

Victory Envue Really?

Pastor Eric Carson Yes, back when I was twelve years old that was my first job. I would work on Saturdays, sweeping up and doing little odd things within the shop. Then I would shine shoes as people came in, so that is the foundation for my work ethic and my church ethic.

Pastor Eric Carson Oh, it was definitely spirit-led. I genuinely believe that God orchestrated it for me to come to First Baptist. I truly, without a shadow of a doubt, without going too deep into some things that happened at First Baptist prior to me coming, I truly believe it was orchestrated

by God. He rearranged some things in my personal life so that things wouldn’t be a hindrance to me serving in Ministry.

I love what I am able to do and being able to do it without any hindrances, I love serving. God has been good to me. He has taken me up and down the highway, there were sometimes that I had left serving in Chillicothe and I get on the road and sleep says you done did all this today it’s time for you to rest. So God allowed me to pull into places, like a Pilot, where I can rest my eyes and he would protect me. I praise God for that. For these past eight years God has been with me, he has protected me and provided for all I stood in need of. I just give God praise for that.

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Amen!

Oh, man. I wasn’t aware of any of that. Let me ask you this. You know some people are born into a family and some come into a family by choice. You could make an argument that choosing to be in a family is a higher honor. So being from Columbus, what led you to First Baptist Church in Chillicothe to be the leader of that family?

Pastor Eric Carson And let me just add this, to answer your original question, I believe that if it were my doing things would not have turned out the way they have. If it was my doing. But I truly believe that God orchestrated it and I truly believe that God knew the plans he had for me.

As I said, I just give God the praise.

Victory Envue Amen, you followed the calling! Now First Baptist Church dates back to, if I am not mistaken, 1824.

First Baptist Church was even instrumental in the underground railroad. When you come into a place that is new you set an expectation but when you come into a place that has been around for almost 200 years the expectation has been established so you have to meet or exceed those expectations. Is there any added pressure or do you feel any added responsibility, being the Pastor at First Baptist, given the storied history of the church?

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Pastor Eric Carson

Victory Envue

Most definitely. Brother Joe, there is a scripture in Hebrews that talks about a cloud of witnesses, in other words, a cloud of witnesses is cheering us on.

So I believe that people like Reverend Nickens and others, our ancestors, those who came before us through the years at First Baptist Church, are cheering us on to uphold the legacy of the church. The foundation was set so now we are building on that foundation. So to your question, yes there is somewhat of an added pressure to uphold it, to not lower the standard that has been set. So many times that happens, people have built a legacy and set the foundation and then individuals will come in and tear it down. I think that does a great detriment to what was built through the years.

Yes Sir, it is!

Coming to First Baptist, coming into a legacy, coming into a place with a historic history, I strive to uphold that. I strive to keep the First Baptist Church of Chillicothe in high esteem. Not to worship the church but to worship the God that has sustained the church. I believe there is a difference because if it had not been for God none of this would have happened. You can’t get folks to stay together 19 days let alone 198 years. So you cannot tell me it’s not due to God keeping us. He laid the foundation and brought things to fruition.

The heritage of the underground passageway for the slaves is an awesome legacy.

Of course, being a Pastor extends far outside the walls of the church, what areas or causes do you find yourself drawn to or what do you see as the most significant challenge facing the community, as one of Chillicothe’s World Changers?

Pastor Eric Carson Speaking on the question about extending Ministry outside the walls of the church, the scripture says to be a beacon of light, the salt of the earth. I preach this and I strive to live this. So many times we think of ministry as being only within the walls of a building, but I believe that when we talk about ministry we have to go outside of the walls and do the work. Work is not only done on Sunday; the work takes place after the benediction. When we go into the hedges, when we go into the byways, when we go in the marketplace, when we are in meetings, when we visit hospitals, and when we go to homegoing services. That’s the church coming outside the four walls. I believe that in this day and time, post-pandemic or if the pandemic is still going on, I believe we are to be the saltshakers that change the flavoring. Changing the negativity, changing all the negative things going on in the world. The church must be that light to the world and shine forth hope. There is hope, there are changes coming, and there is a better way to live. It’s the church’s responsibility not to just

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maintain inside the walls but take the church outside of the walls.

That’s why next weekend, on July 9th, 2022, in celebration of our 198th anniversary we are having a community day.

Victory Envue That’s great for the community.

Pastor Eric Carson God blessed us last year to be very successful with it, so God is giving us another opportunity to bring the community together.

Another opportunity to bring the church outside of the four walls and into the community. We will have activities and vendors and things of that nature. Not only will we have craft vendors, but we are going to have resource vendors, food trucks, and a prayer station, all of that to take ministry outside of the four walls of the church building. So that’s where I am with that.

Pastor Eric Carson One of the things, Brother Joe, is that I believe God is bringing down barriers. I mean we have white church and black church; we have denominations and all of that. I believe as time is winding down and it is getting closer to the Lord’s return, that he is bringing the body of Christ together in totality. Not just a culture, not just a race, not just a denomination, because with all of that you have division.

What I am so happy to see, and I am seeing it in a lot of our churches, is that you have mixed congregations worshipping together. So to answer your question, just be able to minister to all people. My desire when I came to First Baptist, on April the 5th of 2014, was that the Lord’s church would be a place of refuge for all people.

Not just black, not just white, not just rich, not just poor, not just the educated or uneducated, but That is impressive! You may have answered this next question a place of refuge for all people.

God has fulfilled that! There with your previous statements have been some people who about community outreach but since you have been at First Bap- have come and united with the tist what do you see as the most church that the world deemed as significant victory you have had? outcasts. God has allowed them to come and have contact with Pastor Carlson me. So to answer your question When God enables and orches- that is one of my victories. trates us to connect people of Victory Envue different backgrounds and ethThat’s great. In your answer, you nicities. actually led into the next quesVictory Envue tion I was going to ask you. One Oh yes, diversity is extremely thing I noticed, at an early age, important in the kingdom and in was that in Chillicothe different the world. congregations seem to share a Victory Envue

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brotherhood/sisterhood. I have come to realize that it is because the Pastors have a brotherhood. I see yourself being close friends with Pastors of other denominations and things of that nature. Why do you think Chillicothe is ahead of the curve in achieving the diverse church that you are describing?

Victory Envue What advice would you give a young individual who is considering becoming a Pastor?

Pastor Eric Carson

To make sure they are hearing the voice of the Lord.

Make sure that they are hearing the Lord’s voice and that Pastor Eric Carson God is orchestrating their steps. Yes, you can go to semiI think it is God moving and orchestrating things like that nary, yes you can go to Christian school, and yes, like me, to take place. I really believe God is removing barriers so you could have grown up in the church, but does that we can all come together. As a matter of fact, in Isaiah 43, mean you are called to be a Pastor? I grew up in the God says I am doing a new thing. I am putting a road in church, I spent my childhood serving in the Lord’s the midst of the wilderness. I’m putting a river in the midst church, but that does not mean that God called me to of the desert. So he is doing new things, he is not doing preach or called me to Pastor. Being a Pastor you go the same old thing. That is why I really and truly believe through some things. Brother Joe that is why, I forget that God shut everything down and put everybody in what the number is, but there are so many Pastors who timeout with COVID and the pandemic. Then he redid start out but end up quitting. Who end up giving up and some things, even though people are trying to make things many end up committing suicide. come back the way they were, back to normal, I am not so sure God even wants things to come back to that norm. I Victory Envue believe he is doing a new thing. So to answer your quesI didn’t know that. tion, he’s bringing unity within the body of Christ. He is Pastor Eric Carson giving us the opportunity to live in unity.

Oh yes because the ministry can be overwhelming. People Victory Envue think oh I love to talk. I love to teach; I love to do this or Unity is much needed, especially now. What are your fu- that, so I want to be a Pastor. They “want” to be a Pastor, ture plans for First Baptist Church? but the question has to be asked, has God called you to be a Pastor?

Pastor Eric Carson The future is to build on unity. Make the body stronger.

Lately, the Lord has been equipping me to preach messages about faith. Again, I believe that during the whole pandemic, when things were removed, a change took place, God was wanting us to rely more on him and not “stuff.”

More on him and not our finances. More on him instead of power, positions, and status, more on Him. So he has been giving me messages that deal with faith. Drawing closer to the Lord, building our relationship with him. So that’s where I feel that my assignment is, God is wanting to have the body of Christ to be stronger and more mature.

God is wanting us to have a nourished relationship with Jesus Christ.

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He said who I have called I have also equipped. So if I am equipped God already knows what’s ahead because he said he knows the plans he has for you. So if he has equipped a person to be a Pastor, either him or her, he has prepared them, he has nurtured them, he has provided for what they need. So many times people go on the whim of being a vocation, being something that I can do, but I’m here to tell you if God hasn’t called you, you better leave it alone.

Victory Envue Amen!! In closing is there anything about yourself that you want to leave with our readers?

Pastor Eric Carson

I’ll just say this, I genuinely love the Lord, I love God’s people. I love serving God’s people and I wouldn’t trade this for anything in the world, I wouldn’t trade it. I love serving. I love what he has called me to do.

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