Jackson Expose’: When and where did you start your first church and what was it like leading a church for the first time? Bishop Stallworth: My first church was Harris Tabernacle on Lynch Street right before you get to HWY 80. I lead them for a few months. Then I was sent to Meridian. Each group was exciting. My goal was to put them in a position where they could do great service for their commumity. Jackson Expose’: How would you characterize your style of ministering? Bishop Stallworth: I would characterize it as kind of entrepreneurial. Putting money and church together for development. Ecclesiastical Entrepreneurial. Ecclesiastical is the ministry part. Entrepreneurial is the money part of it. Jackson Expose’: I believe you were the first in Jackson to start a dance ministry. I recall one of your first dance ministries was African inspired. What motivated you to add dance to your worship service?
Bishop Stallworth ministers to Word and Worship Church Congregation.
Bishop Stallworth: We are always seeking a way to meet people where they are. Our motto is meeting them where they are, teaching them what you can, and working with what they’ve got. Most people can get into that by participating in the rhythm. Jackson Expose’: You seemed to always have been innovative in the way that you conduct church services, where did you get your influences? Bishop Stallworth: Watching my father and from the Interdenominational Theological Center and the theological schools around the Atlanta Complex and Emory University. .Jackson Expose’: A lot of people don’t know that you are a gospel singer and that you are a recorded gospel artist. Can you tell us about that? Bishop Stallworth: I’ve always liked music. Being with the Mississippi Mass Choir and Dorothy Norway gave me some opportunities. I was a spoken word contributor to the choir There is always a crowd for you if you want to sing. But I like preaching more.
Jackson Expose’: During Spring Break you held a Youth Piloting Camp. How did that program come about? Bishop Stallworth: I found people in the church who had that talent. I came up with the idea of the school. In 2012 Gold Medalist Bianca Knight purchased and donated computers along with flight simulators to help us start the Knight Flight 101 aviation mentoring program. The first Knight Flight 101 Jackson summer camp took place in July of 2013 and now we’re looking forward to the 2nd Annual Camp this July. Students from the surrounding metropolitan area 8th thru the 12th grade are welcome to register for the camp. Jackson Expose’: Bishop Stallworth, you provide many volunteer programs such as blood drives and health fairs, tell me about some of them. Bishop Stallworth: The one that I’m the most proud of is Hope Credit Union. On the 29th of March the Credit Union was 20 useful years old.
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Jackson Expose’: What is your vision for Word and Worship going forward? Bishop Stallworth: We should be a connectionial church (like a franchise). Word and Worship is seeking to develop a denomination of churches. The vision for it will be interdenominational - all inclusive. Our pace is a little slow now but our vision is bright.
Expose’ Magazine of Jackson
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