Pastor’s Pen
Season Greetings!
I greet you in the matchless name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. First and foremost, my family and I would like to thank you for all of the love that was shown to us during the Appreciation celebration as well as all year long. I write to you with thoughts of happiness, joy, and peace for you and your family for the holiday season. I hope you are excited about the opportunity to share a little love and cheer to your neighbor, co-worker and a needed stranger. Let God use you to reach someone else during this special and sacred time of the year.
Well, a wonderful and exciting year has nearly come to an end. I hope that you have seen and felt as much, or more, of God as I have! The Lord has shown us favor once again. In spite of having to face staggering problems, unwarranted adversity, and heartbreaking losses, God has been unusually faithful to this congregation. God has made choice of us to be one of the leading ministries in the city, county and state of Michigan. To God be the Glory!
He has showered us with His presence week after week! There is never a time when He is not with us! I thank God that our friends can visit us and bear witness to the glorious presence of the Lord in this place. The only reason why peace and fellowship continues to abide between the walls of Mt. Olive is because of the sweet presence of God. Again, I hope that you have seen and felt as much, or more, of God as I have.
As we approach the final days of this year, be encouraged. Encouraged that God is with you, for you and in you! That is what Christmas is all about. God coming to be with us! He came to show us His love for us and to share it with us so that we could love each other. What a source of encouragement, God's love! Keep this in mind as you approach the year's end.
Lastly, Mt. Olive, I love you. I am glad that God has made us partners in ministry. I hope that you are glad too. I believe you are. As a reminder, God has made choice of this church to be a leader among churches. We can not take this for granted. Instead let's show our gratitude to Him by reaching out to others in love and service.
Merry Christmas from me and mine to you and yours!
Pastor
Dr. J.P. Wilson Institute and Fall Revival
The fifth annual Dr. J. P. Wilson Institute and Revival was held October 19-21, 2005, at 6:00 p.m. nightly. Each service began with praise and worship led by the inspiring Mt. Olive praise team. The very profound and capable presenter, Dr. E. L. Branch, pastor of Third New Hope Baptist Church of Detroit, Michigan, delivered the lectures for this year’s services. During the three nights that Dr. Branch lectured, he focused on Mt. Olive’s theme, “You will be my witnesses,” Acts 1:8. According to Dr. Branch, this scripture is the church’s original mission statement.
Some points that Dr. Branch emphasized included: Leaders should study the word of God instead of simply “meeting.” Being a witness is an assignment that everyone is called to do. We are to be a Bold Witness; witness with power; endeavor to advance the kingdom of God. To effectively witness, we must receive the Holy Spirit. Pastor Branch also stated that the leaders within the church should follow the leader of the church, the Pastor. We must be willing to change with change or we will be changed by the change. The Church is not a place or a building; it is a people of God gathered together for purpose and mission. We must stop going to church and start being the church
Our prolific preacher for the Institute was the dynamic pastor of Galilee Baptist Church, Detroit, Dr. Tellis Chapman. Dr. Chapman is quite an articulate and profound speaker. In his sermons, he asked us to consider some relevant points including: we must refocus on God as we wait and watch God work. He encouraged us to trust God when we are going through trials because of what God has already brought us through. We must “ Hear God; Heed God, and Hold on to Him.” The Lord will put more on you than you can bear so that He can help you bear it. Serve God for Who He is. God is real and he wants real Christians.
At the end of this great Institute, members and visitors alike were loudly proclaiming the blessings that were received from the messages of these two men of God. These services helped us to better realize our role as witnesses for God’s word. We must put our faith into action as we win souls for Christ.
Honoring The Man Of God
The Mt. Olive church family took time to honor Pastor Marvin T. and First Lady Omie Anderson Smith along with their children, Marcelle, Marche’, and MaKenzie during our Pastor and Family Appreciation. The celebrating began with seven days of love starting Sunday, October 16, symbolizing the seven years the Smith family and Mt. Olive have been united. Each church ministry was responsible for giving a tangible gift of love to the Smiths. Saturday, October 22, was Marcelle’s day. A care package was sent to him with all sort of goodies that would be useful as he continues his studies at Florida A & M University.
The final day of love climaxed on Sunday, October 23rd. The morning’s guest speaker was longtime friend, Pastor Michael Williams, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Nashville, Tennessee. Pastor Williams responded to the last minute call of his friend, Pastor Smith, to fill in for Rev. Darrell Isaiah, Pastor of the Faith Baptist Church, Akron, Ohio, who could not be with us due to illness. Also sharing in the celebration with Mt. Olive and the Smith family were his brother, Pastor Roderick and Sis. Irma Smith of the Zion Baptist Church, and sisters of both Pastor Smith and Sis. Omie from Louisiana.
Following morning worship was a wonderful dinner and live entertainment from the musical group, Brother to Brother. The afternoon part of the celebration ended the day with special guests Pastor Marvin Jennings and the Greater Grace Emmanuel Baptist Church of Flint, Michigan.
