Second Baptist Church in Homestead held a weeklong celebration last month to celebrate Rev. Donald P. Turner’s 46-year anniversary as pastor at the church.
“Truly, it is an honor as well as a privilege to be back home y’all, I’m amongst family and it feels good,” Turner proclaimed.
A church-shaking music selection by the Mt. Olive Baptist Church choir led into the Word by guest preacher, Rev. Michael Peterson, pastor, Mt. Olive Baptist, Coraopolis.
Reflecting on Rev. Turner, Rev. Peterson said, “On how much he has meant to me…not only to me, but to my wife, that is the only pastor she has ever known.”
Reverend Peterson said Rev. Turner is the only pastor his daughter has ever known as well.
“We thank you both for all that you meant not only to us, to second Baptist, but not only to Second Baptist but to this entire community,” church First Lady Jean Turner said. “We are looking forward to the next 46 years.”
Other pastors in attendance included Rev. Barbara Gunn, pastor, Mt. Carmel Baptist Church; Bishop Jonathan Stewart, pastor, New Covenant Community Church; and Rev. James Burwell, pastor, Clark Memorial Baptist Church. The theme for the celebration was, “Dressed for the Battle,” Ephesians 6:11.
Reverend Turner was pastor at Mount Olive Baptist Church for five years to start his pastoral career, and now it’s year 46 at Second Baptist. “In 1988, I was in a wreck and an 18-wheeler ran over me, broke my leg in a hundred places, broke seven ribs and broke my arm in three places. Just to see how God worked and mapped out everything, to me it was tremendous.”
Reverend Turner gave words of advice: “Try to be as near to what you feel He (God) is telling you to do. We don’t know everything, He is telling us what to do. My God is a good God and He blesses me beyond measure.
“I never wanted to pastor,” Rev. Turner said. “I guess because of that the Lord is going to show me what He is going to get out of me regardless of what I think me wants.”
Second Baptist Church is located at 108 West 12th Ave., Homestead. For more information and worship times, call 412-461-8235 or visit www.secnbapt.com.
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