After listening to a riveting performance of inspirational singing from The Heritage Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh, the expectant crowd began to applaud and cheer as internationally-known pastor and vocalist Donnie McClurkin took his rightful place at the Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ pulpit.
Pastor McClurkin, a prolific and profound minister of the Gospel, was invited by the Council of Christian Of Christian Men (CCM) to preach the initial sermon that began a Family and Friends Weekend, Oct. 20.
Pastor McClurkin’s unscripted message had no Biblical title or text, but the scripture quotes abounded as he impressed those gathered longing for authentic worship. He stressed, “I have nothing I can offer you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified…I don’t want to just come to church, I want to be the church.”
Pastor McClurkin admonished everyone to forsake wickedness, repent and regain their passion for an honest relationship with God. He went on to ask a series of questions. “When did we forget that the title, Missionary, Evangelist, Elect-Lady, Trustee, Elder, Superintendent, Pastor… was not a promotion? But a demotion given by God to serve? When did we become so saved that we don’t bring our Bibles to church anymore? What happened to the zeal (fervor to praise God) and the brothers who danced before God? When did we lose the zeal to defend our faith and the teachings of holiness? We now play with the sacred things as though it is some kind of Christian comedy. We have become statesman (in church) waiting to be entertained.”
Upon invitation, many in the crowd quickly filled the large church altar to capacity to receive the prayer of repentance offered by Pastor McClurkin. And just when you thought his sermon had apexed, Pastor McClurkin transcended into his music ministry. A crescendo of traditional gospel lyrics was the segway into an impromptu concert that exploded into high praises to God. Host Pastor, Bishop Dr. Loran E. Mann and Evangelist Barbara Mann joined in the dance that lasted into the night.
Pastor McClurkin is founder and pastor of Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, N.Y.; a ministry that he started back in 2001 after serving as assistant to Bishop-Elect Marvin L. Winans at Perfecting Church in Detroit, Mich. The ministry grew expeditiously from 200 members to more than 3,000 members and can be viewed regularly on the WORD broadcasting network.
Also during the Family and Friends Weekend, a healthy lunch was served during the free men’s health conference, Oct. 21, facilitated by Anthony Anderson, associate minister at the host church. Much dialog and literature was exchanged and many questions were answered as five Pittsburgh-area doctors shared health information in matters pertaining to men.
The Sunday morning (Oct. 22) worship service featured the men’s choir in song, and Apostle Larry C. Simmons, founder and pastor of New Generation Christian Fellowship Church in Champaign, Illinois, preached a sermon entitled, “Don’t Play the Fool.”
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