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Pafle B6-The Chronicle, Thursday, April 12, 1984
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Focus On Religion
The blessings c<
By AUDREY L. WILLIAMS
Chronicle Staff Writer
From February until about two weeks ago, people were
smiling in 43-year-old Martha Oliver's face and cooking
up something behind her back.
The members of the Prince of Peace Baptist Church,
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aiuug wiiu uci iuur cnuurcn ana ner nusoana Cecil, were
making plans to make her the woman of the hour at a
"This Is Your Life" testimonial roast, recognizing the
longstanding church worker for her dedication and service.
"1 don't know why they did it to tell you frankly,"
says Oliver, who periodically blares her big brown eyes in
wonderment of all the attention.
Oliver, a radiological technologist at North Carolina
Baptist Hospital, is a member of her church's gospel
choir, the organist for the Tot Choir, a member of the
Missionary Circle and a member of the Pastor's Aide
Club. Growing up in Zion Memorial Baptist Church is
where Oliver got her first taste of church work. It was
there that her mother introduced her to the labors of
love. After becoming an adult, she says, the lessons she
learned in church didn't seem to hold her attention
anymore.
"I grew up in the church," she says, "and like all people
you tend to stray away and pretty quickly you find
out and I found out that the grass isn't greener on the
other side.
"I really can't say what prompted me to come back to
the church," says Oliver. "All I can say is I'm glad I
did."
She joined Prince of Peace six years ago when it was
first organized. It was also then that Oliver says she
rededicated her life to God and decided to get to work for
Him. "
"I just feel like life is so short," she says, "and we
to do what we can in service for the Lord.**
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Church Calendar, Focus On Rel
)ntinue to flow
In her living room is a bouquet of flowers from the
gospel choir honoring Oliver for her dedicated service to
the church. Still, she really doesn't seem to think she
deserves any credit for anything.
"When they did all this for me I thought it was very
nice," she says, "but 1 was very embarrassed and
devastated.
"They did it out of love," Oliver says, "because 1 am
in no way an accomplished musician."
Adele Scott, a local private piano and organ teacher,
however, doesn't agree with Oliver's self-evaluation.
Over 15 years ago, Scott realized that Oliver displayed
musical talent and it was then that she took the 5-11,
born-again Christian under her wings to study.
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of dinner was just for her, the gospel choir sang one
"I just feel like life is so short and we need to
do what we can in service for the Lord. "
? Martha Oliver
of her favorite songs and one that reflects on her life in
the church. The selection was "This Little Light of
Mine."
Spending at least eight hours of her week in church,
working in one capacity or another, Oliver says she
believes that everyone can have a place in the church instead
of just coming to hear the Sunday morning sermon.
"I call those people bench warmers," she says. "No
two people can have the same talents, but you can never
find out what they are if you just dome in and sit down.
"Everybody can't participate in the service," says
Oliver, "but there are organizations and other sectors of
the church that you can be a part of."
A lot of people have told Oliver that she needs to document
her work. The work they speak of is the gospel
Church Notes
_
Two are honored
Mrs. Mamie C. Rennick, pastor of Ishi Penecostal
Holiness Temple, was crowned queen of the Love
Fellowship Banquet, Saturday, April 7, at the Holiday
Inn North. Jack Nelson, a local musician, was crowned
.king. . ' .. .*
* Last year, a group of concerned Christians banded
together to fellowship with one another as an expression
of love and concern for all Christians regardless of
denominations. Thus, the Love Fellowship Group was
organized with Jack Nelson of St. Peter's Apostolic
Holiness Church as its president.
The group has held several banquets with keynote
speakers giving talks on love, the theme of the group. A
family picnic was also held at Tanglewood Park. With
the feeling that so many things going wrong in society,
Nelson, his wife Delois, Mrs. Rennick, Vernell Butler,
Elder Joseph Lowery and others decided to form the
group to get to get others to express love for one another.
Love Fellowship is a non-profit organization with all
proceeds received used to sponsor activities. All Christians
of any faith with a desire to reach out and express
their concerns for others are welcome to attend promotions
by the group.
Winners of the king and queen contest were chosen on
the basis of having the largest number of people present
at the banquet.
Said Mrs. Rennick: "It is a joy to see people coming
together and working for the Lord. Nelson offered his
crown to any man bringing the largest number of persons
to a Dlanned event of the armm *
Keynoting the banquet was the Rev. Conrad Douthit.
He urged the audience to express more family love and
not be concerned with sterotyped roles, but rather that
husbands and wives work toward creating a loving caring
atmosphere.
Choirpresentsprogram ~
The Chancel Choir of Dellabrook Presbyterian Church
will give its annual rendition of Johannes Brahms' "A
German Requiem" Palm Sunday, April 15, in the church
sanctuary at 6 p.m.
Soloists will be Mrs. Deitra E. Arrington, soprano, of
Durham and Winston-Salem native Daniel Andrews Jr.,
baritone. Several guest singers will join the group for this
presentations
Mozelle H. Johnson is the organist and Rudolph V.
Boone Sr. is the choir director. Host pastor is the Rev.
Carlton A.G. Eversley.
Moiy week begins
The St. Paul United Methodist Church's department of
education will present a Walk-Through Holy Week, Sunday,
April 15, at the church at 2370 Dellabrook Road
from 9:45-10:30 a.m.
At 6 p.m., the guest speaker will be Dr. Wallace Chappel,
evangelist and assistant secretary for the Board of
Evangelism in Nashville, Tenn.
From Monday, April 16, to Wednesday, April 29, at 7
p.m. the guest speaker will be Dr. J.G. Grier Jr.,
evangelist and pastor of Warren United Methodist
Church in Atlanta, Ga.
On Thursday, April 20, the Holy Communion Service
will be directed by Dr. J. Lawrence McClesky, district
superintendent of the Winston-Salem district.
giort
igion, Church Notes, Obituaries
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The grass really wasn't as green on the other side
went back to the church and reaffirmed her faith (
songs she has written for her church choir. "Grace," a
song she wrote, was also chosen as a selection in her
-honor.
Taking her place at the dark brown Lowery organ in
her living room, Oliver warms up and goes over a few
chords and says, "This is sort of my testimony."
The first chorus goes:
Yesterday 1 was lost just walking around in sin, but the
Lord, He came and took me right on in."
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Pastor Mamie Rennlck
McCullough celebrates flf
The 5th pastoral anniversary of Essie C. McCullough
continues tonight through Sunday at J.A. Coleman
Memorial Chapel at 614 Patterson Ave.
Services tonight through Friday will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Tonight's guest speaker will be Evangelist Betty Hash
of Kimberly Park Holiness Church. Friday's guest
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Millie S. Fowler
Fowler marks 25 years
Millie S. Fowler will celebrate her silver anniversary in
music, Sunday, April 15, at the Oak Grove Baptist
Church in Walkertown at 4:30 p.m.
The Rev. I.L. Anthony is the host pastor.
The guest speaker will be the Rev. Gary Walker of
Friendship Baptist Church. Musical entertainment will be
provided by the Male Chorus of Friendship Baptist
Church. Also, the Young Adult Choir of Oak Grove
Baptist Church will render musical selections.
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as Martha Oliver had thought, which Is why she
photo by James Parker).
She has also written what she calls "a real jumpy tune"
titled "What Do You Do When the Holy Ghost Comes."
Other compositions of Oliver's include "Pass It On^and
"The Master Touched My Soul."
Oliver says she's happy with her life, her family and
glad that she's a member of a very progressive church, all
of which she accredits to God.
"You know that song, "Count Your Blessings One By
One?," she asks. "I don't know how I can do that."
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The Chancel Choir of Hanes Memorial CME church at
319 Highland Ave. will present its annual presentation of
rheodore DuBois' "The Seven Last Words" Sunday,
April 15, at 7:30 p.m. at the church.
Soloists will be Mrs. Pansy Reddick Wilkerson,
soprano; Frank E. McKissick, tenor; and the Rev. Anzo
Montgomery, baritone. Musicians will be Marion1
Thomas, organist; John Litaker, pianist; and Gerard
Reid, timpianist.
James D. Smith serves as organist and director of the ..
:hoir.
Wilkerson is a native of Miami, Fla., and a graduate of
Robert E. Lee High School in Huntsvillc, Ala. She is also
a graduate of Bennett College in Greensboro, where she
majored in music education with a minor in mathematics.
Wilkerson also received her master's degree in counseling
from North Carolina A&T State University.
A native of Winston-Salem, McKissick is a graduate of *
Reynolds High School and Forsyth Technical Intstitute,
where he received a degree in business administration.
Montgomery, presently the pastor at Hanes Memorial,
is the former general secretary of evangelism for the
CME church. He is a native of Jackson, Tenn.
th pastoral anniversary
spoeaker will be Bishop Jake J. Johnson of Mt. Nebo
Holiness Church.
Services on Sunday will begin at 4 p.m. The Rev. Cora
W. Plowden of Old Time Penecostal Holiness Church
will be the guest speaker.
Senior Choir to sing
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John Peterson, at 5 p.m. in the church auditorium Sunday,
April 15. The Rev. Bobby Smith is the pastor.
The choir is under the direction of Varnard Bowie.
Mrs. Evelyn E. Shouse is the organist and Mrs. Louisa L.
Foy is the guest pianist.
Bethania A.M.E. Zion is located on Highway 65 in the
Bethania community. The program is open to the public.
Galilee to host revival
A youth revival will be held April 15-18 at Galilee Baptist
Church on Claremont Avenue, with services beginning
nightly at 7 p.m.
At the 11 a.m. worship service on Sunday, the Rev.
Michael Dowby of Raleigh will deliver the opening
message.
On Monday night, the Rev. Dennis T. Pinkney will
deliver the message and music will be rendered by the
Galilean Choral Ensemble.
Pinkney is currently a student at Southeastern Baptist
Seminary in Wake Forest and an associate minister at
Galilee.
The Rev. Darryl Robinson will deliver Tuesday night's
message. He is also an associate minister at Galilee and a
graduate of Wake Forest University. The youth choir of
Emmanuel Baptist Church will render the music.
On Wednesday night, Dwayne Pinkney, associate
minister of Galilee and currently a student at North
Carolina A&T State University, will be the gtiest speaker.