Rev. Battle: “People Working Together Can Make A Difference”
By Jalyne Strong
Post Staff Writer
“When I rise each morn
ing, I don't know what the
day’s going to bring. But I
do know there will be
something to do
something positive and
constructive."
That’s how Rev. George
Battle describes his daily
outlook. He is the pastor of
Gethsemane A ME Zion
Church, an elected official
of the Charlotte
Mecklenburg School Board
and the founder and or
ganizer of the Five Points
Community organization.
Such heavy and varied
obligations would make
most people consider each
morning with dread. But
not Rev. Battle, who
assures, “Because I’m
doing what I love, I tend not
to look at it as a burden. It’s
always exciting."
Bach responsibility, fur
thermore, is one Battle has
freely chosen to take on.
To begin with, this Rocky
Mount, N.C., native was
actually on his way to
becoming a lawyer before
he "felt the calling" to
become a minister in his
freshman college year. He
gave his initial sermon in
1966, at the age of 19. He
became the pastor of his.
first church, Mt. Zion AME
Zion Church in Lancaster,
S.C., later that same year.
Today, Rev. Battle has
been a pastor for 20 years.
Does he believe he's made
the right career choice? “I
know I did,” he readily
offers. “I've always
wanted to help people. I
believed in them and felt
people working together
can make a difference.”
This is not Just "talk”
from this young minister,
who backs his words with
evidence of how he has
helped get people to work
together to make a differ
ence. Besides his fluent
••Read Your King James Bible, Pray
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Rev. George Battle
.Innovative, vivacious young minister
leadership of his church,
Battle's influence is felt
throughout the Charlotte
community. “The church
and the community are
inter-related," he
expounds. “Being a pastor
requires a commitment to
the community.”
Rev. Battle likes to
consider himself as being
“broad-based.” He has
initiated program after
program which serve to
uplift someone, someplace
. in society.
From his expression
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when he speaks of it, it
appears that the Gethse
mane Enrichment Pro
gram is one of the social
endeavors closest to
Battle’s heart. "The pro
gram involves youth from
all over the city. We have
about 500 kids participat
ing," he beams.
Explains the program’s
director, Adelaide Hunt,
“The Enrichment program
is designed to reinforce the
skills of the children
enrolled in grades K - sixth
in the areas of reading and
math." There is also em
phasis on including
an enriching program for
the children, oftentimes a
Held trip or some sort of
recreation.
Hunt says Rev.
Battle is an “innovative,
vivacious young minister.
This (the program) is his
brain-child.”
He's had others; like the
Gethsemane Hot Lunch
program, which is the
largest lunch program in
the city and also the _
church's day care, which,
Rev. Battles says, “takes
young children and pre
pares them for going to
school and being success
ful.”
His overriding concern
for children's education
could stem from his
work with the School
Board. Or vice versa.
Whatever, Battle has been
a member of the board for
eight years. About his work
there, he claims, “The
schools are the only places
where everybody’s an
expert on what they want
for their children. I weigh
the plusses and minuses,
and personally believe
we’re (Charlotte
Mecklenburg) on a good
course. There's much to
attest to that fact.”
From his church respon
sibilities to his community
programs to the school
board and many, many
other activities far too
numerous to include in one
article, (Rev. Battle's
resume is four pages long
and the bulk of it is list
ings of his professional
honors, professional
awards, professional
organizations and affilia
tions) it would appear he
hasn't a minute to spare.
But he loosens up and
admits he does find time to
relax. “I enjoy reading
leisurely, good clean jokes,
spending time with my
children and I'm an avid
sports fan.
“I love singing," reveals
Rev. Battle, "normally by
myself. I never get a
chance in church because I
have such fantastic
choirs.” he smiles.
But at the same time, he
admits he's always looking
for some new way to help
amend some problem that
exists. “I never can be
satisfied,” he confesses.
“I'm my own worst critic.
There's always room for
improvement.
“My congregation is so
nice to me and my family,"
relates Rev. Battle. He is
married to Iris and they
have two children, George
and LaChianda. “I’m
always pushing myself to
be better.
“All good pastors are
achievers," concludes
Rev. Battle.
And he appears to be one
of the best.
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