Payne Chapel, Nashville, Welcomes Bishop Wilfred J. Messiah

Payne Chapel, Nashville, Welcomes Bishop Wilfred J. Messiah

What a time! What a time! What a time! Payne Chapel AME Church in Nashville, Tennessee, under the visionary leadership of the Rev. W. Antoni Sinkfield, shared in its Pre-Founder’s Day Service Celebration on February 3, 2019. The special guest preacher for the occasion was Bishop Wilfred J. Messiah, the presiding prelate of the 17^thEpiscopal District. 

This gathering of Payne Chapel with the leader of the 17^thEpiscopal District was a most appropriate union. The loving, mission-minded, and outreach-driven people of Payne Chapel committed to supporting the work of the 17^thDistrict months earlier when Pastor Sinkfield visited the District as their guest preacher and presenter during their Episcopal District’s Planning Meeting. Payne Chapel’s commitment was to raise funds in support of the building and refurbishing of churches in the 17^thDistrict. 

The service of worship and praise preceded in the buoyant zeal and unspeakable joy of the Lord! The Payne Chapel Voices for Christ rendered the music, the Youth Ministry of Payne Chapel shared in a powerful presentation about the contributions of African Americans to American culture, and the bishop rose to proclaim the Word from the Lord! It was absolutely a word! Bishop Messiah preached on the subject “Little People in Big Places.” The entire congregation was moved and motivated by the power of his preachment to the glory of God!  

Following the preaching, the Rev. Sinkfield called upon the Steward Board Pro-Tem, Sister Carmen Sparkman and the Board of Stewards, to join him and Bishop Messiah at the altar. During this gathering, Sister Sparkman presented Bishop Messiah with a resolution of support from Payne Chapel to the 17^thEpiscopal District—and a check for $6,000 towards the building and refurbishing of churches (along with $250 from the Payne Chapel YPD to the 17^thDistrict YPD)! To God be the glory!

The spirit of connectionalism was the order of the day for this time of worship, giving, and praise! What a time it was indeed!