Mt. Olive AME Church Family and Friends Day 2019
By Rev. Dr. Brandon A.A.J. Davis, 3rd Episcopal District
The sounds of praise could be heard up and down on 7th Street in Wilmington, North Carolina, as Pastor Tony Mills and the members of Mt. Olive AME Church gathered together to give praise and worship to a worthy God. Today was a special day. The church celebrated its annual Family and Friends Day service with its featured speaker, the Honorable Judge Carol A. Jones, the 4th Judicial District Court Judge for the state of North Carolina.
The congregation was led in a brief devotion by the Rev. Gaysheron E. Bell, the minister of music, who inspired all of us with songs of God’s goodness and blessings. At 11 am, the worship service began with the loud and cheerful singing of the Doxology.
The worship service was carried out by various participants. One of the highlights was the sharing of visitors who had traveled near and far to be a part of the service. Friends from nearby churches and family members who lived outside the city were all elated to join in the celebration.
After several praise-worthy renditions from the choir, Pastor Mills the energetic and smiling pastor introduced the guest speaker, who also happened to be his cousin by marriage. Judge Jones is the first black female judge elected to the 4th Judicial District. She was first elected to her seat on November 7, 2000, and has for the past 19 years served Duplin, Jones, Onslow, and Sampson counties with fairness, professionalism, and dignity. Judge Jones’s other attributes include being a wife, mother, grandmother, and first lady. She is married to the Rev. Victor L. Wilson, the pastor of The Peoples Church in Clinton, North Carolina. She is currently seeking re-election.
Judge Jones’s message came from Mark 3:31-35. Her subject was “Jesus Befriended Me and Now I’m Included in the Family.” Her message shared what it means to be family and that family does not always start with those related by blood but includes those in the household of faith. Judge Jones admonished everyone to be careful of how we treat one another and always strive to follow the example of Christ.
As the service concluded, Pastor Mills extended the invitation to Christian discipleship and led everyone in a heartfelt prayer. Dinner was provided and it was a scrumptious meal of fried chicken, fried crab, steamed shrimp and corn, grilled turkey wings, rice and gravy, collard greens, green beans, macaroni and cheese, and an assortment of cakes and a very delicious pumpkin pie.
Sunday, December 8, 2019, will go down in history as a successful Family and Friends Day for the pastor and people of Mt. Olive AME Church. To God be the glory.
