Holiness Tabernacle Celebrate Pastor Hackett:
14 Years in Pastoral Ministry
Article by Sis. S. Danielle Benjamin
“I not here to preach to them,” said Assistant Supt. Eddie B Pruitte, Jr., pointing to the congregation. “I’m here to encourage and uplift you.” And with those words, the message for the evening proved simple and easy to remember: “Hackett – He’s The Man!”
The Sunday evening began with food and fellowship as The Lion of Judah (TLOJ) extended the warmest hospitality to the members of Holiness Tabernacle (HTC). Immediately afterwards, Missionary Pennix, an anointed woman of God, presided over the last, September 13 celebratory service in honor of Pastor and First Lady Hackett.
“Catch on because the Spirit of God is in this place!” she proclaimed. “I don’t want to leave you, but I will if I have to.” Fortunately, she didn’t have to for there was truly a spirit of corporate worship in the atmosphere. Members of HTC and TLOJ served as ushers, lead the congregation in praise and worship and genuinely felt free to give God the glory. While words of appreciation and love were free flowing, the faithfulness of Pastor and First Lady Hackett was most evidently shown through the testimonies of two young women.
“I was diagnosed with breast cancer,” one young mother of four remarked, “but Pastor Hackett prayed for me and when I went back to the doctor’s office, they told me that all of the cancer was gone.”
“I went in for my regular sonogram check up,” said another young lady. “Little did I know that I would spend the next two months in the hospital. My doctor said that if I hadn’t come when I did, I may have delivered my baby too early.” This wife and mother of a young daughter said it was the prayers and visits of Pastor and First Lady Hackett that brought her through. “And I still check in with the Hacketts,” she continued. “I consider them like my parents.” Pastor and First Lady Hackett weren’t just blessed with words, however. Both HTC and TLOJ gave sacrificially to bless the man of God.
“Some people are anointed to prophesy, others are anointed to speak in tongues… God has anointed me to raise money!” proclaimed Pastor Pruitte and he was only too happy to help bless Pastor Hackett in this way.
When the time came for the message, everyone eagerly awaited to hear the prophetic Word through God’s manservant. Pastor Pruitte was quick to point out, however, that what he brought might not elicit the hoops and hallelujahs of some messages.
“Stop me if I’m lying,” Pastor Pruitte said, directing his thoughts to the Hacketts, “but I bet you’ve given your own money to help pay someone else’s bills, you’ve let other people stay at your home, you’ve missed out on your children’s school events because you were taking care of or visiting a member across town…”
Recognizing that the hardships endured by pastors and their wives begin to take a toll on the body and the spirit, Pastor Pruitte endeavored to encourage his brother in the faith and exhort TLOJ to build up and not tear down their God-appointed leader.
At the conclusion of the service, Pastor and First Lady Hackett took the time to reflect on the past fourteen years in pastoral ministry.
“When the Lord told me that my husband was going to be a pastor I cried out ‘No!’” said Lady Hackett, chuckling, “Now, don’t you’ll act like you’ve never told God ‘No’ before.” She is now thankful that her husband obeyed the voice of the Lord, with her serving by his side.
With obvious love and adoration, Pastor Hackett took the time to honor his wife and the many sacrifices she’d made on behalf of the ministry. “I know it had to be God… taking this unsaved boy from the ghetto and putting him in the path of the young woman with the pretty smile.” He went on to express thankfulness to God for carrying him to this point in pastoral ministry.
Then in an endearing act, Pastor and First Lady Hackett made special presentations to their four children. “Mommy and Daddy love you,” Lady Hackett told her children, and she and her husband hugged and kissed each of them.
With a reminder for all to continuously pray for our leaders, members of both HTC and TLOF were spurred to do their best to lift the burden from the shoulders of their pastors so that they may effectively preach the Word of God. Most memorably, “Hackett – He’s The Man!” will forever ring in the hearts of the people, for indeed Pastor Kenneth Hackett has been anointed as God’s choice man for this day.