Church Of God In Christ “Voices of Inspiration” Honors Two Members of Holiness Tabernacle During 106th Holy Convocation

By Pastor Eddie B Pruitte, Jr.

It was a very special day in my life, the history of Holiness Tabernacle, as well the entire Church Of God In Christ as we gathered in the America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri at the 106^th Annual Holy Convocation. 

The Whole Truth Magazine recognized 29 individuals for their outstanding service to the Church.  Just imagine – to be honored and numbered amongst twenty-nine out of 6.5 million members worldwide.

Several months ago, it was brought to our attention that the Church was sponsoring an initiative called “Voices of Inspiration.”  This initiative was designed to recognize individuals who had given stellar ministry and leadership to the body of Christ. Selected winners were asked to travel to the Convocation and receive an award from the Presiding Bishop of our denomination.  What an honor!

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Unbeknownst to me, someone had taken notice of two individuals in our congregation: Mother Vivian Pruitte and Missionary Myrna Howard. Mother Pruitte has received great recognition as a Bible scholar extraordinaire. Her reputation as an Old Testament expert has left many astonished and impressed. She has received local, district, jurisdictional and regional notoriety for her curriculum for training aspiring missionaries; Charles Harrison Mason Bible Institute instructor; examiner for licensing new missionaries, and the list goes on.

Missionary Myrna Howard has served just as effectively, but in a different capacity. Since its inception in 2008, the Home and Foreign Missions Department has been a labor of love for Missionary Howard at Holiness Tabernacle. Under her leadership, our local Missions Department has fed thousands of individuals in Prince William and Fairfax Counties. In 2012, Holiness Tabernacle led the county in serving more than 5,000 families and 15,000 individuals and we are exceeding those statistics in 2013!

As I sat in the room and watched Mother Pruitte accept the award for Most Inspiring Sunday School Teacher and Missionary Howard accept the  Jeremiah Award, I felt a sense of pride and gratitude swell up in me as a pastor, husband and friend. I was proud that the entire church world was recognizing such deserving women for their dedication and hard work. I was proud that the Word of God once again proved to be true. Matthew 6 says we should pray and do our alms in secret, and the Father will reward us openly.

It felt good to know that the labor and dedication of these two very special women was noted by our Presiding Bishop Charles Edward Blake, Sr. and the entire Church Of God In Christ. What’s more, it felt good to know that two of the honorees were members of a church in Woodbridge, Virginia that happened to be led by perhaps the proudest pastor in the kingdom of God. 

Great job and well done Mother Pruitte and Missionary Howard! Your pastor and the Holiness Tabernacle Church family congratulate you for your faithful service to the Lord!