Pastor Eddie B Pruitte, Jr. and the Holiness Tabernacle Church Of God In Christ family played a tremendous supporting role during the 92nd Minister’s and Worker’s Meeting of the Historic First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Virginia. Under the leadership of jurisdictional prelate and General Board member, Bishop Ted G. Thomas, Sr., the services were held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Richmond, Virginia, March 17-23 and were intended to re-ignite the saints to continue working for the Lord in the New Year.
In their own words, several members of Holiness Tabernacle share the impact the Worker’s Meeting made in their lives:
Monday Night Musical
By Sister Delia Pruitte
According to Sister Yolinda McCown, leftovers are a problem. She brought the inspirational message during the musical on Monday for the Worker’s Meeting, and her words resonated with all of the music lovers in the congregation. At her house, Sister McCown noticed that no matter how she tried to dress up or change previously cooked dishes, her family showed no interest in eating the dish after it was no longer fresh.
“But it seems like the music department often has a habit of sending up leftovers to God,” she continued, carrying the analogy to the department. “We sound good and look good, but on the inside we are offering something old and hollow.”
Sister McCown demonstrated her point through a short skit. Sister Delia Pruitte and Sister DeAnna Pruitte portrayed the two different types of music workers. The first was a “Diligent Worker” and the second was a “Leftover Worker.” As Sister McCown began to exhort the people to worship the Lord, the congregation roared with laughter as the Leftover Worker alternated between sleeping, texting and dancing throughout the service. Meanwhile, the Diligent Worker remained focused and attentive. She encouraged the music workers in the room to always give God their absolute best, and to remain pure and clean vessels.
Her inspirational message set the tone for the rest of the evening, and the power of God moved in an amazing way! The featured guests, Minister Michael Hunt and the New Community Choir of Waldorf, Maryland and the Great Northern District Young Adult Choir, ministered shortly after. It was easy to see that the Monday Night Musical was full of truly diligent workers and ministers of music. No leftovers to be found!
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Good Shepherd Night
By Deacon Jeffery Howard
It was a chilly and overcast eve of spring when many of the saints from Holiness Tabernacle made the trek on the church van to the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Wednesday, March 19. Our purpose was to worship and honor Pastor Eddie B Pruitte, Jr. during the Good Shepherd service. When we arrived at the hotel meeting room, however, we quickly realized that the atmosphere was electric and the Holy Ghost fire was falling in the service.
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Immediately, we noticed many Holiness Tabernacle members actively serving. Elder Eugene McCown was his usual self, orchestrating the registration and preparing to present an offering to Pastor Pruitte. Sister Yolinda McCown, Sister Valarie Miller and Sister DeAnna Pruitte were beautifully adorned in their black attire, along with the rest of the Jurisdiction Choir, ministering in songs of worship and praise to the Lord. Later in the evening, the choir treated us in a beautiful worship song called, “There’s None Like Him,” led by an anointed duet: Sister McCown and our Jurisdictional Music President, Missionary Kimberly Thomas.
The highlight of the evening was when we were allowed to show love and great appreciation to our Pastor and bless him with the Good Shepherd financial offering. When Holiness Tabernacle’s name was called, Elder McCown and Sister Pruitte represented the Pastor’s Aide and proudly marched down the center aisle to present a love offering – an amount that would earn Pastor Pruitte the spot of first place among all the pastors of the Jurisdiction. Pastor’s countenance was full of great joy and humility. What a night to remember!
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Women’s Day Workshops
By Mother Freda Benjamin
It was wonderful to be able to attend the Women’s Day Workshop on Friday, March 21 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Richmond. Our very own First Lady, Mother Vivian Pruitte was the presider for the workshop. I must admit, I was looking forward to Mother Pruitte being one of the workshop teachers as she normally is, but there is always next year!
This year, Mother Thelma Gatlin, our Dean of the Women’s Workshop, selected the theme: Holy Women Empowered and Led by the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:8, 2:15-18). The Workshop Focus was: Prayer with Expectancy Brings Forth Fruit (Heb. 11:1). The theme and focus had everyone fired up!
The workshop consisted of the following seven classes:
- Prayer in The Precepts of Christ
- Called to Develop Strong Christian Character
- Women Warriors, Fighting the Good Fight of Faith
- Hannah, A Woman Who Believed in Prayer
- Martha Of Bethany
- Youth Class
- Men’s Class
I attended “Hannah, A Woman Who Believed in Prayer” and was totally blessed in that class which was taught by Missionary Alfreda Fleetwood. The Youth class was taught by none other than our very own Sister Yolinda McCown. The youth class review was awesome!
Yes, the Women’s Workshop was outstanding and I encourage all ladies to make plans to attend next year. You wouldn’t want to miss it – who knows, Mother Pruitte may even be teaching a class next year!
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Young People on Display
By Brother Eryck McCown
The Purity Class of Holiness Tabernacle met on Friday, March 21 to participate in the Worker’s Meeting in Richmond, Virginia. The 5th Quarter Band, which included Brother Eryck McCown, Brother John Mabry, III, Brother Ariante De La Cruz, Brother Victor Merriweather and Brother Jay Norman played the song “Freedom,” while the people praised God. Brother Adorren Jones also joined in Purity Class display. Afterwards, the young ladies performed sign language to “I Feel Your Spirit,” played by the band. The ladies were Sister Crystal McCown, Sister Deloris Pruitte, Sister Colleen Hopkins, Sister Asha King and Sister Tamika Alexander. Both the 5th Quarter Band and the young ladies did an excellent job.
Saturday night was the youth service and Sister Danielle Powell was assigned to give the word. She did a wonderful job and made it so the youth could understand. Her topic was “It’s Okay to be a Little Strange, Sometimes” and she came from Matthew 8:1-3. I enjoyed her message and I’m sure many others did too. She allowed God to use her and she preached!
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Official Sunday Service
By Aspiring Missionary Danielle Powell
The Official Day service of the Worker’s Meeting on Sunday, March 23 proved to be an especially spirit-filled and joyous occasion! And as they were throughout the entire week, the members of Holiness Tabernacle greatly supported in many areas.
With seamless precision and dressed in her crisp, white uniform, Mother Freda Benjamin ushered the saints to their seats as a member of the jurisdictional Usher Department. Next, several of our local men leaders joined the solemn processional into the sanctuary as “Holy, Holy, Holy” played reverently in the background.
The voices of several of our local choir members – Sister Yolinda McCown, Sister DeAnna Pruitte, Sister Delia Pruitte, Sister Valerie Miller and Sister Dymond Starr – combined with those of the jurisdictional choir to sing the Lord’s praises. Adorned in royal purple robes, the congregation was tremendously blessed when Sister DeAnna Pruitte opened the service with “This Day” and Sister McCown led “Glorious Is Thy Name.” As they sang, Sister Crystal McCown proudly waved her gold flag as part of the jurisdictional Flag Team.
When it was time to bless our prelate, Bishop Ted G. Thomas, General Board member of the Church Of God In Christ, none other than our own Pastor Eddie B Pruitte, Jr. took to the stage to express his love and respect for Bishop Thomas.
“I believe our destiny is tied to our bishop,” said Pastor Pruitte as he encouraged the people to bless the man of God.
Yes, services throughout the week were power-packed and anointed, but nothing quite compared to hearing the Word of God directly from Bishop Thomas on Official Day. With the topic, “Count it All Joy!” Bishop Thomas encouraged the saints to count it all joy no matter their circumstance – for truly God is worthy of all praise!