First lady Pruitte Appointed Assistant Dean of Workshops for
First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Virginia
As told to Sis. S. Danielle Benjamin
Wife, mother, teacher, prayer warrior, first lady…and now Assistant Dean of Workshops for the First Jurisdiction. Despite her busy schedule, I recently had the opportunity to sit with Mother Vivian Pruitte and congratulate her on her recent State appointment.
"Yes, it sounds very technical doesn't it?" First Lady Pruitte said with a playful laugh. And thus began our conversation where she shared her excitement over her new role and revealed some of the lessons she hoped to carry with her.
S. Danielle Benjamin: First off, congratulations! How did it feel to know that Bishop Thomas and Mother Townes selected you for this position?
First Lady Pruitte: Mother Townes called me two weeks prior and told me she really wanted to make me the Assistant Dean. Well, let me back up a bit. First, she talked to Pastor to make sure it was okay with him. And to be honest, I was a bit concerned with how I was going to do this with my class schedule. At the same time, I feel a little young in the sense that there are so many older women [in the Jurisdiction] that could've been chosen. In the end, I was glad that I was able to talk it over with Pastor first because he helped give me the confidence to accept the position when Mother Townes officially approached me later – I was very honored that she chose me and had observed that I had been helping with the workshops for some time now.
SDB: What are your responsibilities as the Asst. Dean?
FLP: I work with Dean Gatlin to develop the curriculum, workshops and classes that are offered for three events during the year: the Women's Day of the Worker's Meeting, the three days of the State Women's Convention and the Women’s Day of the State Convocation.
SDB: Now First Lady, you stay busy! Are you worried about finding the right balance to handle everything?
FLP: My biggest concern has been my schedule with school. But, I am happy to announce that after four challenging years, I will be graduating (praise God!), which should free up some of my time to get busy again (laughing).
SDB: Sounds good. What do you enjoy most about teaching and what classes have you taught before?
FLP: It's funny because before my husband became pastor, I was at another church for about 11 years and never taught! I worked with the purity class, but never saw myself as a "teacher." But when [Elder Pruitte] became Pastor and it was just he and I, I had no choice but to teach! I started teaching the young adult Sunday school class and I thought, "hey, I like this and I'm actually good at this!" Then I began to develop a love for it.
SDB: I didn’t realize you used to teach the Purity Class! Would you ever go back to teaching kids?
FLP: No.. I don’t think so (laughing)! At some point I felt a transition as God moved me from working with the purity class to working with adults… especially the women. I love teaching the women.
SDB: I can understand that. Now, I know you’ve developed a nickname for yourself: "Old Testament Junkie." Can you explain that one?
FLP: Oh yes, my nickname! Well, I developed an insatiable appetite for the Old Testament (OT).
When the Lord was calling me to be a missionary, He had me get in my Bible and read, read, read. I decided, instead of starting from the New Testament (NT) I wanted to start from the beginning and read cover to cover. So I would start reading and would have my dictionary, a notepad, my Bible… and then one day, the stories clicked! As I read through the OT, I made the connection that there is a story to the Bible and I just love stories! I enjoy reading the Bible cover to cover, but I find myself getting stuck in the OT. That's how I learned the stories so well. I love it and I read the stories over and over again.
SDB: And we all are reaping the benefits of your OT knowledge, First Lady! Speaking of benefits, I’m sure you’ve reaped and learned many lessons from various people as you prepare to take on this new role. Can you name a few of them?
FLP: There have been many, but if I were to name a few… Mother Thelma Gatlin has been one of my role models; she has such a sweet way about her and is a great organizer. Mother Thelma Vaughan is another mentor who taught me a great life-lesson that I have patterned – enjoy this saved life and have fun! I love to use humor when I teach just as she did. I tremendously admired Mother Rosalyn Short. She had what I call a quiet strength. She wasn’t a woman of many words, but she was a woman of prayer. When I would talk to Mother Short about something that was bothering me, in the middle of talking, she would just go into prayer. I loved that about her! She would just pray. Even now I tear up when I think of her… I remember when she was getting ready to pass, she asked Pastor and me to come see her and I felt a pressing that we needed to see her right away. As we were with her in the hospital, I prayed that God would give me a double portion of her anointing. I began touching her hands… they were very cold. And I started praying that prayer. I wanted that quiet, praying spirit… that powerful anointing.
SDB: That sounds like a powerful anointing indeed – and I’m trusting that God will give it to you! Before I let you go, did you have any last thoughts that you wanted to share?
FLP: Well, I did have a question for you.
SDB: Oh really? What’s that?
FLP: What great OT story have you read lately?