August 7, 2011

Award-winning Pastor Says Churches Must Unite to Help Communities

By Nickei Bent

Award-winning Bishop Melvin Williams Jr., a recent honors graduate of the Virginia Union University School of Theology, says Black churches must unite to help people through the economic crisis. PHOTO: Nickei Bent/Trice Edney News Wire  

Wall of Fame - Bishop Melvin Williams Jr.'s church office walls are so full of awards, he hardly has a place to hang his new Master of Divinity Degree. PHOTO: Nickei Bent/Trice Edney News Wire

RICHMOND, Va. (TriceEdneyWire.com) - He beamed with a smile as he settled down for the interview in an orange T-shirt and white shorts. Above our heads, we could hear the rumble of a stampede of children on the second floor, his latest summer program in the inner city ministry.

His walls had so many plaques, certificates of recognition and awards that there was hardly room for his most recent accomplishment. After 35 years in ministry and numerous accolades for his community service, Bishop Melvin Williams Jr. still challenges himself to do more.

This 60-year-old pastor of the Temple of Judah in Richmond’s Church Hill has just graduated with honors from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, among the top community service seminaries in the nation. But, for him, this accomplishment is not just a badge of honor. Rather, he humbly discusses it as yet another tool by which to bring greater hope – and help – to ailing communities and hurting people.

“All leaders should be lifelong learners and everyone should position themselves to receive instruction from each other,” said Williams, reflecting on his new Master of Divinity Degree with a concentration in counseling and Christian education.

The noises that were heard upstairs gradually subsided as a group of 8 to 10-year-olds emerged on the first floor, laughing and talking. They are part of the United States Summer Feed Program, just one of the many programs that the church has either joined or established over the years to help feed and educate youth and keep them off the streets.

“In the inner city, a lot of parents are allowing their kids to come now more so than ever…We have over a 100 kids that come,” he said.

In the nation’s hard economic times, members of the community are increasingly finding their way back to the church for spiritual and natural help, Williams observes. But, is the church equipped to meet the needs?

“We are available, but we don’t have all the resources available for help. We have people that come from larger churches that come to us for help,” Williams said.

He detailed how economic realities and the jobless rate in the Black community has hit the church hard, making it difficult to help everyone.

“It [The economy] has affected us more so than ever. Because of layoffs, our resources have been cut maybe a third. We provide benevolence for those that are in need. My saying is, ‘You can help everybody you can’,” he said.

Williams, whose community service programs have received recognition from Virginia governors, social workers and even judicial organizations among others, says the community is always best served when churches unite and work together.

“The Black church needs to find common grounds to communicate,” he says. “We can disagree on a lot of things but I think it is more important that we find areas that we can agree on…Don’t let doctrinal issues or denominational issues separate us from the things that are necessary.”

The Temple of Judah is located on Venable Street in one of Church Hill’s rougher areas. Rundown buildings surround the church. About a block away is the Citadel of Hope, once a flourishing homeless shelter run by church members and a long-time vision of Bishop Williams’.

Once having provided shelter and food for the less fortunate, summer programs, and after school activities, even this facility has fallen victim to difficult economic times and vandalism. But, Williams refuses to find fault with the community.

“Young people have nothing to do. They really have nothing to do. I don’t blame them. I blame the members of the church for not being out there in the community. The kids need a structured environment,” said Williams.

The Temple of Judah has deep roots in helping people. The ministry was started in 1949 by his father, the late Bishop Melvin Williams, Sr. He was also widely known for feeding the hungry and helping those in need – even in his own home. Previously known as the True Apostolic Church, The Temple of Judah, which essentially means Temple of praise, continues its reputation as a provider for the community, and a haven for the weary in the inner city.

Williams scoffs at the suggestion that he would follow many churches which have moved out to the suburbs and relocated their churches to better neighborhoods.

“We are agents of change; the real fight is in the city,” he said. “It is our responsibility to deal with injustices, we should be the peace makers and we can’t be the peace makers if we are not involved. There is a need for the Black community to partner with the church and listen to one another and make change.”

Williams’ new degree has brought more into his life than just theological education. Once known mainly for his daily radio ministry, he says his years at Virginia Union have now taught him the power of expanded ministry through technology.

“I wanted to learn the technology and the language of today. What I was doing 35 years ago is obsolete,” he said. “I learned to text, I learned to tweet. I was far behind when I was still broadcasting. Now I can preach to the world. I can be international now. I can go to the world and preach the gospel now and stream.”