Читать книгу The Retreat - Dijorn Moss - Страница 9

No matter how much the congregation of Greater Anointing Christian Center danced and shouted, when Bishop Dawkins approached the pulpit in his traditional black robe, everyone within the 2,500-seat sanctuary pushed the noise level higher. Standing there, taking the celebration in, it seemed as if there wasn’t a pulpit big enough to balance his six-and-a-half-foot frame.

A former college basketball player, Bishop Dawkins leaned in with his left elbow on the pulpit as he held a microphone in his hand. His right hand scratched his white beard as his hazel eyes peered out into the vastness of the crowd. The choir positioned behind Pastor Dawkins took their seats. The musicians to the right of him started to phase out their play.

“It’s marvelous that in spite of all that we go through in our lives, we can come together and show God that He is still number one in our lives,” Pastor Dawkins said.

The congregation responded with a shower of “Amen’s.” It was a largely, and frustratingly, feminine chorus. Low male membership was a common problem in most pre-dominantly African American churches. Men found all kinds of excuses for not being present in church on Sunday mornings. Football, baseball, and now even—God forbid—mixed martial arts.

They did not mind if their wives and girlfriends attended church, so long as they did not boast about their male pastors too much. Men are very territorial and competitive by nature; that is why Bishop Dawkins took pride in the fact that, though low, the male membership was still higher at Greater Anointing than at other churches in the area.

His flock was the result of his approach. His teachings were sound, scripturally based, and community focused. He demanded accountability, especially from men. As a middle-aged, single pastor, he was mindful of his interactions with the women in the congregation, avoiding any hint of impropriety that would tar him with the whisper of “womanizer” or “hypocrite.”

“As you know, around this time of the year, the men of Greater Anointing get together for our annual Men’s Retreat,” Pastor Dawkins’s raspy voice bellowed.

The men in the congregation started to clap and shout praises to God. The first weekend in October brought forth the rebirth of the sanctified male. With one hand on the razor-thin Bible pages, Bishop Dawkins took a look back at the few men in the choir.

“Our theme for this year is ‘Stand Up and Be Accounted For,’” Bishop Dawkins said.

Men stood up, they smiled and clapped. Bishop Dawkins turned back toward the congregation. To his delight, there were men and women who stood up as well to cheer him on.

“Sisters, I need your help. I want you to sign up your husbands, your sons, and your crazy uncles.” Bishop Dawkins paused to laugh for a moment and rub his copper, bald head.

“I want them to come and join us this weekend. We will experience a move of God unlike anything we have ever seen, and the men you knew will return on fire for God, ready to take back their homes and their communities.”

A joyful ovation punctuated his pitch. And he needed to be pitch-perfect this weekend. As the congregation’s approval died down, Bishop Dawkins said a prayer to himself: Father, watch over my brothers. There will be numerous snares that will try to prevent them from coming, but I pray that your angels will protect them and that your perfect will will be done. Amen!