LIFTING A STANDARD - NEED LEADERSHIP TRAINING INSTITUTE

December 2024, Brooklyn, NY.., On Thursday morning, November 7th, members of the Northeastern Episcopal District gathered at the Cross Street A.M.E. Zion Church, Middletown, CT., for our Leadership Training Institute.

This was the first such meeting under the leadership of our newly appointed Episcopal Leaders, Bishop George D. Crenshaw and Mrs. Laurenna Crenshaw. 

After praise and worship, Bishop Crenshaw presented vision casting teaching, focusing on ministries that foster evangelism and church growth. Bishop Crenshaw highlighted ministries from his 12 successful years as pastor of the Shaw A.M.E. Zion Church (Smyrna, GA.) as ways to grow the church. Later in the day, we attended the following breakout sessions held at the church and the nearby Wadsworth Mansion: 

• Developing A Culture of Evangelism 
• Ministry and Marketing: This Is Our Story 
• Evangelism in Context: Inner City, Rural, Suburban, Urban 
• Evangelism 101: Jump Starting Evangelism 
• Faith Sharing: A Matter of Life and Death
• Sick and Shut-In Ministry 
• Speaking Truth to Power: Evangelism Rooted in Social Justice
• Youth and Children Evangelism

 During the Thursday evening service, we were blessed by the music ministry of the NEED Mass Choir. The preacher for the evening was The Rev. Quavon Newton, Pastor of St. Stephen A.M.E. Zion Church, Asbury Park, NJ. On Friday morning, The Rev. Dr. Eleazar Merriweather, Executive Director of the Department of Church Growth and Development, led a Plenary Session on the Theme: Lifting a Standard: Evangelism. After lunch, attendees went to Breakout Sessions again. The preacher for the Friday Evening service was the Rev. Dr. Da’Henri Thurmond, Pastor of St. Paul C.M.E. Church, Savannah, GA. 

The meeting and the praise and worship services were spirit-filled.

 Rev. Dr. Malcolm J.  Byrd, Senior Pastor at Mother A.M.E. Zion Church in Harlem, NY, led the breakout session Speaking Truth to Power: Evangelism Rooted in Social Justice. 

A  welcome program was held for Bishop and Mrs. Crenshaw on Saturday, November 9th, at 11 am.  Special presentations were made to Mrs. Laurenna Crenshaw by the NEED District Presidents of the Woman’s Home and Overseas Missionary Society. Presiding Elder Jacqueline King of the Boston District led the other 11 Presiding Elders in a presentation to the Bishop entitled “The Best Place to Be.” Each Elder boasted all of the highlights from their Districts: in education, travel, food, and sports. 

Many thanks to all who planned and executed this excellent Leadership Training Institute. Special thanks to Rev. Robyn Anderson, Host Pastor; Rev. Moses Harvil, Host Presiding Elder; Rev. Dr. Jonathan Counts, Chapel Dean; Rev. Dr. Wallace Noble, Academic Dean; and Rev. Quavon Newton, Administrative Dean.