Hundreds of members, friends, long-time supporters and fellow clergy gathered in Barrett Hall of the Life Center Church of God In Christ to honor the church’s shepherd for his 42nd pastoral anniversary.
Rev. Lucius Hall, pastor of First Church of Love and Faith, was among the faith leaders who spoke emphatically about their friendship with and admiration for Barrett.
“He is a friend indeed,” Hall said. Bishop Larry D. Trotter, pastor of Sweet Holy Spirit church, recalled the early years of Barrett’s ministry in Chicago, when the Queens, N.Y.-native started out at Mt. Zion church at 5512 S. Lafayette Ave. The church was renamed and moved to its current location at 5500 S. Indiana Ave.
Trotter said Barrett was a “trailblazer ... on the cutting edge” of preaching on prosperity.
Bishop Tavis Grant, a former minister at Life Center before eventually becoming the head of his own church, Greater First Baptist Church, called Barrett’s four decades in the pastoral ministry a divine honor.
“When you are able to serve, survive and succeed, only God can make that happen,” he said.
Mostly dressed in white, attendees to Saturday’s celebration were entertained by gospel icons The Barrett Sisters, and Ron Baker Jr. provided comedy. Pam Morris served as emcee. Defender/Rhonda Gillespie
Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender.
