To the Readers' Forum:
On Sunday, March 11, Southside Baptist Church in Jamestown changed its name to Martin Road Christian Fellowship.
Some folks may wonder why we changed our name and here are two of the reasons.
First, it identifies where our church is located without having to explain that Southside is on Martin Road. Second, the church hopes to refocus its vision of the past 26 years. When I became the new pastor in June 2011 I began to ask others in the Jamestown community what kind of reputation Southside had. I was informed that the former pastors would not have anything to do with the other pastors in Jamestown. I was told they would not join the other pastors in town who have been praying for a Spiritual Awakening since 1988.
When I found out about the Tuesday morning prayer at 9 a.m. on the second floor of the Gateway Center, I began to go there and pray with the Jamestown pastors. I found them to be some of the godliest men I have ever met and to hear them pray was truly amazing. I found them to be men who really love the Lord and really care about their community and pray as sincerely as any pastors I have ever prayed with.
I have asked those pastors to forgive our church for not having anything to do with them and I hope to lead our church to participate with other churches in town to help make a difference in Jamestown. I also hope to lead the church to become a "House of Prayer" where folks in the community can call our church at 664-3218 or 483-3215 with a prayer need of any kind and we will promise to pray for that need regularly.
We are presently in the process of finishing a special room where the prayer needs will be lifted up regularly. God Bless "Ya'll."
Pastor Larry Summers
Martin Road
Christian Fellowship