On Thursday morning August 21, 2014 the ballroom of the Sheraton Hotel on Richard Arrington Boulevard was filled to capacity. The seating capacity of the ballroom was eleven hundred and every seat was occupied. The members of the National Primitive Baptist were in attendance to hear their president gives his third annual message.
The Vice President of the Convention Elder Kenneth Duke, pastor of the New Jerusalem Primitive Baptist Church Miami Florida presented the wife of President Yates Lady Vonda Yates to introduce her husband, a first in the National Convention.
Yates gave an incredible introduction as she spoke from her heart about her husband and their life together. Yates has been a constant encourager of her husband. Like her husband she is a powerful intercessor and a passionate worshipper. And she is a preacher. In the 2011 election that catapulted her husband to the presidency by a margin of seven votes many believed that her ministry as a preacher, in a church that doesn't recognize her as preacher, would cause her husband to be defeated in the election. However he prevailed and so has she.
Lady Yates said about her husband President Yates, "I have shared many mountaintop experiences with my husband and I have shared many valley experiences with him. We have known abundance and we have suffered great need. But every time I hear him proclaim the Word of God I have to say the man I thought I knew is the man I don't really know.
"There is a hidden part in my husband as there is in every preacher that is only revealed when he preaches."
President Bernard C. Yates stood to declare the Word of the Lord surrounded by the leadership of the convention. He shared his concern for expanding the convention outreach to gather the youth of the Primitive Baptist Church in their own convention/conference.
Yates preached from Nehemiah 6 "Keep on working." He encouraged the members to do the work, to remain focused and to see the work as God sees the work.
Yates declared that the Primitive Baptist church is in transition. There are Primitive Baptists who speaks in tongues and prophesy. The church is operating in the five fold ministry. Don't be afraid of it teach.
Yesterday was both an ending and a beginning at the National Primitive Baptist Convention in Birmingham Alabama. For ten years Elder Doctor Larry Tatum, the pastor of the New Sardis Primitive Baptist Church in Cleveland Ohio for twenty six years, has led the Church School Congress as its president. But because of the limit of terms that a person can serve in the position of president Tatum reached his limit this year. And so an era of faithful leadership has come to an end.
Deacon Harold Batts has been the Vice President of the Church School Congress for ten years. Batts is a deacon at the Union Hill Primitive Baptist Church where the Elder Doctor Oscar Montgomery is the pastor. The church school congress promoted Batts to the office of president yesterday. This is a historic moment because only Pastors have led the Church School Congress. Batts will be first laymen to lead this congress.
In his closing message as President Tatum spoke to the body about "The Vital Signs of Leadership." In his farewell message Tatum addressed the need for vision in the Primitive Baptist Church. He encouraged followers to be followers and submit to leadership. He addressed the cahllenges in the church in this time and declared that the righteous pursuit of God's word will release blessings on his people,
With the election of Batts all of the auxiliary congresses and councils of the National Primitive Baptist Convention are now led by laymen and laywomen. Only the General Body is led by a Pastor. It will be interesting to see what fruit will come forth from this development of leadership in this National Convention.
Today Sunday August 17, 2014 the delegates of the National Primitive Baptist Convention begins a week of fellowship, worship and education. For one hundred and seven years members of Primitive Baptist Churches in the south, west, east and north have traveled near and far to strengthened their bonds of fellowship, to trumpet the cause of Jesus and to enjoy great singing and preaching and teaching.
This year will be no exception. The worship will combine the elements of the history of this church and the contemporary innovations that has been employed in the worship experience to make the pursuit of God a convergence of the past, present and future.
Historically the worship services of Primitive Baptists always begin with the deacons of the church leading in what is known as devotion. The deacons lead the congregation in song, scripture reading and prayers. The songs maybe congregational hymns that is familiar to the congregation or metered hymns which are songs that are led by a Deacon lining the words of the hymn and the congregation following by singing with him. Although many Primitive Baptist no longer sing what is known as metered hymns it is still apart of the historicity of this church.
Following the devotion the convention will be ministered to by the singing of the choir. The National Primitive Baptist Convention is blessed with an exceptional National Choir. All week long this choir will usher the convention into the realm of glory with powerful and passionate singing. It is the vision of the President, Elder Bernard Yates to capture the sound of this choir in recording. The convention waits with anticipation to this project taking form and releasing a sound of excellence in the earth.
The message for Sunday Worship will be delivered by Elder Brandon Mason pastor of Locust Ridge Primitive Baptist Church in Arrington Tennessee. Elder Mason is a dynamic, charismatic preacher of the Gospel. The atmosphere will be charged with anticipation to what The Lord will declare to His people through His messenger.
Later today the delegates of the convention will gather for the National President Vision Banquet. Another great voice in the church will stand to deliver a word. Pastor Maurice Watson of the Beulahland Bible Church in Macon Georgia will be the guest preacher. PAstor Watson is known throughout the church in America for his unique dramatic presentation of the Word of God.
With this being an election year and many challenges facing this convention, declining membership, challenges to the prohibition of women in the preaching ministry and a danger of deception blinding many of God's people this week will determine if the Primitive Baptist have an opportunity to advance, retreat or stand still. By Friday the last day of the convention they will know what they have chosen to do.
First I have a confession to make. The last blog that I published was not the 100th, it was actually number 99. What I didn't know was I had one draft that I hadn't released and I didn't know that Blogger counted that draft as a post. When I erased the draft I only had 99 blogs. So this one is actually number 100.
I am inviting you to join the celebration of Bernard's Word by leaving a comment on what Bernard's Word had meant to you and how Holy Spirit has used this blog site in your life. For every comment posted on this site you will qualify to receive a gift. I want you to know how much I appreciate you coming to this site and receiving what I have shared.
Today I am listing the top ten articles that have received the most views. We are taking a look back to see what you have read the most. These articles have been instrumental in bringing over 30,000 views to Bernard's Word. Of course I believe that every article is significant and I am thankful for each one written, released and read.
ARTICLES WITH MOST VIEWS
10. The Unholy Alliance in Publishing. April 13, 2013
9. Watchman On Walls International Fellowship. November 6, 2012
8. Is Your Intercession a Sweet Aroma? September 13, 2012.
7. There's Treasure Inside of You. October 22, 2011
6. Pastor Bernard Boulton Releases his second book "Divine Favor: God Acts for You When Your Enemies Act Against You. June 13, 2012.
5. When Men Pray. April 17, 2012.
4. Elder Bernard Yates visits North Carolina/Virginia States Convention. November 9, 2011
3. National Primitive Baptist Convention Elects Elder Kenneth Duke as Vice President. September 12, 2011
2. National Primitive Baptist Convention elects New President. September 1, 2011.
1. What Happened to Carlton Pearson? April 21, 2012.
Please go back and read any of these articles. You may have your own top ten articles.
Yesterday Tuesday February 19, 2013 at the Board of Director meeting for the National Primitive Baptist Convention held in Huntsville Alabama at the Embassy Suites Hotel on Monroe Avenue the thirteenth president of this convention, Elder Doctor Bernard Yates, stood before the Board to cast his vision and share the projected measure of the initiatives that he declared at the convention last August in Dearborn Michigan.
President Yates stated that the formation of the National Moderators Council would be constitutionally organized to maintain the continuity of this group beyond his presidency. He called the moderators, these men who are the administrative heads of groups of churches that are connected by geographic boundaries who continue fellowship among their respective areas, national resources.
President Yates cast a creative initiative which is the live recording of our National Choir. The President had first announced that this recording would take place in Los Angeles during the general convention in August 2013 but the date of this monumental event will now occur in February 2014 during the Board of Director meeting. I believe that with the right spiritual focus the release of this project will release a great move of God in this country. As the choir assemble as consecrated vessels recognizing their assignment as worship warriors of God and not entertainers the music created for this CD will dismantle demonic forces every place that this CD is played. Music that ministers under the anointing of God and does not descend to the level of entertainment contains spiritual power that wreaks havoc on the forces of hell.
President Yates continued his vision casting by stating the reality of conducting a feasibility study to seek a change of the general convention from the third week in August to a more suitable date that would amiable to our youth that are in school and their parents and many of the members of the convention who are educators. President Yates vision is focused on the increase of this convention's reach and on the young people of our church and his zeal will reach its fruition when this convention is fuller with young people supplying energy to our national gathering with their presence.
President Yates shared his desire for the convention to began engaging in supporting the vision and ministry of the convention through online giving. This new initiative will shortly be available at the convention's website where members can go and make many contributions throughout the year.
A new spirit is blowing hope, cooperation and excitement through this body. Although President Yates was elected by the people by a slim majority of votes cast in August 2011in Greensboro N.C. surely the Lord has set him in this office for this time.
Bernard Yates is the thirteenth president and in Genesis chapter seventeen Adonai appeared to Abram in the thirteenth year after Abram slept with Hagar and produced Ishmael, to confirm the covenant between Himself and Abram. Thirteen is the number of new beginnings. In the thirteenth year Adonai said to Abraham if you walk before me and be blameless I will make My Covenant with you and I will multiply you exceedingly. Abram then fell on his face before God an God changed his name demonstrating the new place that Abram had entered.
I prophesy by faith that Bernard Yates has the mantle of Abraham on him. He walks before God as a servant and he walks before this convention as a father. As he walks before God and man God will multiply him before us and multiply us as we walk with President Yates and receive the anointing that is on him. The challenge is great before him for as Abraham was required to be circumcised and then circumcise every male in his house so God requires that this convention be circumcised in its heart cutting away everything that is flesh. For in times past this Primitive Baptist church has produced many Ishmael's, sons born of the flesh; churches born of the flesh, ministries born of the flesh. But now in this thirteenth administration the Spirit says walk before me and deny your flesh so that I can birth Isaac in you for I have rejected Ishmael. For Isaac to come forth in the National Primitive Baptist convention we must die to our old self of selfish interests, the formation of cliques and the fashion show that many of the woman of God adorn themselves in that causes offense and separation. We must die to our traditions of denominationalism, sexism, and classism. We must die to regional loyalties and embrace a kingdom loyalty.
We are in a God movement in this church. God has raised up Pastor Bernard Yates, a shepherd with a apostolic and prophetic voice to shift the movement of this convention. With a burden in my heart I cry out as a Voice in the wilderness to the Primitive Baptist Church don't miss God because we were not willing to die. If we will not die to the flesh we will die in the wilderness never having seen our Isaac.
When the Judge Samuel stood before the people Israel he declared, "Far be it from me that I might sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and right way." (I Sam 12:23). Samuel felt an unction to continue to stand in intercession for God's chosen people. The greatest stand of any person called and anointed of God is the stand of intercession. Intercession is going before God to stand for a people, declaring the will of God in the presence of God and agreeing with God for His will to be in His people so that it might done in the earth.
With this same mandate and unction the President of the National Primitive Baptist Convention Elder Doctor Bernard C. Yates, the pastor of the Zion Hope Primitive Baptist Pensacola Florida, has called the people of this convention to gather in intercession and petition. This morning at 7:00 a.m. God caused a people to assemble in the Great Lakes Center of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Dearborn Michigan and stand in the presence of God to cry out for His favor and function to manifest this week.
Led by Elder Benjamin Adams, the pastor of the St John Primitive Baptist Church in Clearwater Florida and the Chairman of the Board of Evangelism and Missions National Primitive Baptist Convention the people gathered to intercede in the Great Lakes Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Dearborn Michigan for President Yates, Vice President Duke; the Senior pastor of the New Jerusalem Primitive Baptist Church Miami Florida, and the leaders of the convention. We interceded for the people of the convention and the various needs represented.
We took our stand and hell knows that we are present in Dearborn to tear down its strongholds in this city and region. But then heaven knows that we are here as God descended in the midst of His people pleased with our faith and function as intercessors
Led by Elder Benjamin Adams, the pastor of the St John Primitive Baptist Church in Clearwater Florida the priests of God called on God for His protection, His power, His plans, His provisions to show themselves in the people. In one voice, in unity we prayed for President Yates, Vice President Duke, the leadership of the convention, the people and various needs.
We took our stands as the army of God declaring the pulling down of strongholds, demonic strategies, and the principalities that operate in Dearborn and Detroit. We made our presence known in hell and in the heavens. Every morning we will gather this week to build the stronghold of God; the stronghold of unity and agreement. And destroy the stronghold of hell. A convention that prays is a convention that glorifies God and terrifies hell.
Today, Saturday June 9, 2012 in the sanctuary of the Chestnut Ridge Progressive Primitive Baptist Church in Westfield North Carolina an overflow crowd, that filled the sanctuary and spilled out to the foyer, gathered to celebrate the life and legacy of Mother Bernice Cox Lowe. Mother Lowe made her transition from earth to glory on Friday June 1, 2012.
Many eulogistic remarks were given by friends and family. The most remarkable eulogistic remarks were delivered by the Elder Doctor Thomas W. Samuels. Samuels is a legendary figure in the Primitive Baptist Church. His life and membership in this denomination spans from birth where he was raised in a Primitive Baptist parsonage in Miami Florida. His pastoral career spanned almost five decades when he retired from the Greater Mount Moriah Primitive Baptist in Charlotte North Carolina after leading the church to construct a multimillion house of worship and center for ministry. Doctor Samuel is currently in his last year of serving as President of the North Carolina/Virginia State Convention after being president for thirty five years.
Doctor Samuel shared with the congregation his relationship with the members of the Cox family for seventy years. Doctor Samuels shared his familiarity with many members of this family throughout his years. He described Mother Lowe as a faithful member of the church. He enumerated her many sacrifices to attend the meetings of the National Convention, in February and August for many years.
Doctor Samuel talked about Mother Lowe commitment to the North Carolina/Virginia State Convention as an officer in the Women's Congress and a stalwart supporter for the expansion of the state headquarters building in East Spencer North Carolina. Doctor Samuel shared Mother's Lowe partnership in prayer with him that God would show favor to the State Convention and cause the building that was completed in 2006 to come to fruition. And as God heard Jabez so He also heard Thomas Samuel and Bernice Lowe.
Doctor Samuel shared with the congregation that Mother Lowe was a consistent and fiery advocate for the rights of women to have a voice in the Primitive Baptist Church a position that was passed on to her from her mother, the venerable Mother Minerva Cox, another giant in the Primitive Baptist Church.
Doctor Samuels was eloquent in both his remarks and the reading of poetic verses. He received an ovation at his conclusion.
Other highlights at this four hour long celebration was the eulogistic remarks given by Elder James Strickland. Elder Strickland is currently serving as the pastor of the Kings Mountain View Progressive Primitive Baptist Church in his 55th year, one of the longest serving pastors in one church in the Primitive Baptist Church. Elder Strickland, a member of Chestnut Ridge shared his long time relationship with Mother Lowe and her active participation in the Sandy Ridge Progressive Primitive Baptist Association for many decades.
Two eulogistic messages were delivered by Elder Kenneth Smith, the son in law to Mother Lowe and the pastor of the Holly Grove Primitive Baptist Church in Concord North Carolina and Reverend Nelson Staples III, the pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Beckley West Virginia.
Other persons of note in attendance were Elder Henry Wright, the moderator of the Sandy Ridge Progressive Primitive Baptist Association. Deacon John Jessup, the president of the Sandy Ridge Church School Convention. Mother Wyvette Dillard, the president of the Sandy Ridge Women's Congress. Mother Grace Byers, the president of the North Carolina/Virginia States Women Congress. Sister Lula Brown, president of the North Carolina/Virginia State Church School Convention. Elder Harry Love, the moderator of the Southwestern Primitive Baptist Convention. Elder Doctor Larry Tatum, the president of the National Primitive Baptist Church School Congress and pastor of the New Sardis Primitive Baptist Church in Cleveland Ohio, my home church.
Mother Lowe was the last member of her generation. Her legacy lives on in her children, Lashene Lowe, First Lady Jill Smith and Julia Bratton and her grandchildren.
I celebrate Mother Bernice Lowe for her leadership and for her life. She served well as a Wife, Mother, Educator and believer of the Lord Jesus Christ. When God created man and woman He said to them to fill the earth. That meant that within every human being is the innate ability to announce to the earth that I am here and after we have departed this earth our presence will speak about us in the minds and hearts of those who we have impacted and influenced. Such can be said about Mother Bernice Lowe, she filled the earth with her presence and she testified in her words and works about the One that she lived for.
Doctor Samuels said as he closed his remarks, "It's not goodbye but only goodnight." I agree and concur with those same sentiments. Goodnight Mother Lowe.
After the announcement had been made on Thursday night that Elder Bernard Yates had been elected President of the National Primitive Baptist Convention I was having a conversation with a fellow delegate later that night.
"I don't think that Yates should nominated Duke as vice president. Some people are complaining about having the two top officers from the same state." The irony of this statement is that for the last six years the top two officers were from the same state.
The person to whom I was speaking with said, "Yates should nominate Rainey or some one from Alabama." Rainey is Elder Jeffrey Rainey from Mobile Alabama, a prolific and poetic preacher who thrills the constituency of the convention every year with his impassioned Bible expositions/messages as the convention's Bible Expositor.
I replied, "Yates is going to nominate Duke tomorrow. That's his choice."
"But people are saying...." I interrupted him.
"It doesn't matter what people are saying we need to hear what God is saying." I said. "Those two are anointed by God for this time. We need to stop looking at this from the wrong perspective, the choice of Kenneth Duke is not about geography, it's about what the Spirit is saying to this convention."
The conversation was over and the person I was speaking with agreed with me.
On Friday August 26, 2011 Elder Bernard Yates nominated Elder Kenneth Duke as Vice President of the National Primitive Baptist Convention. Elder Duke was overwhelmingly elected to the office.
One of the visitor to the convention told me that you could sense the change in the atmosphere that week. What was felt in the atmosphere become manifest on Thursday and Friday of the convention. To this national body change has come.
Who is Elder Kenneth Duke? He is the dynamic pastor of the New Jerusalem Primitive Baptist Church in Miami Florida. When Elder Duke was called to the New Jerusalem Church in 1985 this congregation numbered forty persons. Today it is a congregation of seventeen hundred people with a plethora of community ministries that is meeting needs throughout the populace of Miami and Dade County. Elder Duke is a dynamic pastor/evangelist who preaches through out the United States and for the last year and a half he has traveled to and given support to a congregation in Petit Guave Haiti.
With the election of Elders Yates and Duke there is an excitement in the National Primitive Baptist Convention, much as it was in the United States in 2008 after the election of Barack Obama. With this sense of renewed hope and unbridled optimism news days are in the horizon.
I ask you to pray for Vice President Duke as you pray for President Yates. Pray these petitions for Elder Duke as you are led to:
1. That God will anoint Elder Duke as he partners with and supports President Yates.
2. That God will give Elder Duke the ability to hear His voice as he counsels Elder Yates and that the two will always walk together in agreement for the unity of the convention.
3. That God will send His angels to protect Elder Duke, his wife Julia, their children Kenneth, Kelon (Tina), Aheisha, granddaughter Kennedi
4. That God will cause Elder Duke to prosper and New Jerusalem to prosper.
5. That God will cause Elder Duke enemies to fall before him.
6. That God will increase Elder Duke's wisdom that he will successfully navigate his duties.
7. That God will protect Elder Duke's health as he travels and ministers in the country of Haiti.
The ballroom of the Four Seasons Hotel in Greensboro North Carolina was silent as the delegates of the 104th annual session National Primitive Baptist Convention watched the members of the Election Committee walk into the ballroom solemnly to announce the results of the 2011 Presidential election. You could feel the apprehension and concern in the air as Elder Robert Crocker of Nashville Tennessee walked to the podium to announce the election results.
Clearing his throat Crocker said, "four hundred and eighty six votes were cast. For Elder Oscar Montgomery one hundred and thirteen votes. For Elder Ernest Ferrell one hundred and eighty three votes. For Elder Bernard Yates one hundred and ninety votes. Elder Yates has the majority votes."
Shouting erupted from the back of the ball room where many of the young persons of the convention were waiting with anticipation. One woman screamed out, "Recount!" Another pastor was moaning, "Oh no, Oh no." The supporters of Elder Yates wanted to shout in jubilation but they did not. In spite of the fact that the man they supported and prayed for had won they were concerned about those who were hurt over the fact that the men they had supported had lost. However throughout the ball room you could see a few delegates praising God for an upset victory for Elder Yates.
On Thursday night the National Primitive Baptist Convention celebrates what is considered high worship in the church, the observation of the Lord's Supper and Washing of the Saints feet. The election announcement was read at the end of the worship.
To settle the range of emotions that were being felt in the ballroom Elder T.W. Samuels led the convention in prayer. Elder Samuels served as the president of this convention from 1995 to 2005. He is the oldest member of the convention having attended for more than seventy years, from his childhood.
God heard the prayers of many members of the National Primitive Baptist church by giving victory to Elder Bernard Yates who had served the convention faithfully as the vice president for six years. When he made the decision to seek the presidency after much prayer and counsel he was commended by many for having the courage to do so and he was vilified by others who perceived his actions as that of betrayal to the current president who was still eligible to serve for one more term.
Elder Yates recognized the times and the seasons of transition that is not only in the National Primitive Baptist Church but in the universal body of Christ as well. And he understood months ago that the times demanded of him to make himself available to the will of God in this role of national leadership. Believing that he had heard God and knowing what God wants to accomplish in this church Elder Yates said yes to God.
Bernard Yates did not run a campaign. He did not make promises to his supporters. He did not jockey for position. He did not praise himself for his accomplishments, although they are many. He did not make himself the center of attention. When he was attacked and criticized he did not retaliate. He simply prayed and asked those who supported him to pray.
Bernard Yates was not ruled by ambition or agenda. He submitted to the Holy Spirit and believed that God's choice would assume the mantle of leadership in August. And God's choice did.
From the time that Elder Yates informed me that he would offer himself to be the president I earnestly prayed that his win was the will of God. I prayed daily that Bernard Yates would succeed to become the next president and that through him the Holy Spirit would usher Fresh Wind and Fresh Fire into the hundreds of churches that make up this convention. But a month ago the Holy Spirit caused me to shift in my intercession for Elder Yates and Elder Duke who became the vice president the next day. My intercessions became faith spoken declarations that Bernard Yates and Kenneth Duke would become the president and vice president of the convention. The Holy Spirit changed my prayer agenda, I stopped asking God to make it happen and I started, as the Holy Spirit led me, to declare that it would happen. And it did, as the Holy Spirit revealed it to me, and I'm sure to others.
Who is Elder Bernard C. Yates? He is a dynamic preacher of the gospel who travels throughout the Body of Christ in America proclaiming a prophetic Word of God. He is the pastor of the Zion Hope Primitive Baptist Church in Pensacola Florida, a vibrant congregation that numbers two thousand members. He is the husband of Vonda Yates, his faithful partner for thirty years and father to LaBrea. For a number of years now he has preached the closing message in the National Convention always accompanied by his dynamic choir that ministers in the Shekinah Glory of God.
This is the man that God has chosen for this time. I challenge every member of the National Primitive Baptist Church to pray for our leader. I ask every member of the Body of Christ to pray for our leader. Pray these petitions as you are led to.
1. That God will anoint Elder Yates with wisdom so that he will know how to skillfully lead this convention in the seasons that are ahead of us.
2. That God will make Elder Yates spiritually sensitive to hear His voice and move accordingly.
3. That God will give Elder Yates discernment to choose a team around him that will bring success to the Primitive Baptist church for His glory.
4. That God will send angels to protect Elder Yates, his wife Vonda, and daughter Labrea from satanic attacks.
5. That God will cause Elder Yates to prosper and cause Zion Hope to prosper.
6. That God will cause Elder Yates enemies to fall before him.
7. That God will usher a new beginning into the Primitive Baptist Church through the presidency of Elder Yates.
