WS Chronicle

BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY

THE CHRONICLE

The Greater Tabernacle Worship Center located at 1410 Attucks St. in Winston-Salem is celebrating its 34th anniversary this month.  On Jan. 28, senior pastor Apostle B.J. McCloud will also celebrate her birthday which is also the founding day of the church, so that day is twice as special for her. The guest speaker for Sunday night’s service was Bishop Jeannette Vaughan of Covenant of Hope Church.  This was the first event in a loaded month that will include guest speakers for the next two Sundays.

McCloud said she feels so blessed to have been able to stay around long enough to be able to celebrate 34 years as a congregation.  Her late husband A.W. McCloud was the founder of the church.  When he passed, she stepped right into the role of senior pastor and has done so for the past 17 years.

“God has been so good to us and we are so thankful for 34 years,” McCloud said. “We are looking forward to the great things that God is doing for us and we are looking forward to people coming out and enjoy the services. We just thank God for all he has done for us during these 34 years.”

“I feel blessed because God didn’t have to do it for me and he did, McCloud continued when speaking of being a female senior pastor.  “God allowed me to come after such a great man and we founded the church together.  We just thank God for Bishop A.W. And all of the wisdom he gave to us.”

Gwendolyn Johnson Robinson, niece of Apostle McCloud, said she is really happy to be able to celebrate this anniversary with her aunt.

“We are very proud of her and very excited about her celebrating this anniversary because this is a big milestone,” said Robinson.  “We are excited for her birthday which she always celebrates in grand style.”

On Sunday Jan. 22 Pastor John S. Bailey of One Word Fellowship will be the guest speaker followed by Pastor Essie C. McCullough of New Direction Movement Cathedral on Jan. 29.  The birthday celebration for McCloud will take place Saturday, Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. at the Dash baseball field.

Very soon, Greater Tabernacle will break ground on a new church on Old Walkertown Rd. McCloud says the 30-acre lot is a true blessing from God. For inquiries about services, please contact the church at 336-777-1113.