Local church to honor former pastor

Apostle Brenda J. McCloud and her husband, Bishop Alonzo McCloud, founded Tabernacle of Faith Church in January of 1983. Following the passing of Bishop McCloud in 2000, Apostle McCloud led the congregation faithfully for more than 17 years until her passing in 2018. To honor her dedication, hard work, and commitment to the community, Tabernacle of Faith is holding a Legacy Ball for Apostle McCloud on Friday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m. at the Embassy Suites, 204 Centreport Dr., Greensboro.
Apostle McCloud touched many people’s lives, in and out of the congregation. She would have been celebrating her 80th birthday this year, so the organizers felt this was the right time to have a celebration in her honor.
“We are celebrating her legacy for those that have been impacted by her ministry and her life,” said Overseer Dr. Kristyn Daney of Tabernacle of Faith. “Those who she raised, those who she raised in the gospel, and those sons and daughters who were integral in making sure her legacy lives, decided to bring everyone together to honor her.”
The idea for the ball was born by Apostle McCloud’s granddaughter, Lanessa McCloud. Before long, several individuals jumped on board to assist with putting the event together.
“There are quite a few people that have been a part of the ministry that have gone on to do other things in life,” said Daney. “They are in Atlanta, D.C., North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee, and they thought it would be a wonderful idea to bring everybody home to celebrate.”
For the event, they will have a slideshow to highlight the life and legacy of McCloud. They will also highlight the many lives she touched, along with presenting a scholarship in McCloud’s name because of how important education was to her.
“We are going to have a good time,” Daney continued. “It’s going to be some good entertainment and good fellowship.”
According to Daney, everything started with a thought and expanded from there. Everyone involved with the planning pooled their ideas together to make this event happen. They reached out to anyone and everyone who was positively impacted by McCloud.
“We are certainly glad that this is happening because this is who she was,” Daney continued. “She was a loving person, she was a leader, but more importantly, she wanted to make sure that you got what you needed to get and that you were your best self.”
McCloud was beloved by nearly everyone that she encountered. Daney says he has heard many stories for the first time about McCloud while planning for this event. What he has found out about McCloud is that she always poured into the lives of others.
“The impact goes beyond words,” he said. “We are still hearing some of the things that she has done in life that has impacted others on a day-to-day basis. If you have ever been in her presence, you left in laughter or you left in joy. Whatever you were going through, after you left her, you felt better.
“A lot of her impact goes beyond church. You come to church to hear a word, and she was a wonderful orator of the gospel and a prolific speaker. If you were ever in her presence, she made sure whatever it was she needed to deposit in that moment, she gave it to you for the next moment in your life.”