St. James A.M.E welcomes new pastor
St. James A.M.E. church just welcomed their new pastor less than a month ago. The Rev. Shelton Miles, a Raleigh native, will now lead the congregation of the church.
Miles, a Shaw University School of Divinity graduate, was reassigned to St. James from Mount Zion A.M.E. in Hillsborough. He has led congregations in Rougemont, Yanceyville, Laurinburg, Aberdeen, Mebane and Durham, N.C.
For Miles, his first interest was studying law in college. Along the way while playing piano in the church, he received the call from the Lord, which led him into the ministry.
“My time here so far has been wonderful, and I am excited about this opportunity,” he said. “This is one of the places that when I first entered into the ministry, the board of examiners used to meet, so to have the chance to come to this historical church, I’m excited about working with the people.”
Miles delivered his first sermon two weeks ago. His sermon was about “T.E.A.M.” (together everyone achieves more), which he derived from the Pentecost, in which the people were on one accord and prayed together.
“The main focus was when people are together, they work as a team,” said Miles. “That’s the same spirit I desire to bring here, and it appears that it is already here, so I just want to bring more of it and branch out into the community.”
The A.M.E. church routinely moves pastors around to different churches. According to Miles, that is one of the aspects he loves most about the A.M.E. system.
“I think that moving brings growth in a way that you meet new people because when you meet new people and go into a new environment, it brings a new growth,” he went on to say. His main interest at St. James will be evangelism, he stated. Miles wants to bring more young people into the church to give them the platform to develop the church further. He says he sees St. James already has a strong base that can invest in young people.
Miles says his strategy of getting more young people in the church is to simply meet them where they are. He and his wife, Rosazyn, have two children, who he turns to for advice to attract the younger generation.
Mrs. Miles says she is ready to hit the streets in her new community to spread the word of her organization that assists women and children that are in need.
“I want to get out there and talk to the young ladies and give them the encouragement they need,” she said.
