WS Chronicle

BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY 

THE CHRONICLE

Union Baptist Church, 1200 N. Trade St. in Winston-Salem, has been in existence for over 90 years. Officials have decided to open a second location in the city of Jamestown at Castle McCulloch, an events building.  The church held its inaugural service on Sunday, Oct. 2.  Members from the home church along with new visitors from the Jamestown community came out to worship.

“Union Baptist church has always been a community church.  We really believe that evangelizing is the key to giving people God.  This vision from Bishop [Sir Walter] Mack is a way to expand our reach,” said Dr. Kia Hood on the decision for the church to open a new location in Jamestown.

Hood will be the lead pastor of the new site. She said she is excited for the possibilities the new location has in store.  According to Hood, the Lord came to Bishop Mack and told him to expand.  They mulled over the possible locations for the new church for nearly three years until Mack and Hood were performing a wedding at Castle McCulloch and the site seemed perfect for him.

Mack said after performing some demographic research on the area of Jamestown he noticed there were not many African-American churches in the city.  He said after some prayer and discussion, the church decided on that location.  When speaking of why he chose Hood for the pastor position at the new church, he said, “It was very obvious Dr. Hood possessed the pastoral skills to do the job, so it was an easy decision to make her pastor at the new location.”

Mack went on to say that Hood is able to relate to people of all ages and he wants the new location to be fruitful but more importantly be relevant and impactful.  He said he wanted to stress quality ministry over quantity.

Hood stated it was a surreal moment when she was about to lead her first service.  She said she was a little nervous but had faith that God was going to lead her in the right direction.

“I asked God to send me places I can’t even see because if God sends me to those places he will take care of me,” said Hood.  “I also asked God to send me the people we need to minister to.”

She says she came to the location prior to the first service and prayed for prosperity and for the Lord to send her the people she needs.

Her sermon centered on how people should be “thanking Jesus for all he has done for us” and concluded the service with a special prayer acknowledging breast cancer and domestic violence awareness months.