LW: What else does your position entail?
ES: I do baptisms, weddings and funerals. I just ordained two of our ministers here, Elder Marjorie Knox and Elder Violet Machado, who are able to help at weddings. If I go on vacation they can administer communion, the Lord’s Supper, once a month, on the first Sunday. I surrender one Sunday a month for them to exercise their gift.
LW: How do you prepare your sermon?
ES: No pastor or preacher could ever do a sermon without inquiring of God, “What do you want me to say to the people?” It requires studying faithfully and always being submissive to the Spirit of God. Structure is important and always making sure your text is reflective of the subject and vice versa. Being a pastor, you’re at the church, out in the community. It’s a very big job. Preaching is about 5 percent of what a pastor does. We attend associations, conferences, we’re out visiting the sick, doing outreach with families. You’re on call 24/7. I’ve gotten calls in the middle of the night. I’m fortunate I know pastors who are very good friends of mine. If I have a question, sometimes I’ll call Rev. Gilmore, who has known me for most of my life, or if I need a different perspective, I’ll call Pastor Donna Taylor of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Tarrytown.
LW: What about crises of faith? What if you feel God has let you down?
ES: I never feel God has or will let me down. Even when things don’t go quite as I planned, I know God’s plan is always greater than mine. Faith is a daily walk and some days are stronger than others, but it’s never a faithless day. God knows the assignment for my life. That’s how He’s kept me. I trust Him with my life wholeheartedly. The Apostle Paul said that he’s convinced nothing can separate us from the love of God. When we go through those trials and tribulations they build us and make us strong.
LW: You recently conducted the funeral for one of the four young men who were tragically killed in that car accident in Saugerties in August. What did you say?
ES: My message to the young people at Kaireem [Meeks]’s funeral was that even though this was a tragedy, the young men were making the best of what they were trying to do. They had a job and were happy about working. I’d like to believe if they had one chance to give us a message, it would be to be positive and make the most out of life.
If I live, the Apostle Paul said, I’m here with you and I preach Christ. If I die, then I’m with Christ, so I win. God is a God of love, of forgiveness, of judgment, of peace. Whatever you need Him to be to keep you going He is that. Let the beauty of God’s love be what you do.
LW: In August you got married to Jerry Schuyler at Pointe of Praise Life Center. How many people were at the wedding?
ES: About 500. Even my high school English teacher was there! When Jerry was 8, I gave him a nickel while in Sunday School. I guess that was my way of saying, I like you. The next Sunday he gave me a dime! We’ve known each other since we were very young. He became my childhood sweetheart. When we got back together again after 40 years, people said it was meant to be.
The Winans recording artists have a song that I love and believe — “It’s All Good, But It’s All God.”
