Members of Summer Hill Baptist Church at Evelyn, LA and several other area churches packed into the church Sunday afternoon for the Pastoral Installation for Martin Fitzgerald Washington, Sr. There were many remembrances of Washington as a child, a young boy and young man growing up in Sumer Hill.
The installation sermon was from Dr. Clyde W. McCray. McCray said, “I am honored to be asked to come and share in the installation of your pastor.” But McCray was quick to add, “God sanctified and ordained Martin Washington as pastor of Summer Hill Church.”
McCray spoke on the characteristics of a true preacher. He quoted Paul who wrote to churches when Christianity was less than 100 years old, advice McCray said is just as applicable today, 2000 years later. McCray spoke of “two kinds of preachers, true preachers and false preachers. And there are two kinds of spirits, the spirit of God and of the anti-Christ.” He added, “It’s not biblical, full gospel and the prosperity gospel. There is just the Gospel. There is no room for ‘I know what it says, but. It is not open for my opinion.”
Speaking to Washington, Dr. McCray said, “The test of a man’s ministry is not what is popular, and it is not miraculous signs and wonders. The test is his faithfulness to the word of God.”
Washington’s wife Angelia spoke of her and Martin growing up at Summer Hill. She said, “This is just a blessing, this is where we grew up, we both accepted Jesus Christ on the same day. Who knew we would come back as pastor and first lady?”
As the installation concluded, Martin Washington took the microphone. “I am honored to see those I grew up with here. They are the ones who really know you.” He humbly thanked the church and his other friends in attendance for welcoming him home.
