St. Paul AME pastors celebrate years of service

St. Paul A.M.E. Church located at Aycock and Barton Street Marlin, honored their pastor Reverend Eddie Ellis Jr. and Reverend Benita Hill-Ellis on Sunday, Aug. 28. Reverend Ellis has been a member of St Paul for 17 years and has been the Pastor for 13 years.

Acting as Master of Ceremony for the occasion was I’Raunce Ellis the youngest son of Rev. Ellis. The program featured a praise dance by the Water Walkers for Christ dance troupe from St. Paul, and Master Jeremiah Davis who honored Reverend Hill-Ellis with a salute “I’m in the Lords Army,” in recognition to her many years of service in the United States Army & now as a faithful soldier for the Lord. The St. Paul Male Chorus also offered a musical rendition.

The guest speaker for the celebration of service was Pastor Edna Gibson associate minister of the Carver Park Baptist Church Waco, Texas where the Reverend Gaylon Foreman is the Pastor.

The Ellis’ were presented with gifts from different auxiliaries of the church along with a Proclamation read by Marlin City Manager Cedric Davis and signed by the Honorable Mayor of the City of Marlin, Carolyn Lofton.

Reverend Ellis thanked those present by first stating that he told his congregation an appreciation service wasn’t necessary because it was an honor to serve them as pastor.  He recognized family and community members present along with pastors and preachers in attendance.