Saturday, September 24, 2005
The Rev. Simon suggested licensing a woman as a pastor in 1956.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Rev. Lonnie Kwadjo Asim Simon earned respect and recognition for his work in the Baptist church, civil rights, community activism, politics and poetry.
One of his living legacies is a group of 12 women called his "spiritual daughters," whose ministries are a tribute to their mentor.
The women are licensed and ordained ministers under the Rev. Mr. Simon or are studying toward that end. They credit him with helping them to achieve their goals in God's calling and plan to honor him Oct. 9 at a program at New Bethel Baptist Church, Hillman Street, where he is pastor emeritus.
At a recent get-together at New Bethel, Mr. Simon and seven of his spiritual daughters discussed their callings to the ministry.
The women all agreed that Mr. Simon has inspired them and many others. His own inspiration came from his father, the late Rev. William Simon, "a wise man and Baptist pastor." He said his father told him, "Don't let anyone else do your thinking 'cause they can't do your living. Don't let anyone else do your living because they can't do your dying."
Mr. Simon called himself "an independent mind" -- a good fit in the Baptist church that he described as "of the people, by the people and for the people." He said each church is independent.
Early aspirations
Mr. Simon said as a young man he aspired to be a French teacher. He came to Youngstown in 1946 to work at U.S. Steel Corp. to earn money so he could attend West Virginia State University. The year was 1951 when he "felt the calling of the Holy Spirit" and the French teacher goal faded away.
After being ordained in 1954, Mr. Simon served as pastor of Elizabeth Baptist Church until 1959 and in 1962 became pastor of New Bethel until his retirement Dec. 31, 1995.
Pioneering spirit
Early in his career, Mr. Simon showed his pioneering spirit. In 1956, he recommended that the Rev. Elizabeth Powell of Third Baptist Church be licensed and ordained. For that suggestion, Mr. Simon said he was ousted from the East Ohio Baptist Association, but in 1968 he became the moderator of the same group.
Mr. Simon said his interpretation of Scripture supported his belief that women had a place in the ministry. He cited Joel 2:28-29 ... "Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female slaves, in those days I will pour out my spirit."
Mr. Simon said that he believes being a minister is a "calling from God" and not a profession, as some see it. But he also values the importance of training and education to define and refine ministerial skills.
"Be trained before you're ordained," he said. He likened being licensed as a minister to having a learner's permit with the emphasis on training. The American Baptist Theological Seminary, Bible schools and other educational facilities have been a source of formal instruction for the women ministers.
The women shared some thoughts on how and why they became ministers. They pointed out Mr. Simon's example of what a minister should be was a key element.
UThe Rev. Lillie B. North, Friends House Chapel: "I had an experience seeing a wheat field ... it was so large. It was calling," she said, and likened wheat in the field to people needing to hear the word of God. When the Rev. Mrs. North met with Mr. Simon and he told her, "you've been called." And her ministry hasn't been limited to Youngstown, she has traveled to Korea, Africa and Jerusalem. Mrs. North said Mr. Simon's outreach work at New Bethel provided the inspiration for her to start Northstar Patchwork Center at Friends House. The entrepreneur program for women teaches viable crafting and computer skills to make them self-sufficient and self-reliant.
UThe Rev. Eleanor Felder, Holy Bible Church of God: "I ran, I ran, I ran," the Rev. Mrs. Felder said of her calling, which she resisted initially. She said she endured a six-month illness but knew "it was a spiritual illness." "I knew I had been called to preach," she said. Mrs. Felder said she remembered Mr. Simon asking her once and then again, "Girl, what's your name?" And she said her name. The title of reverend didn't have to be included because she knew in her heart she was a preacher.
UThe Rev. Flonerra Henry-Harris, New Bethel Baptist Church associate minister: She said she knew as a teenager she "had the calling" and told her father who "didn't discourage me," she said. But she married and had a family. When her first husband had a stroke, the Rev. Mrs. Henry-Harris said the "spirit spoke to her" but she resisted and cited her job as a wife and mother. Mrs. Henry-Harris turned to Scripture for guidance and support and later decided "to do what God had told me to do." But only after she took classes and proved herself did Mr. Simon tell her that he believed in her. She does counseling at the church.
UThe Rev. Mary Austin of Calvary Baptist Church: "I knew at an early age I had been called but I kept it to myself," she said. "But my mother knew it and told me I had been called." When the Rev. Mrs. Austin had a conversation with Mr. Simon, he confronted her about her lack of action to her calling. At one point, Mrs. Austin became so ill she was hospitalized. During that time, she had a dream of a "statue that shone." "I knew I had to preach God's gospel," she said. After her husband died, the church asked her to become its pastor, and Mr. Simon encouraged her to do so. "I've known him for 30 years," she said, citing his belief in her ability helped her move forward.
UThe Rev. Robin Woodberry, New Bethel youth and children's pastor: The Rev. Mrs. Woodberry had a dream where the thoughts of "show my people, teach my people, love my people" dominated. Though she had wanted to be a nurse, Mrs. Woodberry said she struggled with the idea of having a calling. She talked to her mother, the Rev. Gena Thornton, and Mr. Simon. "Both of them knew I had a calling ... I just needed to have it confirmed," she said. Mrs. Woodberry said she was inspired by Mr. Simon because "he caught a lot of heat when he licensed and ordained my mother. I watched all of that happen and developed a level of respect for him. Though the years he has showed me not to be afraid to stand up for what you believe in ... God will help you fight your battles."
UMinister Wanda Richardson, New Bethel education department: Mrs. Richardson said she believes she was "called from birth." A family story recounted how Mrs. Richardson's mother had a nagging feeling one day to move her daughter from the crib and did so just before the ceiling collapsed. Another experience with the Holy Spirit cleansing her and her home made her admit to her calling. "My whole life has been at New Bethel," Mrs. Richardson said. So when she made an appointment to meet with Mr. Simon, he simply asked her, "Girl, what's taken you so long?" Though Mrs. Richardson said she encountered opposition as a woman in some classes, she carried on. Mr. Simon challenged her with a date to preach her first sermon; she will be ordained Oct. 29. "I didn't go it alone and I didn't want to let him down," she said. "He kept encouraging me."
UEvangelist Tracey Dawson, New Bethel associate minister in recovery, evangelism and outreach: After a chance encounter and conversation at a book store with Mr. Simon, Miss Dawson said she was "fired up" about changing the direction of her life and did so. She credits Mr. Simon for inspiring her work at Recovery Restoration, an outreach program for youth, and at the church, where he was a "visionary" in that kind of mission.
These ladies have caused me a lot of grief," Mr. Simon said. "But they are worth it."