Ministries matter

In its 85th year, Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church wants to make a difference

By LINDA M. LINONIS

religion@vindy.com

struthers

Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church strives to “make a difference” and “be an agent of change.”

That’s how its pastor, the Rev. Lee T. Rucker Jr., described the church that is marking its 85th anniversary this weekend.

The Rev. Mr. Rucker, who came to the church in 2007, said the church tries to accomplish those goals through various ministries and activities.

They include sponsoring a summer vacation Bible school that attracts children of the church and neighborhood, support through volunteering and financially at the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley and the Needles Eye Christian Counseling Center. The music ministry visits the second Monday of each month at Windsor House at Liberty Health Care Center in Liberty and church members also visit at Dandridge’s Burgundi Manor in Youngstown on the fourth Monday.

The church also sponsored a health fair in August as a community outreach and has a scholarship ministry in honor of Eva Mae Burton for students who go to college.

Pilgrim also supports a ministry in the Central African Republic with money and donation of supplies.

“We do what we can to help,” Mr. Rucker said.

Mr. Rucker said the church was “well pastored” under the 39-year leadership of the Rev. Ralph Burton, who served from 1967-2006, when he retired. Mr. Rucker said he “felt a calling” in 1996 and was eventually ordained. He led Zion Hill Baptist Church and had organized a Bible study that eventually became New Light Church in Sharon, Pa. Mr. Rucker interviewed at Pilgrim, became pastor and New Light members came, too.

The church has a membership of about 110 and averages about 85 at worship. Mr. Rucker said the music ministry is important in the church and Charles Robinson is minister of music. A mime ministry and flaggers add other interest to services and programs.

The second Sunday of each month focuses on youth. “It’s important to take time out with a service directed at them,” Mr. Rucker said, noting he tries to relate the message to school or conduct. Scholarship Sunday recognizes youth pursuing higher education; five youths of the church are in college.

Mr. Rucker said preliminary plans are in the works for a “major evangelism event.” “We want to do something different,” he said.

The pastor described the congregation as being well-versed in the Bible. “They have their Bibles open and follow along,” Mr. Rucker said. He said he employs expository preaching, which focuses on the meaning of a particular text or passage of Scripture. “It’s Bible-based,” he said.

Bible study and a prayer service are offered Wednesday nights and provide another means of exploration of the word of God. “During hard times, people especially depend on the Lord,” Mr. Rucker said.

As pastor, Mr. Rucker said he depends on members of the church to keep it running smoothly. He credited James Greene with overseeing the day-to-day administration of the church and Hewitt Burton, chairman of the deacons board, and board members with being his “right hands.” Mr. Rucker, in addition to his pastoral duties, works in engineering department at Thomas Betts Reznor in Mercer, Pa.