As I reflect upon numerous phases and steps in my spiritual journey, I recall memories of my Christian pilgrimage.

Like many of you, I was born into a Christian family. My early years were enriched with worship experiences in traditions modeled by family and friends who were Pentecostal Holiness, Baptist and Methodist. My nuclear family and I have deep roots in the Methodist Church. I was baptized at Wilson Temple Methodist Church and began worshipping there with my family as a young child. My dad’s grandparents were among founding members of Wilson Temple United Methodist Church (Wilson Temple Methodist Church prior to 1968). The church was founded in 1867; it is located in west Raleigh in an area once known as Oberlin Village, a thriving enclave of African-Americans.

Bettye Poole

Beyond any measure of doubt, the influence of God’s Works of Grace permeated strongly during my years at Bennett. I recall very clearly the Christian models in numerous aspects of my training and education. In addition to the model I witnessed in the President, the late Dr. Willa B. Player, I was introduced to many of women of great Christian Faith. Drs. Howard Thurman, Samuel DeWitt Proctor, John Hope Franklin, Benjamin Mays, Gardner C. Taylor and others who were preachers and lecturers during our worship at the Annie Merner Phieffier Chapel at Bennett.

Dr. Player always ended our worship service with recitation of Scripture from I John 3:2-3, “Beloved, now are we the Sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” -KJV That Scripture resonated in my spirit and is imprinted forever. It greatly shaped my spiritual formation.

My experience of hearing many messages of ‘Christian Hope and Triumph’ continued while I attended Saint Augustine’s College, an HBCU founded by Episcopal clergy here in Raleigh.

At both Bennett and Saint Augustine’s I always found great motivation when sitting at the feet of Christian instructors, leaders and theologians. The faith exemplified by so many instilled in me great hope to seek to live and walk in their footsteps as they modeled Jesus Christ. My pathway to ordained Christian servant hood had caught fire and taken hold of my vision and call.

After years of service in dual careers as an educator and social worker, I began to understand more clearly my progressive call to ordained ministry. As both teacher and social worker, I often sought to render answers and provide relief to students, individuals and families through traditional social and humanistic remedies. I grew to acknowledge that many of the problems and challenges they faced could be best served through the Salvific Grace and Love of Christ Jesus.

I began to seek God’s guidance regarding seminary training and education. After years of teaching high school students and providing social work in Prince George’s County, Maryland and northern Virginia and enjoying the culture and amenities of the Washington, DC area, I was led to return here to my hometown and community. While in the Washington area, I worshipped in very large churches that were overflowing with wide ministry experiences and opportunities. Opportunities to hear God’s Word powerfully proclaimed were vast. I learned that the greatest fun is experienced under God’s umbrella and the whole Counsel of God’s Word.

Upon returning to Raleigh, God provided me the opportunity to study at Duke University Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina where I earned the Master of Divinity degree. In 2000, I was ordained Elder-in-Full Connection in the United Methodist Church of the North Carolina Conference. In answering my call to Christian ministry as servant-leader, I serve in ministerial appointments in Extension Ministry of the Church.

With great excitement, enthusiasm and thanksgiving, my service has been that of clinical chaplain to adolescent at-risk males at Stonewall Jackson Detention Facilities in Concord, North Carolina. Another very fulfilling ministry appointment came during the tenure of the late Sheriff John H. Baker, Jr. I served as clinical chaplain with the Sheriff’s Office at the Wake County Detention Facilities (Jail). There I ministered to a religiously diverse and multi-cultural population of men, women and adolescent residents (inmates) housed at Wake County Detention Facilities. I remember clearly one of my professors at Duke challenging the class with the question, “who will minister to men and women who are imprisoned”? “They, too, hunger for God’s Word and direction.”

Also, I find great joy in instructing at the college level. I served as an adjunct instructor at my alma mater, Saint Augustine’s College, where I taught Ethics, Philosophy and Comparative Religions. I was delighted to serve as a facilitator of Spiritual Formation for first year Master of Divinity students at Duke University Divinity School.

My current appointment is that of Disaster Recovery Manager with the State of North Carolina, the Emergency Management Division. While witnessing Christ, I serve and provide disaster recovery and relief to the citizens and people of North Carolina. Additionally, I have been invited to serve as a relief clinical chaplain at the Raleigh Correctional Center for Women.

My spiritual journey has been fraught with many mountains, hills, storms and valleys. Yet through all, my faith in God is remarkably strengthened as God’s Holy Spirit provides Grace to courageously continue in God’s Awesome Love, Mercy and All that God offers and gives faithfully.

A few summers ago I came to Hayes Barton United Methodist Church to partake of the preaching services led by the Rev. Dr. Zan Holmes. Along with the powerful preaching, I was very positively impressed by the very warm and genuine welcome I received from Pastor Rick and several in the congregation.

As I diligently prayed about widening my Methodist worship experience, I visited several websites, searched and looked to the Holy Spirit for guidance to help me locate a church where God’s Word is powerfully proclaimed and witnessed; a church where I might worship and express my spiritual gifts.

Here at Hayes Barton UMC, you in God’s strength offer “Christ, Community and Compassion” as we seek to “Live as Disciples of Christ”. I pray to bring my elderly parents, relatives and friends to worship with us occasionally, that they, too, may experience the Love of Christ as it flows through this church.

My spiritual journey here at Hayes Barton is fulfilling and I am joyfully involved in worship and Bible Study Classes. I look forward to opportunities to serve in other ministries where I may witness the Love of God and touch the lives of many. I thank God for this Christian fellowship and my continued growth towards spiritual maturity. I long for a deeper personal relationship with Christ Jesus, that I may be continually prepared and equipped to serve God’s people as I journey with this body in Christ here at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church.

Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift. – II Corinthians 9:15 KJV