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Jackson Blazer News
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| CITY OF ZION MINISTRIES HOLDS CHURCH DEDICATION SERVICE |
JacksonBlazer writes, "An Interview With Pastor James Suddeth, Pastor of City of Zion Ministries
On Sunday, April 6, 2008, City of Zion held a church dedication, in honor of its new location at 620 Greenwood Place, Jackson, MI. The Church pastors are James and Carolyn Suddeth. The guest speaker was Bishop Neal Roberson Senior Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Lansing, Michigan
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Question: Are you the founding pastor of City of Zion?
Answer: .yes.
Question:What inspired you to preach?
Answer: .My father was a former Pastor in the city, and I was inspired from watching him preach and lead our congregation. I also was inspired to preach from being involved in music ministry through the years and observing musical Pastors like Marvin Winans, Bishop Paul Morton and Rev. Milton Brunson just to name a few. But must importantly I am inspired by the Holy Spirit who gives me the unction and the grace to preach the word of God..
Question: As a young man growing up, was it your desire to preach?
Answer: .No it was not my desire to preach. I wanted to be involved exclusively in music ministry as a worship leader and minister of music.
Question: How long have you been preaching/pastoring?
Answer: I accepted my call into the ministry in 1991. I began pasturing City of Zion in October of 2005.
Question: Growing up, did you and your family attend church?
Answer: Yes we did. My parents were pastors in this city. So we attended church faithfully. But we didn’t just attend; we were involved in the church.
Question: Did you have any problem with recognizing your calling?
Answer: .No I didn’t have a problem in recognizing my calling, I think the problem occurred with the acceptance of my calling. You see I just wanted to do the music part of ministry, I didn’t want anything to do with preaching. Then one day a friend of mine seen the battle that I was having in accepting going to a new level of ministry. He sat me down and told me that my music ministry would only go so far until I accepted the call to preach on my life. And that’s when I did accept the call, God would use my preaching ministry to enhance my music ministry, because they both go hand in hand. I tell people that I am not a music minister that happens to preach, but I am a preacher that ministers in music.
Question: What do you see as one of the biggest problems facing the church today?
Answer: .I think one of the problems is that the church has become comfortable within the four walls.There is a generation of people in our city who are hurting,unsaved, untaught,unchurched, and uncommitted. God is calling for the 21st century church to come out of the four walls and into our streets and neighborhoods and compel men, woman, and children to come into the house of the Lord. Then it is our responsibility as a church to disciple and empower them in their relationship and gifting, then send them out into the streets to bring in others. I call it going to the nations. The church has the power to empower others and build up the desolate places in our city.
Question: In what area would you like to see the church improve or grow?
Answer: .Reaching nations. That is the heart of God. You don’t necessarily have to go to a foreign country, there are nations of people and social groups in our city that the body of Christ can reach.
Question: What is your vision for City of Zion?
Answer: I am so glad that you asked that question. At City of Zion our goal is to share the beautiful, loving Gospel of Jesus Christ in an exciting and enthusiastic way through the power of the Holy Spirit. To develop a people of purpose, power, and praise. To restore our city and kids resulting in a new Jackson. To develop a Kingdom culture where people of diverse ethnic backgrounds can come to City of Zion for a life changing experience. To make City of Zion a place of learning, equipping and sending. To go to the nations right here in the city of Jackson and also in our individual worlds. Reaching our streets and neighborhoods by coming out of our four walls and becoming Do members and not just Pew members. To focus on our youth, single parents, the disenfranchised, those who have lost their hope, those who are unsaved, untaught, unchurched, and uncommitted. To show the compassion of Jesus Christ, because when compassion comes on the scene supernatural things happen..
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Posted on Apr 30, 2008 21:46pm.
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