The Ministers and Deacons Union Association will be held on Saturday, May 30, at Red Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Clinton at 9 a.m. The theme will be “Convince To Be Unconvinced To Be Convinced Through Christian Education.” Several activities will be held during this service. How deacons can help the church ministry to grow will be taught by deacon Arthur Sampson; the youth will be taught by the Rev. Carolyn Bennett. Following will be youth talent from the area churches. The Rev. Claudie Morrisey and the Rev. Earnest Fryar will be nominated for first vice president. At 11 a.m. the guest speaker will be the Rev. Bernard States, associate minister of Big Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church, accompanied by Big Piney Grove choir. The Rev. Freddie Herring is the alternate. Dinner will be served following the morning service. All area churches are invited. The Rev. Harold Jr. Boykin is the president and the Rev. Floyd is the vice president. The deacons of Red Hill Missionary Baptist Church will be in charge. The Rev. Ray Bolton is the host pastor.

A pre-anniversary gospel celebration will be held at First Baptist Church in Roseboro on Saturday, May 30, 6 p.m. Several guest singers will participate: The Promise Singers of Lillington, Mr. Wendell Floyd of Autryville, Truly Blessed Singers of Lillington, Deliverance Victory of Harrells, The Gospel Lights of Hope Mills, First male chorus and combined choir of First Baptist and many others. For more information call evangelist Ruby Floyd at (910) 483-7803.

The North Carolina Prayer Tower Deliverance Ministries of Clinton will celebrate the Pentecost on Sunday, May 31, 11:45 a.m. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Linda McNeil. At 4 p.m. the guest speaker will be pastor Vonnie Perry, of Roseboro, accompanied by choir and congregation. Everyone is asked to wear white. For more information call pastor Thira Peterson.

There will be a fifth Sunday service at First Baptist Church in Roseboro at 8:45 a.m. The pastor, the Rev. John T. Oliver, will bring forth the morning message and the Oliver Singers will render the music. All members and friends are encouraged to attend.

Regular service will be held at Little Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Clinton on Sunday, May 31, 11 a.m. The pastor, the Rev. Harold Boykin, will bring forth the morning message and Little Piney Grove choir and Hayes Chapel male chorus will render the music. Everyone is invited.

The Western Union Association ordination service will be held Sunday, May 31, at First Baptist Church Roseboro at 4 p.m. The pastor, the Rev. John T. Oliver, will deliver the message and music will be rendered by several church choirs.

The Way of the Cross Inter-Denominational Fellowship of Churches, International presents Holy Convocation 2009 entitled “Change with the Shift” — worship that will shift your mind into another dimension — at 836 Waycross Road, Turkey. The guest speakers on Friday, May 29, 7:30 p.m., are apostle Norbert Simmons of Deeper Life Church Ministries in Goldsboro. On Saturday, May 30, 6 p.m., elder William Cooper of Upper Room in Raleigh will speak. The host pastors are apostle Marcus and prophetess Wendy Becton. For more information call 533-2521.

On Sunday, May 31, a gospel explosion will be held at Friendly Community Center in Clinton at 5 p.m. The following singers will participate on the program: The Nu-Day Minstrel of Goldsboro, The Israel of Fayetteville, The Heavenly Sent Gospel Singers of Jacksonville, Mount Pleasant praise dancers of Turkey, The Scott Sisters of King Street, S.C., Terry Green and the Boys from the Street, The Traveling Stars from Jacksonville and others. For more information call Mr. Charles Strickland at (910) 590-4925.

On May 30, the pastor, the Rev. Robert Wilson, and members of Trinity A.M.E. Zion Church of Harrells will have a Ten Commandments Tea at 6 p.m. There will be ten speakers. Everyone is invited. For more information call (910) 592-5895.

There will be a meeting on June 2, at Piggly Wiggly in Jordan Shopping Center in Clinton at 7 p.m. The meeting will be about Fibrowatt processing plant and the chicken (litter) to burn. For more information call Shelia Abery at (910) 267-1851.

The fifth Sunday service will be held at Brown’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church on H.B. Lewis Road, Sunday at 9:30 a.m. instead of 11 a.m. All members and friends are urged to attend.

Regular service will be held at The Prayer House in Faison every Sunday night at 7 p.m. Don’t miss it.

A thought for today: A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.

Men’s Day will be celebrated the First Sunday in June at Saint Stephens Holiness Church in Turkey at 11 a.m. The pastor, the Rev. Willie H. Bryant, will deliver the Men’s Day message and the male chorus will render the music. Dinner will be served following the morning service. At 2 p.m. Olan Mills Studio will be set up to do family portraits and every coupon holder will get a free sheet of wallet size photos. For more information call Mrs. Alice Wells at 592-1653.

Our love and deepest sympathy goes out to all families who lost a loved one recently.

We solicit your prayers for the sick and shut-ins everywhere.

A special hello to all my good friends that I see and hear from every week. Keep up the good work. May God richly bless each of you.

Go to the church of your choice this Sunday and have a blessed week.

Mae Bell Williamson is the news columnist for Brown’s Chapel. You can call her at 592-2468.