New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church Honors Local Female Servant Leaders
by Clarence Thomas, Jr. (thomasjr63@gmail.com), MGI Contributor
left to right, Paula Shipp Adams and Arneita White Scott
Two local female servant leaders will soon receive their flowers while above the grass thanks to Reverend James Baker and the New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church family.
Arneita White Scott and Paula Shipp Adams will receive awards during the church’s Service Day event Sunday, February 26 at 3:00 p.m. at the church to highlight what Baker describes as ordinary people that normally don’t get awards. “God lead me to two individuals that don’t like the spotlight. But through much prayer and meditation he put their names in my spirit to honor,” Baker said.
Scott, who happens to be Baker’s big sister, will receive the Humanitarian Award for over 20 years of transporting people at no cost to them. Getting people to groceries stores, the pharmacy, the doctor, and other places brings her joy she says. When not getting people from place to place Scott can be found preparing meals for HIV and senior assisted living residents. The 70-year-old retired retail specialist and former apartment manager considers it a blessing to assist people without the ability to run errands. “It makes me feel good. There’s a lot of people in need,” she said. “As long as I got health, I’m available to help.”
The Education Award will go to Adams. She spent 30 years as a Bibb County School teacher before retiring in 2008 only to find herself almost as busy since taking it to the house. Her days are now spent volunteering in various capacities. Mentoring first year teachers after retiring jump started Adams’ life after work. Since then, she’s served as an Academic Coach and as the Services to Youth coordinator for her beloved Links Inc; which allows her to help students improve their ability to read. “I’ll always be an educator but once I retired, I decided that I wanted to do some things that I couldn’t do while working because I was always at the school,” she shared. “Assisting people in these ways in retirement has facilitated me doing that. I just enjoy it immensely.”
Baker is excited about honoring these two. He feels they exemplify those that serve without expecting anything in return. “They do it for the love of people. In these days and times we need more people with love in their hearts than on their lips,” he said. “They deserve this designation because they give up the their time and attention at no charge.”
The theme for the awards event is “Serving Without Walls”. Reverend Christopher Wimberly of Hunter Hill First Missionary Baptist Church of Atlanta is the featured speaker and the public is invited and encouraged to join New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church in honoring Scott and Adams according to Baker.
The honorees both expressed their gratitude for being chosen and consider it a blessing. Scott joking says her little brother is taking care of her now like she used help take care of him as a young boy. “I’m privileged to receive this. It’s a blessing to be a blessing to someone else,” Scott insists. “It’s an honor to be recognized. I’m grateful to Reverend Baker for this,” Adams expressed. “Serving others is why we are here.”
New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church has a succession of noteworthy events lined up including a special concert on February 5 at 5pm entitled “Hymns for Him”. Baker says songs that served as a bridge for Black people during their sojourn is what guests can expect to hear. Former assistant director of the National Baptist Convention Clarence Williams of Savannah is that event’s centerpiece — which includes a seminar and what Baker describes as a Holy Ghost filled concert. A Dedication Service featuring Dr. Walter L Glover, Jr. of Greater Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church on March 5 is also in the works.
New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church is located at 286 Blossom Ave in Macon. Follow and contact the church on Facebook. Sunday morning service begins at 9am and can be seen live on Facebook.
