Harlem’s landmark building that houses the First Corinthian Baptist Church community is beautifully adorned with hand-painted carved pillars, red cushioned theatre seats and a stunning multicolored crystal chandelier at the highest beam. However, the rest of the physical church has been stripped of all pretenses. The standard church platform, which formerly decked elaborate royal high back chairs and the light oak gothic pulpit with grape leaf, vine carving and brass cross, was completely undressed and now sets a single steel table and bar stool for the teacher.

Merchandise is not for sale in the lobby, but on any given Sunday and several weekdays one might find a variety of free resources that enhance quality of life, from literature to free HIV screening. And, in the case a consumer plans to “purchase” the pastor’s sermon after service – that will not be an option – that is, not for a price. All of the pastor’s sermons may be heard at no cost online. On several occasions, there are free meals served to those in the community.

Representation of the scaled down interior convey an idea of the character and disposition of the church pastor Michael Walrond, Jr. and his wife, Dr. Lakeesha, who functions as executive pastor. Their image is not plastered on any billboards, neither on their church program nor website banner. But under their leadership, First Corinthian Baptist Church has grown from 400 members to more than 4,000 in just over four years. There are no frills, no gimmicks, no superstars and no seductive promises, yet the membership resembles a collection of groups from all cultural, social, ethnic and economic backgrounds and each Sunday adds more.

EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP

On this Sunday morning, Pastor Michael Walrond, Jr. dressed neatly in his standard casual down attire, jeans and argyle v-neck sweater over a pressed white collared shirt, took his seat on the stage in a manner of an affectionate fireside chat. In an informal, laid-back demeanor he speaks to his audience of more than 1,000 with an intimacy only close friends share. He unfolds an anonymous letter that had been placed in the offering plate the Sunday prior and begins to read. This particular letter was from a person who had been attending the church for some time and wanted some final assurance that what they had been experiencing there was genuine. The note’s author explained the emotional impact of being diagnosed HIV positive and wanted desperately to believe that they had found that place of acceptance without judgment. The pastor’s answer spoke to the entire room  who could have all easily written such a letter. Perhaps not with the same physical ailment, but with the same longing for inclusion – the same need to be understood and accepted.

With the disappearance of many of the barriers that typically hinder spiritual and personal growth,  the full value of the evolving First Corinthian Church experience is in seeing the significance of what has happened in a short span of time. The theological dynamism of Pastor Michael Walrond, Jr. clutches a consciousness that holds vision and understanding on a level that unlocks spiritual and intellectual emancipation. Blending a mix of the spiritual and the social, the pastoral and the political with a personal candor that openly discloses their own human frailties; the Walrond duo has seemingly administered the shift needed to push past church as usual.

Pastor Michael humbly articulates that his connection with people is not in spewing platitudes, but it is the bearing of your own soul to the soul of another. He recalled a sermon that he once heard by the influential minister, Dr. Gardner C. Taylor entitled, “Only Scarred Hands Heal,” of which he relates, “I have dealt with a tremendous amount of scarring, not just emotionally but physically. Many people come to me after a service and say ‘Pastor, I felt you were preaching to me.’ And I tell them, no I was preaching to me, and in doing that I am preaching to all of us.”

Pastors Lakeesha and Michael met as college freshmen at Spellman and Morehouse, had a child their sophomore year and managed to juggle classes, parenting and jobs throughout school. Lakeesha carried an extensive class load to graduate on time with a Bachelor in psychology and early childhood development and went on to gain two Master’s Degrees and her Ph.D. in education. They share many experiences along their journey. Pastor Michael’s road from Morehouse to Duke School of Divinity, Pastor of Zion Temple United Church of Christ in Durham, North Carolina and the road back to New York is filled with hardships and triumphs.

“Through our experiences God has given us some inherent mechanisms to remain humble,” explains Michael Walrond, “I know what it is to have to go to the church and ask for help with rent. I went to Duke full time while working at a hotel and Blockbuster video. We remember eating Jell-o for dinner.” Although they both acknowledge personal effort, neither of them takes the grace of God that has shined on them for granted.

As some of the older traditional churches seek out new ways to attract youth, First Corinthian Baptist has experienced a tremendous influx of young people, sometimes even referred to as the “hip hop” church. But the music is not hip hop, and the pastor doesn’t speak in hip hop terms. In fact, to typecast the church in anyway would be a disservice to the move that is taking place. As Pastor Michael communicates, “This is the age where people are looking for church growth models and we forget the most important factor – the God factor.”

The model, as many members point out, is the examples they have in the Walronds. “I can watch my pastor and learn how to be a good man, to be a faithful husband,” Pierce, a new member emphatically expresses, “if he finished school I can finish school.”

“My husband is a humble man,” Pastor Lakeesha affirms, “I can say that he really has a heart for people – a real shepherd’s heart. And he is transparent, our lives are transparent. We openly share our challenges.” She continued to disclose that she was a young rape victim and has an intense desire to minister to others who have been abused.  

Michael Walrond teaches that people are called by God to live and not just exist. Many members in the congregation have been inspired to continue their education; even seniors are going back for their GED or to college. “I used to think the role of pastor was to cast the vision of the church and the people would grab hold to it and run with it. But, I have learned that it is not about me casting the vision, it is about creating an environment where all members see themselves as visionaries. Everyone then begins to tap into their gifts and they begin to maximize what God has given them,” he explains, “We create a community of visionaries, a community of dreamers, who not only dream, but dreams with their eyes wide open. That’s when we will begin to see the possibilities of true humanity.”

In setting their course those same ideas are committed in the church purpose statement: “We are an ever evolving community of visionaries and dreamers who have been called by God to live the lives we were created to live – Commanded by God to love beyond the limits of our prejudices and commissioned by God to serve.”

During the Obama campaign, there was a promotion termed “Joshua Generation,” which attracted young people of faith - Evangelical and Catholic groups. The name is based on the biblical story of how Joshua’s generation, after Moses’ death, led the Israelites into the Promised Land. Similarly this is the post Civil Rights generation crossing into the dream. And the new move of leadership is embracing these new ideas, where theory and practice unite to counter oppression and injustice. By all appearances, Walrond is part of this Joshua Generation movement where they are rolling up their sleeves and creating concrete methods for changing the social, political and economic obstacles of the times, one person at a time. The perpetuating language of victimization won’t be heard here and the standards have been lifted. “I think that the galvanizing thing here is, we are really seeking and pushing people to their best in an environment that challenges them to be the best,” Walrond shares.

Noticeable and gradual changes have taken place within the church. More traditions are being broken, the hierarchy is flattened and the rules and rituals fading. One Sunday they opened baptism to everyone who wanted to be baptized that moment, including tourists and visitors, which broke standard church rules of membership prerequisites. Sixty people were spontaneously baptized that morning.

Perhaps it is their transparency that makes them effective. Pastor Michael often exposes the times when he wasn’t sure of his destiny and he is quick to tell members that they should never put him on a pedestal because he is a man of like passions and he will let them down. He claims, however, that he preaches the solution and that is God.

Most people relate to the simple things Pastor Michael shares about his life. He said that Morehouse College changed his life, but before that he never thought of himself as college bound. But a mentor saw something else in him. In a strange twist of events, after he had been rejected by several colleges, he was choosing to join the navy. It so happened that a traffic jam delayed him just long enough to set him up for his appointment with destiny. The disappointment of missing his naval enlistment appointment for that day was quickly vanquished by the college acceptance letter awaiting him at home. Now all the overcoming power he has built up along the way enlightens the way of many and sets them on their own upward journey.

As the nation borders on a future of brighter things, it is more important than ever to accept the right philosophy and not fall for stifling deception. There are no instant remedies, or quick fixes, but strategic processes to true liberation. Pastor Michael points out, “The trappings are there, but God didn’t call us to be successful, He called us to be faithful. We have to take those necessary steps to reach our goals. Fulfillment will come when everyone discovers their own personal destiny.”

Noticeable and gradual changes have taken place within the church. More traditions are being broken, the hierarchy is flattened and the rules and rituals fading. One Sunday they opened baptism to everyone who wanted to be baptized that moment, including tourists and visitors, which broke standard church rules of membership prerequisites. Sixty people were spontaneously baptized that morning.

Perhaps it is their transparency that makes them effective. Pastor Michael often exposes the times when he wasn’t sure of his destiny and he is quick to tell members that they should never put him on a pedestal because he is a man of like passions and he will let them down. He claims, however, that he preaches the solution and that is God.

Most people relate to the simple things Pastor Michael shares about his life. He said that Morehouse College changed his life, but before that he never thought of himself as college bound. But a mentor saw something else in him. In a strange twist of events, after he had been rejected by several colleges, he was choosing to join the navy. It so happened that a traffic jam delayed him just long enough to set him up for his appointment with destiny. The disappointment of missing his naval enlistment appointment for that day was quickly vanquished by the college acceptance letter awaiting him at home. Now all the overcoming power he has built up along the way enlightens the way of many and sets them on their own upward journey.

As the nation borders on a future of brighter things, it is more important than ever to accept the right philosophy and not fall for stifling deception. There are no instant remedies, or quick fixes, but strategic processes to true liberation. Pastor Michael points out, “The trappings are there, but God didn’t call us to be successful, He called us to be faithful. We have to take those necessary steps to reach our goals. Fulfillment will come when everyone discovers their own personal destiny.”