So I was talking to this nice elderly pastor, James Weathersby. I told him we had a website up for Wintergreen Missionary BAPTIST Church, and noticed it was now a BIBLE church. Another alarm goes off in my head as he remarks to me “Baptist, Bible does it really make any difference?” It was continuing to be an interesting day!
We talked about previous pastors, he knew Pastor Gandy’s wife (the Pastor I had worked with). Apparently the next pastor (Chase) was working forty feet up in a tree on the property and fell and passed away. If I remember the conversation correctly Pastor Weathersby then took over the church which was only running 4 or 5 and built it up to around 15. He then came in contact with a local Dallas Pastor Hayes. Apparently Pastor Hayes and his congregation (if I am remembering it correctly) lost their meeting place, so Pastor Weathersby invited them to WMBC and he let Pastor Hayes share the preaching responsibilities. Pastor Weathersby said that Pastor Hayes brought about 25 more members with him when they came.
Pastor Weathersby also said that someone had come out and shared Periscope and Facebook with him. He said that all the services were being posted on Periscope. We finally went in.
When we got inside I could tell it was going to get even more interesting. Pastor Weathersby introduced me to Pastor Hayes, a 30ish black man wearing a clerical collar. The congregation was very friendly and we felt very welcome. There were drums and guitars and amps on the pulpit area, and an older gentleman at the piano. I think we sang a hymn or two with just piano accompaniment.
We were then trying to figure out what was happening – and finally realized we were about to partake in the Lord’s supper. They passed out something we had never seen before – a self contained packet containing wafer and juice.
Once we had it one of the men read from the Bible: 1 Cor 11:25-26 "And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me."
This was good, but then he stopped! It bothered me that it was an open Lord’s supper, they had no idea whether we were saved or not, and even worse it bothered me that they totally left out the most important Bible verses that followed: 1 Cor 11:27-34 "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come." How do you skip the self examination part of this????
After this, the pastor asked a lady sitting in front of us to open in prayer. It was a long prayer and while there was no speaking in tongues the service felt like it was turning into a Pentecostal service, guitar playing emphasizing the prayer with plenty of participation and emphasis on the part of the congregation. Maureen and I were both in agreement that we should not continue in the service and decided to leave when the prayer ended.
I was not able to find the services on Periscope or Facebook, but I did find much about Pastor Mayes including what appears to be a Pentecostal background including fellowship with female Pastors. Due to major doctrinal differences we are no longer able to support this ministry…
