ACLC GA program, Sharing the Good News with Young Men and Young Women

“I can count on one hand the number of times my father missed a football game and sports activity I was involved in. That made a big difference in my own life. My parents never put their ministry above over family. And now my sister and I are both involved in the church,” commented Deacon Aaron B. Lackey, Jr. His father is the Presiding Bishop over the United Churches of God in Christ, International. The organization spans across the United States and in seven foreign countries.

“Family is so important for the development of a child. My parents always encouraged me, and believed in me. Never put me down, and that made all the difference in the world,” said Deacon Lackey. He was one of the guest speakers at the Thursday, August 15, 2019 Clergy Prayer Breakfast in Atlanta.

The second guest speaker was Pastor Joe Young, who tripled the size of his congregations in two years. He also installed $95K worth of sound and light equipment in the church building. He is the Pastor of the South Florida Family Church.

Pastor Young shared his testimony about being in the flow and in the anti-flow of God, and how God opens and closes doors. Deacon Aaron Lackey, Jr. Before becoming a pastor, he lived in New York as a musician and song writer. He moved to South Florida to be closer to the entertainers who were buying his songs. He didn’t realize he had moved into the neighborhood of the South Florida Family Church. One of his friends from New York was the pastor of the church. He passed

by the building every day, but for a year didn’t visit. But his music business went bust, and he happened to visit the church one Sunday. He offered to play bass with the band. The pastor was moving away from South Florida, and recommended Joe as the next pastor of the small congregation. He and his wife struggled, but finally agreed to serve. Since he took over, the congregation has grown, gifts and tithes have increased, and he even got a job at newly opened restaurant, which pays more than he was making as a song writer.

Pastor Young had an expert recommend upgrades of sound and lighting for the church. By purchasing second-hand equipment and installing it himself, he was able to put in a $95K upgrade for $20K. And this was all paid for through increased donations within one year of the installation.

The twenty people attending the clergy prayer breakfast enjoyed hearing from the young ministers. For the past two and a half years, the monthly clergy prayer breakfast is held in the Voya Restaurant of the Atlanta Airport Marriott Hotel.