High School Graduating Senior Preaches Children's Day Sermon

A high school graduating senior told a packed congregation at St. Joseph's AME Church in Durham, NC that: "We must all study to prepare ourselves to be judged of God where the grade will be passed or failed.
"Remember," explained Harrison Isaiah Flood, "there is no makeup exam when we stand before God's judgement seat."
Flood, 17, delivered his "initial sermon," exactly 30 days following his 17th birthday, and one day before graduating, with honors from C.E. Jordan High School in Durham.
Flood was one of 10 high school graduates, members of this church, headed to various colleges throughout the United States. Each of them received Bibles, gifts from the St. Jospeh's congregation, as did all the children iin the congregation of more than 1,500, one of the largest AME Churches in North Carolina. The graduates received two additional surprise gifts. One came from C.T. Tomlin, a member of the St. Joseph's congregation, who said: "If each of you maintain a 3.0 grade point average each year, beginning this Fall, I will guarantee each of you a $1000 annual scholarship for four years to help with college expenses." Tomlin, a recently retired professional financial specialist earlier this year endowed a Good Samaritan Fund, managed by the congregation's Missionary Society.
The gifts for graduates continued.
Rev. Philip R. Cousin, Jr., the congregation's senior pastor, who had watched these seniors grow up, promised each of them a $1,500 "start up" scholarship by the time they leave for school, and a $250 textbooks stipend each semester that the students maintain a 3.0 grade point average.
"We send you off in the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. We know you will represent us and your families well, and be examples to your peers so that they too will see what God will do for those who dare trust and honor Him."
Because the congregation cancelled its normal 8am services for this special day, the sanctuary was packed to overflowing, including members and guests. A special group of guests included students from the Fayetteville Street Lab School, an elementary school just a few blocks south of the Church's building. The school's principal, Mrs. Queen Bass Scarborough is a St. Joseph's member. She retires at the end of this school year. St. Joseph's adopted her school several years ago and provided scores of gifts and other support for students. Some of the students came by Sunday to say: "Thank you." They presented Rev. Cousin with a sculptured Eagle, and performed their rendition of the song: "I believe I can fly."
Sunday, June 8, 2008 was the congregations first "Children's Day Service," scheduled to become an annual program. Rev. Valerie McIver, a member of the St. Joseph's ministerial staff conceived, coordinated and championed the service, along with a small committee that helped her pull it off.
"I thank Rev. Cousin for his unstinting support," Rev. McIver said in her closing remarks. "When I put the idea before him, all he said was let's do it."
In his closing remarks, Rev. Cousin, the congregation's senior pastor, who next month could be elected to be one of the AME denomination's bishops, told Rev. McIver: "I have good news and bad news. The good news is that you and your committee did an outstanding job. The bad news is that you have worked your way into a fulltime position. We will just wait to see what you and your committee come up with for next year."
Do it, they did!
The 11 am service featured the congregation's Youth Choir, most of them children who had been baptized as infants in St. Joseph's and grew up, nurtured, protected and encouraged not only by their parents, but their church family also.
Just as that Sunday morning marked new beginnings, it also marked several endings as well. For example, it was the final Sunday that dummer Candice Michelle Adderly would play drums for the Youth Choir, and the Young Voices of Praise, St. Joseph's Children's Choir. She will be replaced by Terrell Collin Bass, 16, a 10th grader at Hillside High School.
In addition to the "preacher," the young people conducted the entire service. Participants included Jimmy Woods, 17, a Hillside 11th grader, who led the worship covenant, Tiaira Collise Bass, 9, a 5th grade at the Fayetteville Street Lab School, who led The Call to Worship. The pastor's youngest son, Joshua, 11, led the morning prayer and Lyndsey Hannah, 10, read the morning Scripture Lesson. Other participants in the morning service included: Kayla Harrington, 10; Charla Poindexter, 17; Jonathan Avery, 10 and Leah Pompey, one of the 10 high school graduates who introduced Flood as "my baby brother."
The high school graduates, all excellent students, have spent most of their lives participating in outstanding accomplishments. Flood, for example, is a published writer, and he also helped to establish a gospel choir club at his high school. He received a $10,000 scholarship from the Kappas of Durham Foundation and was awarded the title "Mr. Beautillion 2008." Pompey, a graduate from Riverside High School was captain of the Varsity Cheering Squad, an accomplished dancer and a member of the Math & Science Education Network. Adderly, also a graduate of Jordan High School, was a member of the school's drumline, and a life guard for Durham's Park and Recreation Department. Sidney Tomlin, a honors graduate of Durham Academy, one of state's most prestigious private schools, served as president of the Durham Chapter of Jack & Jill, a national community services organization.
Sunday's service closed with Rev. Cousin leading the congregation is "corporate" prayer, asking God to protect, guide, inspire and uplift all of the congregation's young people, and especially those who will leave home at the end of the summer for college.