The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Church welcomes its new pastor
Acquiring a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing from Lake Erie College wasn’t the last stop for Melvin Motley.
“At age 60, God called me to go back to school,” he said.
Motley attended Grand Canyon University in Phoenix where he received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in theology. As a homework assignment, he had to meet with Bishop Gerard Mirbel, the president of Painesville Minister’s Fellowship.
“He came to me and asked for an interview as a part of his homework assignment,” Mirbel said.
From then, he went on to get his doctorate from Newburgh Theological Seminary and became Rev. Dr. Melvin Motley. Now, Motley will be taking over the role of pastor at Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church at 1143 N. State St. in Painesville as Pastor Floyd O’Neal retires.
“My love in humanity is going to help me do God’s work,” Motley said. “You can’t be selfish. My concern is the people.”
The 72-year-old said he will not let his age stop him from doing God’s work.
“People have told me I’m too old,” he said. “God can use whomever.”
Motley has spent time doing missionary work in Uganda for the pastor conference and youth conference. He said one of the main focuses there was getting water to the people.
“You don’t drink the water,” he said. “The rain water is more pure.”
Mirbel said Motley “spent his own money to go to Africa to help people.
“He worked early in the morning to late at night,” Mirbel said. “I admire him.”
As Motley takes over the pastor role, he said he will look to reach out to not just the church, but the greater community as well.
“We are going to look for unity within the church,” he said. “We will branch out and spread love.”
Motley will be installed as pastor on Nov. 14 when Mirbel will hand him his official Bible. Motley’s first sermon will be given on Nov. 15.
“I’m excited to make my first official sermon as pastor,” Motley said. “God has given me the message already.”
Motley said the message will be One Plant, One Water and God will give the endpiece.
“We plant a seed—the word of God—and water it. God will give an increase in spiritual growth,” he said.
Motley said he encourages all people to attend services.
“The doors of this church are always open,” Motley said. “Everyone is invited to come. There’s no such thing as a stranger in life. Everyone is my neighbor. If you’ve got joy and peace you’ve got everything.”
“There’s no such thing as a stranger in life. Everyone is my neighbor. If you’ve got joy and peace you’ve got everything.” — Rev. Dr. Melvin Motley