Program Booklet - Faith Temple #1 OFWBC

Our Founder BISHOP LIMMIE NATHANIEL FORBES “A Living Example of Love and Concern”

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 Limmie Nathaniel Forbes was born on October 24, 1936 in Wayne County, North Carolina. He is the fourth of ten children born to the late Willie Scott Forbes, Sr. and Mrs. Sally Melvin Forbes. He attended Eureka Elementary School, Pikeville Training School, and Hampton University. At the tender age of nine, he was truly converted on a Sunday in July of 1946 at the Leventon Chapel Free Will Baptist Church in Stantonsburg, North Carolina. He received the gift of the Holy Ghost one morning on his way to milk the cow. The bucket went one way and he went another way, praising the Lord.

Being called by God, he preached his first sermon on the third Sunday in May of 1959. His scripture text came from St. Matthew and he chose for a subject, “You Need It and You Must Have It”. Now a preacher, he desired to be an Evangelist. But being led

by God on December 29, 1959, Faith Temple No.1 in East Orange, New Jersey was established. Again being led of the Lord, in 1962, Faith Temple #2 in Seat Pleasant, Maryland was established. In 2003, Bishop Forbes established the Faith Temple #1 and #2 Extension Church in Wilson, North Carolina. This church was established to allow the members of Faith Temple #1 and #2 who have relocated to North Carolina to continue to worship together.

In 1964, he was chosen by God and selected by the people to serve as Vice Moderator of the Middle Eastern District Original Free Will Baptist Conference. He served in that capacity for four years. In 1968, he was elected as President of the Conference. At that time, the title of Moderator was changed to “Bishop”. Because of his vision and leadership, the Conference grew tremendously.

By the early 1970’s, the Conference had churches as far North as Connecticut and as far South as Georgia.

Bishop Forbes desired for a headquarters to be established where the Conference could hold large meetings and that it be a landmark that the Conference could be identified by. By vision in planning, unity of purpose, cooperative endeavor, and above all, faith in God, with God in front and the illustrious Bishop L.N. Forbes to lead His people, the dream became a reality. In November of 1975, the Original Free Will Baptist Annual Conference was held in its new edifice. This building is located in Wilson, North Carolina, and it is named the L.N. Forbes Tabernacle, Inc. Bishop Forbes retired as President of the Original Free Will Baptist Conference in 2013.

He is the Bishop Emeritus of the General Original Free Will Baptist Conference of America. He is also the former Vice President of the National Convention of Free Will Baptist, USA. He also served as the Past President of the East Orange Clergy Organization. Bishop Forbes served as Past President of the Hampton Ministers’ Conference of Hampton University in Virginia.

Bishop Forbes received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity Degree from Atlantic Christian College in Wilson, North Carolina. He also received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity Degree from New York Bible Institute. He received his Doctorate of Humane Letters in Education from The United Christian College of Goldsboro, North Carolina. Bishop Forbes is also the author of “The High Cost of Leadership” published by M.L. King Fellows Press.

In November of 1988, Bishop Forbes was joined in holy matrimony to the late J. Ramona Artis Forbes. His beloved First Lady went home to be with the Lord in December of 1996.

In November of 1992, the Mayor of East Orange, along with the East Orange City Council dedicated Halsted Street as “L.N. Forbes Plaza” in his honor. Bishop Forbes is the oldest tenure pastor in the city of East Orange. He, along with the churches he has pastored, serves as a vital part of the community.Under his leadership, the churches established various outreach programs including a nursing home ministry where services are sponsored for elderly residents who are unable to go to church. They also have active mission ministries that participate in feeding and clothing the homeless residents of their respective cities.

Having retired as Pastor of Faith Temple #1 and # 2 Churches, Bishop Forbes presently resides in East Orange, New Jersey where he has lived since 1958. Bishop Forbes is a man of Love and Concern for all mankind.

Guest Preacher Dr. Robert W. Perry is a native of New York, New York. He grew and developed in Portsmouth, Virginia where he received his public school education. He is a graduate of Virginia Union University, Richmond, Virginia receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree and later a Master of Divinity Degree from the School of Theology. He attended Law School at American University, Washington, DC; Union Theological Seminary, New York; and matriculated in the Master of Science Degree program at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. Two honorary degrees were awarded to him from Virginia Seminary and College, Lynchburg, Virginia. Also an honorary degree was awarded to him from Virginia Union University in 2004.

He is a Veteran of the Korean War where he received three bronze stars and attained the rank of Sergeant.

Dr. Perry brought diverse experiences into his ministry, becoming the first African American to become a tariff agent for United Airlines in New York City. He was a social worker for the City of New York, an instructor at Norfolk State University Evening College, Head Start Visiting Teacher in Portsmouth, Virginia and Director of OIC, Southeastern Tidewater, Virginia.

Dr. Perry has traveled extensively and preached abroad in many places. One of his most challenging trips was his trip to Communist Russia (USSR) in 1983. This trip was with a team of eight Baptist preachers and their wives. He preached at the famous Baptist church in St. Petersburg at that time the city was called Leningrad.

With a drive for foreign missions, he led the Union Church to establish a Union Baptist Church in Whittlesea, South Africa. In 1994 he went with his wife and daughter Crystal to dedicate the completed construction of the Union Baptist Church in South Africa. He traveled extensively with his wife in South Africa and preached in many cities of South Africa. His travels have carried him to Israel several times; Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Anthens, Greece and countless Caribbean Islands, Poland, Amsterdam, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Gambia were among his many travels.

The many offices he has held include service as Past President of the Hampton Ministers’ Conference and Musicians’ Guild, Past President of the Stamford Council of Churches and Synagogues and Past President of the Connecticut State Missionary Baptist Convention. He presently serves as the Convener of the Interdenominational Ministers and Pastors Alliance Coalition (IMPAC).

He holds membership in the Judah Baptist Association of the Connecticut State Missionary Baptist Convention. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Baptist Convention, Inc., USA. Dr. Perry is the Senior Pastor of the Union Baptist Church, Stamford, Connecticut where he has served for the past 42 years, and has completed a 5.3 million dollar church construction with the church serving as its own contractor.

As a community activist in Connecticut, he was the first African American to serve on the Board of Ethics of the City of Stamford.

He served as a Fire Commissioner for the City of Stamford, as well as the Police Chaplain for the City of Stamford, and later became a Police Commissioner for two terms and for a second time serves now as a Fire Commissioner for the City of Stamford.

He served on the advisory board for Fleet/Boston Bank Corporation. In 1988, he was appointed to the Governor’s Task Force on Human Rights under Governor William A. O’Neill of Connecticut. He was the recipient of The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award from the state of Connecticut, at the Capitol Rotunda in Hartford on January 16, 2006. In celebration of Black History Month, he was a recipient of The Community Heroes Award at Turn of River Middle School in Stamford on February 12, 2007. On December 21, 2013, he was recognized as one of the most influential 100 Blacks in Connecticut for 2013, by the Connecticut State Conference of the N.A.A.C.P. He is a life member of the N.A.A.C.P. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Incorporated Fraternity.

Dr. Perry is married to the former Odessa Brown. They have three children, three grandsons, one granddaughter, and three greatgranddaughters.

3rd Annual

“Founder’s Day Celebration” Honoring

Bishop L. N. Forbes November 15, 2015 Presiding ..................................................................................................................................Elder Eric Dickerson Opening Selection ...........................................................................................................................The Mass Choir Entrance of Honoree Holy Scripture......................................................................................................................Brother Karl Covington Prayer.....................................................................................................................................Deacon Kenneth Sauls Hymn................................................................................................................................................The Mass Choir Tithes/Mission Offering.................................................................................................................Ushers in Charge Offertory Prayer.....................................................................................................................Brother Robert Martin Welcome Address..........................................................................................................Deaconess Rasheedah Sims Special Selection..........................................................................Faith Temple No. 2 L. N. Forbes Gospel Chorus Altar Prayer....................................................................................................................Evangelist Denise Plummer Introduction of Preacher............................................................................................................Bishop Arinzor Blue Sermonic Selection...........................................................................................................................The Mass Choir The Preached Word....................................................................................................................Dr. Robert W. Perry Gospel Invitation Offering.........................................................................................................................................Pastor’s Stewards Offertory Prayer......................................................................................................................Brother Robert Major Acknowledgement of Visitors............................................................................................Mother Patricia Gregory Presenting of Honoree..............................................................................................................Bishop Arinzor Blue The Honoree - Bishop L. N. Forbes Table Grace and Benediction.....................................................................................................Dr. Robert W. Perry

Thanks and Appreciation Greetings in the precious name of Jesus! I would like to thank all those who have come to worship the Lord with us!

We truly thank God for our most wonderful Bishop L.N. Forbes. Today we celebrate Bishop Forbes as the founder of our church and the 54 years he served as pastor.

As children of God who have been birthed and nurtured under the fine tutelage of Bishop Forbes, we count it a blessing to honor him today. We are forever grateful for the many sacrifices he has made throughout his tenure as our pastor. He has been the epitome of an excellent friend, father, Christian, Pastor and Bishop to so many within and outside this congregation. We rejoice that Bishop L.N. Forbes remains a pillar in our church and community. The work Bishop Forbes has done for Christ, remains in our lives and hearts, causing us to be stronger and better Christians.

I appreciate Dr. Robert W. Perry for accepting the invitation to come and minister the word today. We are blessed by your godly wisdom and presence. We appreciate all the friends and family of Bishop Forbes who honor him today for the work he has done. I praise God for the dedicated members who continue to work tirelessly to make this day a success. May the work he’s done continue to speak for Bishop Forbes and let each of us continue to live for the Lord, love one another and lift Jesus up for all men to see!

Bishop Arinzor & Evangelist Loria Blue

Thank you from the Founder’s Day Committee The Founder’s Day Committee would like to thank all the members, friends and family of Bishop L.N. Forbes who have come to celebrate the legacy of his life and ministry. We are grateful for Sister Cozy Little and staff who work faithfully in the kitchen preparing an excellent dinner. We appreciate the gifted hands of Sister Yvonne Andrews and Mother Gilda Johnson who created the decorations for this day. Thank you to the Pastor’s Stewards and all who have worked in the background to make this day possible. We want to thank Dr. Robert W. Perry for blessing us with the bread of life. May the Lord continue to bless Bishop L.N. Forbes with long life and strength! May the work he’s done speak for him!