2019 Faith & Family

SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD

Faith &

FAITH & FAMILY

Family

Thursday, November, 28, 2019

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FAITH & FAMILY

SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD

Meeting patient needs through ministry

BY ALEX PERRY STAFF WRITER

People go through powerful life changes in hospitals, and many of these are incredibly difficult experiences. In her short time thus far at Sentara Obici Hospital in Suffolk, Kellin Kumanchik has already done what she can — and more — to comfort and assist people that are at some of the lowest points in their lives.

Kumanchik is the staff chaplain at Obici. She started her tenure at Obici on Oct. 14, after one year at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, and another year between Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center and the St. Brides Correctional Center in Chesapeake.

Kumanchik’s role at Obici looks different day to day and patient to patient.

It includes providing support for other staff, as well. Some days, it’s simply hugs, and other days, it’s helping patients plan their next steps, like funeral arrangements or treatment plans.

“It’s really just being a huge support in whatever way fits that patient,” she said.

That includes getting food from the cafeteria for a hungry family at a moment’s notice. “It’s just being flexible and being open to whatever their needs are.”

For one patient, a mother that she met during her first week at Obici, Kumanchik and her family arranged a “mock graduation,” so that the mother could witness her daughter graduate before she passed away.

They got a cap and gown for the daughter. The hospital cafeteria baked a cake and served it with glasses of Sprite and ice — “Obici champagne,” they called it. There were balloons, and a specially made diploma for the occasion.

“It’s those things. It’s just provid-

Kellin Kumanchik has been the staff chaplain at Sentara Obici Hospital in Suffolk since Oct. 14.

ing ways to make patients happy and comfortable, and respect the things that they want for their lives. Even if it is just a graduation, so they could see their daughter graduate,” she said.

Most importantly, she meets patients where they are, and that includes each patient’s beliefs.

When Kumanchik first started out as chaplain, she had her own personal faith, she said. But by meeting so many people over time, and learning how they view and understand God, she’s “collected different aspects of people’s faiths.”

“I’ve just kind of collected parts of it that have fit me and have helped me

ALEX PERRY/SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD

grow closer to God in my own relationship, and help me minister and provide care to others a lot better,” she said.

That’s particularly true when it comes to the different ways that people pray.

“Not everybody prays the same, and See MINISTRY, 7

SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD

FAITH & FAMILY

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER, 28, 2019 | 3

The Mount Suffolk: ‘A drum major’ for youth

BY JIMMY LAROUE STAFF WRITER

Pastor Karl Wilkins had a chance recently to be an honorary drum major for the King’s Fork High School Marching Band during the Kennel Classic.

The Mount Suffolk pastor saw the deeper meaning in that.

“For me, I believe that God was really letting them know that, ‘Here’s your drum major,’” Wilkins said. “Because the youth need to know, ‘Who is my leader? I don’t know who my leader is.’ And I believe that day, God orchestrated the universe to make me the drum major so that I can lead the youth to where they belong, to greatness.”

And while the church has been very active in recent months with all kinds of community outreach, including a free gasoline giveaway and planning a “Paws and Prayers” event for dog lovers, Wilkins said his heart really lies with Suffolk’s youth.

Having been a barber for more than 30 years, and a pastor for one at The Mount See MOUNT, 7

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Turlington Woods School principal Kinsey Bynum, left, with Jessica Wilkins and Pastor Karl Wilkins of The Mount Suffolk. The Mount Suffolk was recognized for the impact of its partnership with the school. Wilkins has been a pastor at The Mount Suffolk for about a year and said he has always had a heart for the youth of Suffolk.

LOCALS CHOICE

2019

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FAITH & FAMILY

SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD

Suffolk Church Directory

Suffolk has a strong and diverse faith community. Below is a listing of some of Suffolk’s many churches. If your church was left out, make sure to let us know at 934-9609 so we can include it next year.

AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL Macedonia AME Church 127 Pine St. 539-4502 Saint Mark’s AME Zion Church 817 McKinley Ave. 539-5560 APOSTOLIC Faith Temple Apostolic Church 476 Wellons St. 934-2735 ASSEMBLY OF GOD Bethel Assembly of God Church 8904 S. Quay Road 657-6188 BAPTIST Balm of Gilead Missionary Baptist Church 3731 White Marsh Road 934-1700 Canaan Baptist Church 2064 Nansemond Parkway 538-1841 Community Baptist Church 3520 Pruden Blvd.

539-7907 Crosspointe Freewill Baptist Church 2460 Pruden Blvd.

923-9059 Diamond Grove Baptist Church 6890 Crittenden Road 255-4770 East End Baptist Church 1056 Portsmouth Blvd.

539-3324 First Baptist Church — Holland 6508 Cumberland Lane 562-0595

First Baptist Church — Mahan Street 112 Mahan St. 539-6623 First Baptist Church — Suffolk 237 N. Main St. 539-4152 Gethsemane Baptist Church 1656 Copeland Road 539-5894 Great Fork Baptist Church 180 Great Fork Road 986-4185 Greater First Baptist Church — Orlando 600 Factory St. 539-0032 Healing Chapel Baptist Church 2375 Godwin Blvd.

934-0527 Hillcrest Baptist Church 1637 Holland Road 539-8801 Holland Baptist Church 6519 Holland Road 657-2424 Lakeview Missionary Baptist Church 635 Brook Ave. 934-1047 Liberty Baptist Church 116 Romans Road 539-3511 Liberty Harbour View 7025 Harbour View Blvd.

826-2110 Little Bethel Baptist Church 6533 Everets Road 255-4945 Little Grove Baptist Church 6320 Old Town Point Road 484-4496 Little Mount Zion Baptist Church 3288 Pruden Blvd.

539-1991 Macedonia Baptist Church 8300 Crittenden Road 238-2562 Metropolitan Baptist Church 125 County St. 539-2696 Mineral Spring Baptist Church 4849 Mineral Spring Road 986-3994 Missouri Baptist Church 2020 Lake Cohoon Road 934-1176 Mount Sinai Baptist Church 6100 Holy Neck Road 657-6212 Nansemond River Baptist Church 2896 Bridge Road 484-3423

New Hope Baptist Church 4260 Pughsville Road 484-8939 New First Baptist Church 1105 Hosier Road 934-0833 New Olive Branch Baptist Church 9364 Gates Road 562-0107 Oak Grove Baptist Church 2635 E. Washington St. 539-8012 Olive Branch Baptist Church 5200 Milners Road 255-7348 Palm Tree Baptist Church 8165 Whaleyville Blvd.

986-4303

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Pleasant Grove Baptist Church 4481 Butler Drive 986-3648 Pleasant Union Baptist Church 215 Webb St. 539-0367 Saint Paul Baptist Church 806 Lincoln Ave. 539-9692 Sixth Street Baptist Church 324 Goodman St. 539-6629 Southside Baptist Church 917 Carolina Road 539-6629 West End Baptist Church 105 Saint James Ave. 539-8771

FAITH & FAMILY

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4400 Holy Neck Road 986-4731 Liberty Spring Christian Church 4213 Whaleyville Blvd.

986-4403 Mount Zion Christian Church 9061 Eclipse Drive 238-2477 Oakland Christian Church 5641 Godwin Blvd.

255-4353 Saint John Christian Church 1226 White Marsh Road 925-4885 Suffolk Christian Church 216 N. Main St. 539-9182

West Suffolk Baptist Church 1001 Kenyon Court 705-5431

Tabernacle Christian Church Meets at John F. Kennedy Middle School, 2325 E. Washington St. 539-7257

Western Branch Baptist Church 6952 Old Myrtle Road 539-6854

Trinity Christian Church 128 Franklin St. 539-7275

Wilroy Baptist Church 306 Williams Road 539-5658

True Gospel Christian Church 1226 White Marsh Road 539-4458

CATHOLIC St. Mary of the Presentation Catholic Church 202 S. Broad St. 539-5732

CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST Gates of Heaven COGIC 112 Beech St. 539-3856

CHRISTIAN Berea Christian Church 4109 Driver Lane 538-8872

Saint Mary’s COGIC 3636 Nansemond Parkway 538-0155

Bethlehem Christian Church 1549 Holland Road 539-4274

EPISCOPAL Glebe Episcopal Church 4400 Nansemond Parkway 538-8842

Bethlehem Christian Church 312 Bute St. 539-1167

Saint John’s Episcopal Church 828 Kings Highway 255-4168

Cypress Chapel Christian Church 1891 Cypress Chapel Road 986-4096

Saint Mark Episcopal Church 140 Tynes St. 934-0830

Holy Neck Christian Church

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

213 N. Main St. 539-2478 FRIENDS (QUAKER) Somerton Friends Meeting 5239 Quaker Drive 539-6574 LATTER-DAY SAINTS The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 4759 Bennetts Pasture Road 538-9218

LUTHERAN Faith Lutheran Church 2730 Bridge Road 686-0468 METHODIST Beech Grove United Methodist Church 4245 Driver Lane 538-8353 Ebenezer United Methodist Church 1589 Steeple Drive 238-2359

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FAITH & FAMILY

Magnolia United Methodist Church 1764 Wilroy Road 538-8552

Faith House of Refuge 461 E. Washington St. 538-0808

Main Street United Methodist Church 202 N. Main St. 539-8751

Greater Sweet Beulah Holiness Church 137 Maple St. 539-9535

Oxford Methodist Church 601 W. Washington St. 539-8253

The Master’s House 4165 Pruden Blvd.

394-3377

Providence United Methodist Church 3105 Providence Road 539-9582

The Mount Suffolk Meets at 350 Kings Fork Road 547-3388

Somerton United Methodist Church 8610 Whaleyville Blvd.

810-9397

New Life Suffolk 540 E. Constance Road 539-7001

Virginia Korean United Methodist Church 5701 Lee Farm Lane 484-5988

New Mount Joy Food for Living Ministries 307 County St. 539-2931

Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church 220 Kings Highway 255-2259

New Paul’s Temple Holiness Church of Deliverance 720 Hosier Road 539-0498

Whaleyville United Methodist Church 6312 Whaleyville Blvd.

986-4587 NON-DENOMINATIONAL 3n1 Church Meets at Harbour View Grande 16 Theater 5860 Harbour View Blvd.

Balm Church East Campus, 523 E. Washington St. South Campus, 3731 White Marsh Road 934-1700 Believers Church 6801 Bridgeway Drive 488-7541

Open Door Church 816 Kings Fork Road 934-2671 Open Hands Christian Fellowship 239 Holladay St. 692-9740 Radiant Life Ministries 100 Kilby Shores Drive 539-1096 Word and Spirit Worship Center 1607 Bridge Road 729-9712

Community Church Meets at King’s Fork High School 351 Kings Fork Road 405-6000

PENTECOSTAL Greater Sweet Beulah Pentecostal Holiness Church 137 Maple St. 539-9535

Covenant Community Church 3504 Robs Drive 539-1724

Pentecostals of Suffolk 641 Carolina Road 539-4848

Divine Church of Deliverance and Transformation 6315 Whaleyville Blvd.

986-5115

Rising Saint James Pentecostal Holiness Church 201 N. Sixth St. 539-7026

SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD

PRESBYTERIAN Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church 1885 Bridge Road 238-3550

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Antioch United Church of Christ 900 Hull Ave. 539-0667

Suffolk Presbyterian Church 410 N. Broad St. 539-3213

Corinth Chapel United Church of Christ 7945 Corinth Chapel Road 569-9367

Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church 3488 Godwin Blvd.

539-0540

Galatians United Church of Christ 2320 Manning Road 934-0897

REFORMED ZION UNION APOSTOLIC Saint Paul RZUA Church 615 Spruce St. 539-2742

Holland United Church of Christ 6733 S. Quay Road 657-6681

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST Capernaum Seventh-Day Adventist Church 314 York St. 934-3518 SYNAGOGUE Temple Beth El 3927 Bridge Road 484-3926

Laurel Hill United Church of Christ 8001 S. Quay Road 657-6234 Mount Ararat Christian United Church of Christ 1860 Airport Road 934-0986 Zion United Church of Christ 5200 Quaker Road 934-0223

SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD

FAITH & FAMILY

Mount: Church heavily involved Continued from page 3

Suffolk, which holds its worship services at King’s Fork High School, Wilkins has always felt a calling to work with youth.

It’s why he spends a lot of time in the city’s schools, in particular Turlington Woods School, where in the spring he led a group of pastors in a basketball game with students, and afterward gave them sneakers.

Yes, it was a way to provide for the soles of their feet, but it was also a way for him to impact souls who he said crave that positive attention from adults.

“For those young kids who received the shoes, some are working, some are back at the various high schools,” Wilkins said.

“Their grades have become better, and for the ones who are still at Turlington Woods, their spirit has changed tremendously. The respect they display toward me is really, really rewarding.”

Those efforts helped earn The Mount Suffolk and Wilkins recognition from Suffolk Public Schools and the Suffolk School Board earlier this year as one of their top Partners-in-Education.

According to Turlington Woods Principal Kinsey Bynum, Wilkins “spreads his enthusiastic energy to both the students and staff,” and has a naturally calming demeanor that “disarms our most volatile students and gains their trust and respect.”

Wilkins, who graduated from Virginia Union University with two master’s degrees and has a degree in theology and Christian education, said he sees himself in a lot of the young people to whom he ministers.

“One of the things that has inspired me or attracted me to working with youth is when I look at the youth, I see myself,” Wilkins said. “I didn’t know that I had this ability that resided inside of me that we are seeing now. When I look at youth, it’s like I see possibilities. I see greatness. I see potential. I see that if they have the opportunity to see themselves in a way that they have never seen themselves before, I just believe that there’s great that will emerge from that.”

He said he didn’t know that, for all the years he was working in the barbershop, God was trying to shape him to become a pastor of a church.

“Little did I know that with me starting to cut hair, I didn’t know that God was basically shaping me to pastor a church,” Wilkins said. “I’ve been doing community service my entire life, basically, and I just

believe that it led up to that. And then becoming a part of The Mount Global Fellowship of Churches under Bishop Ken W. Brown, he really cultivated me into being a pastor. That’s where I learned how to be a pastor, under his leadership.”

Other pastors shaped and influenced him, but he said it wasn’t until he became a part of The Mount about 10 years ago that he felt it was revealed to him that his calling was as a pastor.

“It has really been enlightening, inspiring, encouraging, knowing that my call is more so to the next generation of believers, which is the teenager, the youth,” Wilkins said, “and to see me engaged and involved in the youth, and to see the youth responding to me, it is just phenomenal.”

Wilkins said many young people in Suffolk have already been impacted by The Mount Suffolk’s ministry, and that they are integral to the function of the church.

“If you were to visit our church, you would find our youth doing videos, you will find our youth doing presentations, you will find our youth operating $50,000 equipment,” Wilkins said. “You will find our youth leading worship moments.

The youth actually run our church. And I believe that our youth are looking for something to do in the community. They are looking for something that they can be a part of that’s bigger than them. And I just believe that God has called me to be that response to what they’re looking for.”

Though his goal is for The Mount Suffolk to have its own church building, he’s not disappointed to have services at King’s Fork High School. With having youth out in the community handing out Thanksgiving baskets for families, or cleaning cemeteries, Wilkins wants teens to know their lives, and their work, have an impact.

“One of the things that I preach is that … we are a working church,” Wilkins said. “That’s why we are here in this city.

We’re not here to do traditional church. We believe that the time for religion is over.

It’s time for relationships.

“So, in order for us to accomplish the assignment that God has placed on us, we’ve got to be out here working. We’ve got to work the grounds, we’ve got to work the fields. We’ve got to put our young people to work. And I just believe that they desire to work, but there’s nobody out here telling them what they need to do.”

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Ministry: Hospital chaplain Continued from page 2

so learning about how other people pray and what their faiths are like has helped me be able to pray in ways that are going to be meaningful for the patients that I care for,” she said.

Kumanchik wasn’t always a churchgoing person — not when she was a teenager, and not when she was in the U.S. Marine Corps for eight years.

She said she struggled with alcohol and addiction for a few years after her time in the military, but then woke up one Sunday morning with one thing flashing across her mind: “go to church.” So, she attended service in Virginia Beach for the first time in eight years.

A member of that church — a man she had never met before — convinced her to be a greeter at the door for the service that day.

“I hadn’t been to church in eight years, but I’m a people pleaser, so I did it,” she said. “And that was really kind of the initiator. He asked me at the end of the service, ‘How was it?’

QUALITY YOU CAN COUNT ON

I said, ‘Honestly, thank you, because I wouldn’t have gotten out there any other way.’”

She got plugged into other women’s groups and faith groups, with people who talked about life and helped one another — people that were just as “broken and messed up” as she was.

“They met people where they were, and they met me where I was, and slowly I bargained with God a little bit,” she said.

The “bargain” was that she would get her bachelor’s degree in theology at Regent University — which she did — and that would be the end of ministry for her. She proved herself wrong when she later earned her Master of Divinity degree.

“Bargaining doesn’t always work, and He usually gets his way, but I fell in love with every bit of it,” she said.

“With ministry, with helping people, with trying to be Christ in the world where there’s not a whole lot of that.”

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FAITH & FAMILY

SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD

Make a child’s Christmas a little brighter this year

To donate to the Cheer Fund, send a check to P.O. Box 1220, Suffolk, VA 23439, or bring it to the office at 130 S. Saratoga St.

539-3437 • suffolknewsherald.com