CSULB
student preaches first sermon in L.A.
By Rakesia Johnson
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
Normally a college student will spend his Sunday afternoon relaxing, doing homework
or hanging out with friends. However, Brian Bailey, a Cal State Long Beach student,
preached his first sermon Sunday at Rebirth Community Missionary Baptist Church
in Compton.
Bailey, 21, is a junior accounting major. He balances church activities, his
family, attending school full-time, a full-time job at Roosevelt Middle School,
and being a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
“
I make a determination not to be idle,” Bailey said. “I almost
forget what TV shows come on anymore.”
Bailey’s parents were raised in church, which means he has been in the
church since he was conceived. Bailey’s father, Yusef, is the head pastor
of Rebirth Community Missionary Baptist Church.
Bailey’s sermon titled “What Can Be Found in the Hand of God,” focused
on scripture I Chronicles 21:13. The goal of his message was to give a holistic
picture of the hand of God and to show that love, mercy, wrath, correction and
the security of salvation are all found in the hand of God.
His goal as a minister is to help people easily interpret the Bible and to have
people in general come to a general consensus that the Bible is true.
A few of Bailey’s fellow members of APA attended the sermon to support
him. Christopher Anyakwo, a junior political science major and APA member said
Bailey’s sermon was an inspiration to him.
“
Having Brian as a member keeps our head leveled and our eyes on the prize,” Anyakwo
said.
Junior accounting major Glenn Zardes, also an APA member, encourages Bailey’s
decision to be a minister. Zardes said he feels Bailey’s sermon talked
about real issues pertaining to life and that it was from the heart.
“
Every time he preaches I’ll be here,” Zardes said.
Reola Robinson, one of Bailey’s mentors who inspired him to preach, said
Bailey has a way of dealing with people with love and compassion. Since he was
young he had a special quality to be called to minister and said he feels this
will not change the fun-loving person friends know him
to be.
“
I would like the students of Long Beach State to know that the call on my life
has not changed the person I have always been,” Bailey said. “Whoever
knows me knows that I am and will always be the crazy country brother.”
|
