I couldn’t imagine anyone filling the shoes of Rev. John W. McVicker, the founder of Christ the King Baptist Church (CTK).
‘Rev. Mac’ casted a large shadow, not only from the pulpit but also as a community activist.
Equally significant, the now-retired cleric built CTK from a rented space and a handful of congregants to the largest Baptist church in Milwaukee.
But any of my doubts about his successor, Rev. Treyvon Sinclair, have been erased in a Godly heartbeat.
The young minister received a unanimous confirmation from the CTK membership, an unheard-of endorsement of not only his teaching ministry, but his vision for the Northside church and the community it serves.
To hear him preach is a blessing in itself, and his Bible school lessons are both insightful and refreshing (I attend weekly sessions and alternate between church services at CTK and House of Grace Ministries, pastored by my sister, Rev. Deborah Thomas).
Any concerns about his shoe size were dispelled during our 90-minute interview last week.
Rev. Sinclair was uniquely open on every question, from abortion to White Supremacy under the umbrella of evangelical nationalism.
I mentioned a story I was writing many years ago in which I asked a dozen Black clerics about their position- theology—on abortion. Only two responded, and one asked that I not mention his name or his church.
Yet the new shepherd of CTK didn’t hesitate to quip that he was opposed to abortion, but didn’t see his position as a church leader in mandating biblical philosophy to those of an alternate philosophy or theology.
And he spared no remorse in condemning the so-called Evangelical Right, asserting, “We don’t worship the same God.”
The same can be said of those who profess to be ‘Pro-life.’
“They are generally only half pro-life…they supposedly care about the unborn, but not for the welfare of the born,” he lamented.
The young cleric is concerned about the direction of the country and the evangelical Christian right’s influence on the president.
In fact, he has nothing but contempt for those who profess to be messengers of God, but instead display through word and deed, an anti-Jesus paradigm. “Do they follow His example, His words?” he asked hyphothetically.
He paused for a few seconds to choose his following words…carefully.
“You have to question whether you’re the voice if you’re uncivil to the least of us…ignore the poor and disenfranchised.
“We are the hands of Jesus, that’s our role, to love thy neighbor and provide for the poor.”
Two hundred years ago, this same Christian nationalism profited from slavery and followed a racist philosophy that condoned slavery.
“It’s about the truth, following the truth of what Jesus said. If that’s not your theology…”
CTK initiated a food drive last Sunday, filling coffers to provide to the Hunger Task Force.
Under his leadership, Rev. Sinclair is providing for a new youth program to complement his elderly project.
Sinclair can be considered an old-school pastor with new-generation influences. He is the grandson of the noted Minister Bobbie Sinclair.
His hair is twisted, but it covers a theologically superior mind, gathered not just from his life in the church, but two seminary degrees, the latter from Duke.
His favorite scripture is 2nd Timothy 4:17, in which Paul writes to Timothy from his prison cell, where he awaits execution.
Although a lesser man would be overcome with dread, Paul found comfort in friends who supported him and in the belief that God would never desert him.
“… But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.”
An appropriate scripture for a young (capital Y) cleric who accepted the leadership mantle of the largest Baptist church in the city. It speaks volumes about a ‘brother’ (an appropriate adjective), who is not only solidifying his church mission, but spreading the word, in and outside the church.
While serving other churches after his graduation and apprenticeship, Rev. McVicker called and asked him to lunch.
That was three years ago. The rest is history.
McVicker was not only a great theologian but also an equally adept administrator.
CTK is on solid financial footing, and last weekend burned its second mortgage ($1 million) tied to its Quality of Life Center.
The congregation is diverse and generational. Rev. Mac said during his sermon on Sunday that burning the mortgage simply means more resources can now be directed to helping the community. Rev. Sinclair has been tasked to spearhead that mission.
I asked Rev. Mac whether he personally chose Rev. Sinclair, or whether he handpicked him.
“Naw, God did,” he said.
And that was an excellent choice.
Hotep
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