🎉Greater Fort Clarke Missionary Baptist Church Celebrates 5 Wonderful Years with Pastor Stacey Graham🎉
On Sunday, March 16, 2025, the members of Greater Fort Clarke Missionary Baptist Church (GFCMBC), celebrated the 5-year anniversary of their loved anointed leader, Pastor Stacey Graham, and his wife First Lady Pamela.
A spiritual masterpiece for the soul, the affair featured an 11 o’clock morning service, followed by lunch in the fellowship hall, and ending with a 3 o’clock afternoon action-packed program.
Members of the hospitality committee, under the direction of its veteran leader, Cynthia Williams, poured their souls into every strategic detail, putting the one-day event over the top, stacked with superb speakers, music, and plenty of mouthwatering southern food.
The ponderous rain outside couldn’t stop the mighty religious spirit of the day from shining up and down, and all around the isles of the small historic church off Newberry Road. Every pew was comfortably filled with members, visitors and friends, eager to hear the message of the hour at each service.
Pastor Jamie Gilmore of Union Missionary Baptist Church, Ocala, delivered the opening morning sermon to a packed sanctuary. He encouraged the pastor and members to continue through the years in faith and expectation of promising growth and direction as as long as God remained in charge of the plans and everyone acknowledged patience.
GFCMBC deacons and ushers were in charge of the administrative part of the program. The home church choir sang ole-time Christian favorites, like “I Don’t Believe He Brought Me This Far,” bringing the crowd to its feet, filling the church with much praise and hand-clapping excitement.
Between services, a five-star catered feast was served in fellowship hall for all to savor. The joyous crowd consumed:
- baked ham covered with pineapple slices and a special glazed sauce
- herb roasted chicken
- tender sliced pork
- steamed white rice
- classic macaroni and cheese
- well-seasoned lima beans
- tasty collard greens
- assorted breads
- signature desserts and drinks
Afterwards, Pastor Destin Williams of Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, Gainesville, presented the closing afternoon sermon. A filled sanctuary of worshippers received his powerful message with appreciative enthusiasm. The Mount Carmel praise team provided spirit-filled gospel songs with strong vocals, rich harmony, and the promise of salvation. The elegantly- uniformed ushers from Mount Carmel served the congregation with kindness and grace throughout the final service.
Numerous special dedications and presentations took place during the morning and afternoon services, showering Pastor Graham and First Lady Pamela for their faithfulness. The love was evident, with much mutual respect and the belief that GFCMBC is excited about its future with this young, energetic, highly favored pastor.
“I have known Pastor Stacey since he was a little boy,” Barbara Perry said. His mom would be so proud of him; and his dad, Deacon Graham, I know he is proud of what Stacey is doing here at Greater Fort Clarke. I just wish Pastor many more years here at the church. We all love them,” Perry explained.
A letter from the church congregation, printed in the event programs, included encouraging words of love, gratitude and appreciation: “With heartfelt gratitude, we celebrate you, Pastor Stacey, for 5-years of unwavering dedication, leadership, and service to GFCMBC. Through your wisdom, compassion, and steadfast faith, you have guided our congregation with love and integrity, always leading by example and reflecting Christs’ light in all you do.”
Deacon Darryl Francis said the church wished Pastor Stacey another “55 years of leadership”.
A celebration soaked in love, dedication, and divine hope. Pastor Stacey Graham is home for the long run, and all is well at GFCMBC. As the songwriter said, “I don’t believe He brought me this far to leave me.”
🙌🏾Congratulations Pastor Stacey and First Lady Pamela🙌🏾!