The Influence of Prathia Hall On My Preaching Ministry
It was June, 1979, that I had the pleasure of meeting Prathia Hall, at the Hampton’s Ministers’ Conference at Hampton University, in Hampton, Virginia. We both were there, attending the week long Conference, one of the largest ecumenical gathering of black clergy in the nation. After hearing her preach a very powerful, highly anointed sermon that week, I was eager to get to know her, so we had dinner, that evening.
At our first dinner meeting, she began sharing with me some of her very interesting stories, as a leader and activist in the Civil Rights Movement, which were very impressive, because, I, along with my former husband, Dr. Charles Kimbrough, had also, worked in the Civil Rights Movement. She, like, I, firmly believed, that God had called all clergy persons to integrate religion and freedom together. She shared, that se was ordained in 1971, and in 1978, began serving as Pastor of Mt. Sharon Baptist Church in Philadelphia, PA. I was so impressed, because, I did not know, at that time of any woman, who pastored a Baptist Church.
After several conversations, that week with Prathia, usually over a meal, during that week long conference, I knew that God had brought us together for His Glory and my growth in ministry. I felt a fresh feeling, that we were soulmates. She helped me to understand more fully m Call to Christian Ministry. After she shared with me, throughout the week her many stories, as a minister and paster, pleasant and painful, I became one in spirit with her, and loved her as myself. That week, we adopted each others as Sisters, and never lost contact with each other, until her untimely death, August 12, 2002, at the age of 62. A part of Prathia will live within my spirit, for always.
For twenty-three years, we traveled, talked and prayed together, often. She always spoke into my life wisdom, courage and love, each time we talked or prayed together. She helped me to see, more clearly my unique gifts for ministry. She was truly influential in my life and ministry. I was always encouraged, inspired and influenced by her highly anointed preaching, her fervent prayers, her scholarly lectures, and the sharing of her professional resources with me.
She invited me to the first Women in Ministry Conference at Green Lake Conference Center in 1980, which helped me to appreciate more fully, how connecting with other women in ministry is so important. She was instrumental in my becoming the first woman clergy to deliver a keynote sermon to the parent body of the Progressive National Baptist Convention in Pittsburgh, PA in the David T. Lawrence Convention Center in 1991. She opened many doors for me, into the pulpits of large charges, that I could never have entered without her help.
After my ordination , June 17, 1979, she encouraged and helped me to continually, mature as a person, leader and preacher. Although, I had a doctorate degree in education, and was working as an Elementary Consultant for Metro Nashville Public Schools, she prayerfully, encouraged me to pursue with passion my theological training, the same as I had done my secular educational training. Based upon Prathia’s wise counsel, I enrolled at American Baptist College and received the Bachelor of Theology Degree, summa cum laude, in May, 1984. In August of 1984, I received the Benjamin E. Mays Fellowship and enrolled in Vanderbilt Divinity School, and received the Master of Divinity Degree in Bible and Pastoral Studies in 1991, with honors. In August of 1994, she encouraged me to enroll and study at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, where she served on the faculty, as Dean of the Seminary and Director of the School’s Harriet Miller Women’s Center, so I took her advice and enrolled.