The Proud Presbyterian

SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

NETANYIA G. SAMUEL

My spiritual journey begins the day I was born, December 13, 1973.  It was then Mt. Pisgah Presbyterian church was finalizing plans to begin construction on their new sanctuary on Security Drive. I like to say the building and I grew up together. Ground was broken on December 30, 1973 with my granddaddy Calvin Lee Jackson and the late Bill Timberlake serving as groundbreakers.  My granddaddy was very involved with the construction of the church and years later the manse. I don’t remember the walk from Sixth Street to Security Drive but it delights me to know I was very much a part of the transition.  I was nine months old when the doors of the new sanctuary opened.  The vision Rev. TJ James came to pass and 44 years later it’s still standing.

As a child, I have the fondest memories of growing up in the church. My sister, brother and I had to walk to Sunday school every Sunday morning. Our house was only a five-minute walk to the church. Often we would get into mischief along the way but always knew we’d better show up or we’d be in serious trouble.  I remember the elders who are now deceased. I remember the old hymns we sang, that I still love today. I remember always being afraid to do Christmas and Easter recitations. I’d go up to the front of the church, look at all the people looking at me and run back to my momma, crying.  Once I get into jr. high, I’d have butterflies in my stomach, but I didn’t have any choice but to say my speech. As much as we tried to get out of it, we had to go to church every Sunday.  Easter and Summertime my cousin would visit from Baltimore and we always asked granddaddy for money. As children what kept us motivated in going to church was my granddaddy giving us $5.00 to go to the skating rink Sunday night. My granddaddy was satisfied as long as we showed up but then there were others who wanted us to participate.  Dorothy Bevel was in charge of the youth. She would get a switch off the tree to make sure you would participate. She didn’t care what you did or didn’t want to do, you went along with what she said. That was how we were trained growing up and I knew better. As I got older it got annoying but there was no compromising with my momma. I didn’t like going to youth events at other churches. I didn’t know how to make nice with other kids. Even the kids that I knew from First Presbyterian that I went to school with; it felt awkward. We were brought together by our denomination but still segregated because it was what we were taught. In the early and mid-80’s, I would often go with my momma to conferences and workshops. Now I know this was when Pee Dee and Harmony came together. I like to think of those days as “A Youth in Training”. Now I carry one that tradition by taking my daughter to presbytery meetings, meetings in Montreat, and events at Camp Pee Dee.

Once I graduated from high school, I didn’t attend church often. I would go on Easter and Christmas. In 2001, I attended church more regularly because I took the secretary position. My initial job was taking minutes at the session meetings, preparing Sunday bulletins and church announcements. I did it for the money because I was a part-time server and needed the extra income.  My secretary position also required me to prepare end of year contribution statements and assisting the treasurer with monthly and yearly finance reports. I became more involved with my church when I accepted the secretary/receptionist position at the Presbytery of New Harmony in 2007. I always like being a Presbyterian, but this job made me love being a Presbyterian. I learned what a Presbyterian is. The more I learned, the more I realized this is where I belong.  Working at the presbytery office has help me overcome my shyness. I didn’t struggle making nice with people because it was my job. I became a natural when it came to Presbyterian Hospitality. Combine with my sweet voice and beautiful smile I represented New Harmony well. I have been Mt. Pisgah’s secretary for 17 years. I worked at New Harmony for eight years. I’m a Level I Certified Church Administrator which means I have a voice at Presbytery meetings. What I love most about being a Presbyterian is the connection we share with the stranger next to us at a conference or workshop. I feel special when I meet Presbyterians who are well known throughout the PCUSA. To me, it’s like meeting a celebrity and the stories always mesmerize me. For me that is love. God’s love is always with us in every church session, presbytery, synod and general assembly gathering and it shows.

Now I feel God has called me to study Presbyterian Polity. Attending APA conferences, I have some credits in polity and I look forward to learning and focusing on this area of the PCUSA. In the future, with the knowledge I gain I hope to be of great use within New Harmony and maybe the PCUSA as well.