The Deptford church celebrates installation of new pastor on March 13
DEPTFORD TWP. -- The First Baptist Church of Jericho (FBCJ) celebrates the installation of its new pastor, Derek V. Gatling, on Sunday, March 13.
Pastor Gatling spent 12 years pastoring churches in the African Methodist Episcopal church in the South Jersey area. Gatling becomes the seventh pastor of FBCJ and follows Clabon Bogan Jr., who led the church for 22 years and recently retired from full-time ministry.
Pastor Gatling holds a Bachelor of Arts from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C. and a Master of Divinity from Palmer Theological Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Kerri are the parents of three children; daughter Myiah, 19 and two sons, Derek II, 15 and Elija, 13.
In his new role as senior pastor, Gatling said, "I am humbled by the opportunity to serve the congregation at First Baptist Church of Jericho. We are a church with a mission to put our faith into action and bring the Gospel of Jesus to the community and minister to the needs of people."
Known as a community church, First Baptist has served Deptford and the surrounding areas for more than a century as a spiritual anchor ministering to the needs of its members and area residents.
The day of celebration begins at 8 a.m. with an early morning service and guest preacher, Wilbur Phillips, Pastor of First Baptist Church of Delair, Pennsauken. Lynda T. Rassmann, Pastor of St. Paul AME Church, Pleasantville will deliver the message at an 11 a.m. service followed by the 3:30 p.m. Installation Service where Pastor Marcellus L. Harris of First Baptist Church Morrison, Newport News, Virginia will preach. All services will be held at the First Baptist Church of Jericho located at 981 Mail Avenue, Deptford. The public is invited to attend this special celebration in the life of the church.
For more information go to www.fbcjnj.org or call First Baptist Church of Jericho at 856-468-8686.