‘Faithful servant’ Fulton honored
As Concord A.M.E. Zion Church’s congregation observed Palm Sunday, April 14, it joined New Covenant Baptist Church members in honoring A.M.E. Zion pastor, the Rev. Sam. B. Fulton Jr., as “a faithful servant” during a special service at the church, 713 Loop Road.
Fulton took the lead at Concord A.M.E. Zion six years ago.
“He’s just a good man, and we know he’s a man of God,” A.M.E. Zion Church member Vivian Varner said.
A longtime friend, the Rev. Frederick E. Brabson Sr., pastor of New Covenant, referred to Paul’s Biblical account before his death in 2 Timothy, Chapter 4, in describing the criteria for a faithful servant: “he must model Christ faithfully; he should be different from others; he should have a solid testimony, (and) a firm foundation, a secure future and a soldier’s story.”
Brabson said Fulton meets those criteria.
“It is one thing to serve out of a sense of duty … but it’s another thing to serve out of a heart that is bent toward God,” Brabson added. “We acknowledge the fact that God loves us, and He calls certain ones among us to serve Him. A calling such as Pastor Fulton has with this particular Body of Christ that no one else can do.”
Addressing the Concord A.M.E Zion congregation, “You have a faithful servant,” Brabson said. “Bathe him in your prayers. Ask God to lead and guide his life. Ask God to keep him in the center of His will.
“Ask God to give him clarity to the scriptures, conviction concerning sin and may the word that he preaches convince all of us of our need for saving,” he added.
“My heart is overwhelmed; it is overjoyed,” Fulton said. “It’s been a privilege serving as the pastor.”
Fulton, who been in pastoral service for 15 years, is serving his fifth church.
“You know, when we first got here, we had a few people,” he said. “We hit the ground running.
“We’ve watched our church grow and grow and grow,” Fulton added. “It is truly an honor to be a servant leader in Concord A.M.E Zion and Concord community.”
Deaconesses Bernetta Hardin and Helen Trent presented Fulton with tokens of appreciation. Hardin said about Fulton’s messages, “That’s what I enjoy … how he presents them and what he’s saying” make him a “faithful servant.”
Brabson said he has known Fulton most of his life.
“His father and I grew up together in the same neighborhood,” said Brabson, who has been preaching for 36 years. “He’s an outstanding young man.
“Just like myself, none of us know what God is going to do in our lives. But when he does, I am thankful that he gives us the grace to surrender to that call,” Brabson added. “I never thought, in my wildest dreams, that’s what I would be doing; but God has been gracious to me, just as he has been to Pastor Fulton.
“I am so glad that (Fulton) not only surrendered his life to Christ, he surrendered to God’s call to ministry.”
