New Leadership for This Dispensation

The BIG Sunday Service that took place on Sunday, July 15, 2018 was in a word – AWESOME!  We serve an awesome God and He showed off in our closing Sunday Worship Service.  Although every Sunday at From the Heart is a wonderful Service, this was no ordinary Sunday.  The Service followed the High Service Order of Worship according to the Constitution of From the Heart Church Ministries Worldwide™ and it was indeed, a high service.  Big Sunday was the ending and final service of the July 2018 General Church Meeting and the service included the installation of our new Episcopal Pastor, Bishop John A. Cherry, II.

The Service included a processional of the robed clergy from all of the From the Heart churches worldwide, including ministers, elders, pastors, overseers and bishops.  There were over 60 clergy in the processional.  The Worldwide Mass Choir ministered such beloved hymns of the Church as “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” and “Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross”.  Our new Episcopal Pastor took the Oath of Office and preached the initial sermon of his episcopacy titled “A New Dispensation for From the Heart”.  With such an amazing Service, it was only befitting the occasion that the entire congregation of over 4,000 people take Holy Communion together in remembrance of our Savior’s sacrifice of His body and blood.

                                                 Click here to view the Episcopal Address.

FROM THE HEART OF THE NEW EPISCOPAL PASTOR

“When this church was established in 1981 I was 11 years old.  I can still remember helping to paint the walls, cleaning the back alley and running around the church.  There was an air of excitement and expecting about what God was going to do.  We believed that this was the beginning of a move of God.  I am so grateful that the atmosphere of this church has remained the same.  The love and family atmosphere that was here when we were 24 members has now spread around the world.  How we do ministry has changed, but not who we are.

As I move into this new assignment I am humbled and grateful to have this opportunity.  I look forward to working to prepare the church for the next move of God.  God has spoken to my heart and I have a clear vision of what God desires for His Church in this dispensation.  I believe that now is the time and we are the people to do His Will. We must be willing to sacrifice to further the Will of God for this time. God has given the church an assignment to restore this generation.  Restoring this generation is the essential work of the church for this dispensation.  I need all pastors, churches and members to focus on this essential work.  We have a generation of men and women who have been devalued but they have great value.  We must seek, save, restore, equip and prepare this generation to move the church forward. 

As we move forward we will build on the foundation of what was, strengthen what is and prepare for what is to come.”

Bishop John Abron Cherry, II is a born-again, Spirit-filled man of God who gave his life to the Lord in 1981 at age 11.  Bishop Cherry received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies with a minor in English from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia.  He is married to Reverend LaWanda M. Cherry and they have two daughters, Abriona and Aleah, and one son, John A. Cherry, III.  Bishop Cherry has a desire to do the Will of the Father, to preach His uncompromised Word and a readiness to obey God’s instructions.  He takes his duty and responsibility to teach and interpret God’s Word very seriously and spends countless hours in preparation, meditation and study for each sermon that he delivers.


FROM THE HEART OF HIS WIFE

“We have known this day was coming for so long now and as I reminisce back over the day, I thank God!  I thank Him for His faithfulness to this ministry and to my husband.  I have watched and walked with my husband in ministry for nearly 25 years now and I see a pattern.  He is a methodical person and I know that he has the best interest of this church in his heart.  I have seen God show up through him in all of his previous ministry assignments.  From youth pastor and establishing a youth center, youth clubs and organizations and a youth worker training class, to pastor in our Richmond church and taking a new congregation into a church home and establishing ministries and foundational teachings there, to pastor at the Parent Church (the best church in all the world!) and building upon the foundation that was laid there, to his responsibilities as bishop and overseeing all of the From the Heart churches in the United States, training pastors, visiting churches and establishing a ministerial training course of study, to NOW this new assignment….I see a pattern.  Each time my husband has submitted his heart, his will, and his time to the assignment.  Each time God has spoken to His heart what He desired to see done in His church.  Each time my husband has set out to do God’s instructions.  And each time God has shown Himself faithful to His people.  I expect this new assignment to be no different. 

I am looking forward to working with our new Episcopal Pastor and I am honored to serve as the Administrator of From the Heart Church Ministries Worldwide™.  I do not take this responsibility lightly and I will continue to serve my God and my husband with everything that is in me and to the best of my ability.  I am thanking God for this privilege to represent Him and to represent the church that I love so much.  My parents left me in this church when they went home to be with the Lord and I will do all that I can to help my husband as he prepares us all for the next move of God.  May God continue to bless and keep you in His care, I love you all!  But remember, we have a work to do.”

Reverend LaWanda Michelle Cherry is a born-again, Holy Ghost-filled Christian who gave her life to the Lord at the age of 9 in 1979.  Reverend Cherry received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a minor in Business Management and Organization from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.  She is married to Bishop John A. Cherry, II and is the proud mother of their three children, Abriona, Aleah and John.  Reverend Cherry has a love for God and a desire to please Him that was instilled in her as a child.  She has a formidable work ethic and works diligently to help her husband by filling whatever duty he assigns her.  Reverend Cherry believes her life and her marriage are to be an example to the church and the Body of Christ, and she takes this assignment from God very seriously.