107.3 JAMZ! Celebrates Black History Month

Upstate Black History Maker Recognized February 11, 2006
Pastor Raymond Pressley: Becoming all things to all men

Pastor Pressley is a man after God's own heart. He considers himself to be as Paul in the book of Acts, "I become all things to all men that I might by all means save a few." Born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, he and his wife grew tired of the big city life. His wife Jirlie is originally from Kingstree, South Carolina. In 1988 they decided to move back to her roots, and make South Carolina their new home. While living in Kingstree Pastor Pressley worked at Wellman Industries in Johnsonville, South Carolina in the wool department. In 1995 he enrolled in the Central Carolina School of Preaching in Sumter, South Carolina.

He has been in fulltime ministry since 1995 at the Main Street Church of Christ in Bishopville, South Carolina, and in April of 1999, became Pastor of Haigler Street Church of Christ in Abbeville, South Carolina, where he is presently serving.

Pastor Pressley was Chairman of The First Steps Early Childhood Initiative, with Governor Hodges, a program set up to tutor children in the home as a preparation measure for the first grade. He is Chairman for the Tracy Jackson Program of General Instructions for Tomorrow (GIFT). This is primarily a summer lunch program that serves 350 to 425 students per day during the summer weeks. This organization also incorporates policemen, librarians, teachers, City Council Members, doctors, and any other people who will project a positive message, to converse with children. There is also an effort to teach children etiquette and other character traits that will help them develop into productive citizens.

Several months ago, there was a tragic murder of a young man in the Abbeville/Calhoun Falls area. This incident tore these two cities apart. Pastor Pressley is in the process of planning a county wide cook out to bring the two cities together in order to promote healing. The two cities share a county, and as a preventative means to avoid any further violence, he hopes to develop a positive interaction, whereby everyone is given a chance to air out their grievances in order to establish a peaceful resolution.

It is Pastor Pressley's belief that as a follower of Christ, "The need is to go where individuals are, and not wait for them to come to you." He is a firm believer of Matthew 28:19 which states, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations." The mission is to meet a man where he is, engage him in dialogue, which opens a doorway to gain access that provides an opportunity for him to be reached. People must know and understand that we all have a voice, and that we all count.

Pastor Pressley has been married for 20 years, and has four sons. His oldest son James is 18, his second son Cheziray is 16, the third son Azariah is 10, and the last son Jofiah is 6. They are all actively involved in the church, community, and school.

Pastor Pressley's mission is that all of mankind would understand that God, from one blood made all man. "It is not the outward appearance of a man that counts, but it is the true spirit of a man that matters. The spirit is colorless. We are all related, we are all brothers. God is the father of us all. I am a proud Black Man, but I am a Christian first."