‘My Pastor Can Sing’

On Sundays, it’s a minister’s job to deliver the word of God and it’s the choir’s job to praise the Lord through song. On Friday, 10 preachers from across the Tri-parishes showed they can belt out a few gospel tunes as well.

The pastors came out to support the “My Pastor Can Sing” worship service at New Rising Sun Baptist Church in Houma. The event was hosted by the church’s chorus, The Soul Special.

“We thought it would be a good idea to reach out to the community and have all of us on one accord,” said Soul Special founder and Vice President Duann McKenzie.

“Most times, when you have a lot of preachers in one church they are there for a funeral,” she added. “This wasn’t a sad occasion but a happy one.”

The idea for “My Pastor Can Sing” came after event chairwoman Tiffany Pledger had a conversation with her sister-in-law, who started a similar event at her church in Connecticut.

“She had an actual competition to raise money for a charity,” Pledger said. “For us, it was no cost to the preachers or the attendees. It is simply a praise and worship service.”

The Rev. Blair Mitchell of the Plymouth Rock Baptist Church in Houma said it’s something special when a community can come together to praise God.

“There are so many things that separate us,” Mitchell said. “But music draws us together. Pastors have a difficult time fellowshipping with one another because we each have our own congregations. But this event put us all on one level.”

The Rev. Blair Mitchell, of Plymouth Rock Baptist Church, greets the crowd at Friday’s “My Pastor Can Sing” worship service. He was among 10 ministers to perform at New Rising Sun Baptist Church in Houma. SOPHIA RUFFIN