Name: Pastor Wilson L. Barnes
Occupation: Pastor, Trinity Christ Memorial Baptist Church
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
Why do you preach here?
I like the ministry of healing the people, meeting the needs of the people. I’m a people person. It’s a small congregation, about 60-70 people.
How long have you been here?
I have been the pastor here for two years.
How did you find this place?
Learned about it through a pastor from St. Johns Baptist Church. I was sent here because they needed a pastor. I had worked before as an assistant pastor in Kentucky under the leadership of my brother-in-law.
To what extent does this space reflect you, your personality, your tastes?
It reflects a giving nature. My mother and my father were giving kinds of people. My father was a cook, my mother a nurse in New Orleans. My dad being a cook and a baker, he used to bring home some pastry for kids in the neighborhood. We have a street feeding ministry going at Trinity Christ Memorial Baptist Church. I would say that is one of the biggest parts of our ministry.
What would you say your “style” is, as shown by how you put your place together?
We were taught by our parents to be giving. As one of four siblings in the family, all of us were taught the spirit of giving and sharing. We love that side of living. I look at it as a blessing as being able to give, rather than being on the receiving end.
What do you value most about this space?
Seeing the growth and maturing of people; seeing folks elevate their minds and hearts to a more sense of dedication about what the church is all about. Also, focusing on trying to do better than what we have done. [The church] is always trying to do things we feel are more advantageous to the community and the work of the ministry.
What are the benefits to living in this area/neighborhood? Disadvantages?
The joy of seeing the growth. We are located in the Capitol Hill area and we are in an area where there is multicolored neighbors that we have access to and the feeling that we are ministering to the community. The location has allowed us to be versatile. Any disadvantages would be the lack of space that we have. Our facilities are not as convenient as we would like to have them.
What is your favorite feature inside the church?
Our altar, which represents the place of our ability to meet God there. That’s our Jerusalem.
Do you ever worry that you’ll have to move?
I feel that if we had a larger facility, we would be able to meet greater needs. As far as seeing disadvantages of moving, if we had a larger facility in the vicinity we are in we could focus on meeting an even larger need.
