THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 1, 1996 TAG: 9601310193
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TRUDY CUTHRELL, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
WHEN ELDER William P. Wiggins Sr. talks of ``growing'' a church, he draws from experience.
The church of which he is pastor, New Mount Joy Church of God in Christ, began with a Bible study - about eight people - in a living room on County Street. Now it has upwards of 600 people at weekly services.
Little wonder the church would want to publicly recognize his service. It did that last week, as more than 300 people gathered at the National Guard Armory in Suffolk for a formal banquet in his honor.
Wiggins, who has served as superintendent of the Suffolk District of COGIC for the past 28 years, was recently promoted to administrative assistant to the state bishop.
``I was blessed by this program,'' Wiggins said. He received two plaques recognizing his service, and Bishop L.E. Willis was guest speaker.
Reflecting on his 40 years as a pastor, Wiggins noted that 30 of them overlapped his work at Planters Peanuts. For half of those years, he led a daily Bible study open to all employees. On nights and weekends, he served as pastor and teacher at New Mount Joy.
His wife, Lula, and their four children worked alongside Wiggins to build up this ministry.
As the numbers increased, the believers bought a former store on County Street, meeting there until a sanctuary could be erected, next door, in 1957. Today, the church has expanded to three buildings and a parking lot, encompassing all but one lot in the 300 block of County Street.
Wiggins said the congregation is warm and welcoming. Members, he said, excel in hospitality and ministries including visiting the sick and shut-ins and helping the hungry and needy.
``We have a good core of workers who are always willing to work,'' he said.
According to members, Sunday worship is lively and upbeat. A Praise Team, five choirs and instrumentalists help to generate a spirit of praise and celebration. And ``The Voices of Inspiration,'' a 50-voice youth choir, performs regularly.
Wiggins said, ``We seem to be reaching our community, and people are also coming from Chesapeake, Norfolk and across Hampton Roads.''
The congregation is witnessing dramatic changes in lives. ``We have people who have come off of drugs and alcohol. . . ,'' Wiggins said. ``We've seen homes and families put back together. And with the help of the Lord, we're trying to do what we can to make a difference in our world.''
He said, ``We're teaching families how to live together. So many people today just want to do what they want to do, and many families are breaking up.
Wiggins' spiritual counsel for today's culture is one of personal confidence and assurance: ``We're on the winning side - the enemy wants us to think we're not - but we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ our Lord.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Elder William Wiggins has seen his congregation grow from 8 people
to more than 600 worshipers.
by CNB