This weeks Bishop Speaks bringing in 2013

Happy New Year...

Letters to the Bishop

Bishop:

My husband and I just want to take this time out to say to you Happy New Year.

For the last several years, we’ve been reading Bishop Speaks together and have learned so much about the joy of laughter in the mist of the storms of life through your columns. Bishop, through your columns, you’ve touched on so many issues and, with your spiritual way of using the word of God as your foundation in making major points, it leaves the reader growing and looking at self to deal with self. You never judge anyone through your Bishop Speaks yet the reader right away knows what he or she has to do for growth toward change.

Bishop, when my husband and I were going through some serious issues within0 our marriage, it was a few of your columns that made us realize we had to go get some serious counseling and that we could not try and do it ourselves as we always tried to do to save money because we didn’t have insurance coverage for professional counseling.

Thanks, Bishop, and know there are so many people that love you and may not get around you or have a chance to tell you how much you’ve helped them like you did for my husband and me.

Have a blessed New Year, Bishop, as I know God will continue to give you favor.

Bishop Moultry:

This past year, Bishop, I’ve seen you on the different TV news stations, heard you on many of the radio talk shows as well as seen you at the different intense community meetings dealing with all the violence that have taken place in the city of Cleveland. I often ask myself, when I’ve seen you, how do you continue to do it all these years.

Bishop, your presence is so powerful and you always have a smile and a joy about yourself no matter what the situation is. I’ve heard from many people when your name ever comes up that you’re “no joke” and won’t back down nor sell out to mess or madness but that you do it with joy as you handle yourself as best you can.

My pastor, Bishop, is younger. But because of the stress of being a pastor and dealing with the different personalities in his church, he looks sad, always tensed up and usually tells us in church and in meetings that many times he feels like Moses who just wants to give up because the people are so hard to work for and work with. I wish my pastor could learn from you this New Year on how to work in the service of the Lord with joy.

Bishop, continue to let the joy of the Lord be your strength and know that you have made a difference through your Bishop Speaks columns and I look forward to 2013 of Bishop Speaks.

Bishop Moultry:

My wife and I met you over the holiday season while you were shopping with your mother at Giant Eagle and that was the best gift we received for Christmas.

My wife saw you first and ran over to me and said, “There’s Bishop Moultry.” Bishop, I’m 48 years old and I know you just turned fifty nine as it was told on FOX8 News, on your birthday. But seeing you in person, you look like you are in your late thirties. You look great, Bishop, and wow you’re in great shape. How do you do it?

When my wife and I got enough courage to finally come up to meet you, it was a wonderful experience as you hugged the both of us, talked to us as if we’ve been knowing each other for a long time. When your mother came over to you with her cart full of things, you introduced us to her saying, “Look at that cart and she came just for a couple of things,” laughing.

Bishop, thanks for blessing us that day with your time as it was your time with your mother just being an ordinary person doing ordinary things.

But don’t forget, Bishop, you’re an extraordinary person making a difference in the lives of many people.

Happy New Year!