Dr. Deborah Thigpen
Gadsden County News Service
Setting a powerful twofold stage for brotherhood and faith, Pastor Terrence D. Milton opened the Fourth Annual 100 Men in Black program at Bear Creek Bethel Missionary Baptist Church with a resonant call to action. Reminding the congregation that men must come together during this time of “spiritual warfare” to take their rightful place leading in spirit and in truth, Milton belted out an old-school spiritual, singing, “In this service, have your way, Lord.”
The congregation immediately rose to their feet, joining in unison and filling the sanctuary with praise, honor, and thanks.
The successful fellowship brought together fathers, sons, mentors, and brothers to reclaim their spiritual authority and build stronger families rooted in faith. The program continued with a heartfelt prayer led by Deacon Derrick Walters of Greater St. Mary M.B. Church, as the men lifted their voices together in the name of Jesus. Reverend Earl March then read the foundational scripture passage of James 4:7–10, followed by a warm welcome delivered by Brother Alvin Brown.
The afternoon featured moving personal tributes and spectacular musical performances. Sister Rhoda Whitfield of Tabernacle M.B. Church took the podium to introduce the featured guest speaker: her husband, Reverend Danny Whitfield. Noting that they have been married for 48 years, she proudly stated that she gives him “straight As” as a husband, adding that God has truly smiled on him.
Echoing that sentiment, Pastor Milton invited Sister Linda Brims Ford to the microphone, where she delivered a beautiful, soul-stirring rendition of “God Has Smiled on Me.” A spirit of love, brotherhood, and joy completely filled the room as the Tabernacle M.B. Church Men’s Chorus followed, raising the roof with their powerful voices in praise.
When Reverend Danny Whitfield took the pulpit, he opened with a powerful personal testimony. Just seven months ago, he underwent open-heart surgery. Yet, he proclaimed that the God he serves is a healer and deliverer, one who saw fit for him to stand strong and deliver the Word.
Directing his message specifically to the men in the room, Reverend Whitfield anchored his sermon in Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” He referred to the 31 chapters of Proverbs as his “daily vitamins,” explaining that the wisdom in the scriptures reinforces him with the spiritual elements needed to live a productive, God-centered life.
To illustrate the vital importance of brotherhood, Reverend Whitfield shared a poignant parable about two woodsmen.
A young, muscular lumberjack set out to chop down trees, swinging his ax with all his might without ever taking a break. By the end of the day, exhausted and frustrated, he realized he had felled very few trees. Nearby, an older, seasoned woodsman had been working. Though not as strong—and despite taking several breaks—the older man had cut down significantly more wood by lunchtime.
When the younger man asked the elder how he managed to cut so much wood, noting, “I’m stronger than you and I’ve been working hard all day,” the seasoned man asked if he had taken time to sharpen his ax. The young man replied that he was too busy chopping to stop and sharpen his blade. The older woodsman smiled and explained that his breaks were spent sharpening his tool, which made all the difference.
Reverend Whitfield used the story as a powerful metaphor for the Christian walk. When men try to live their faith, serve, work, and fight temptations all by themselves, they inevitably become spiritually dull. The moral of the story, he explained, is that men must rely on one another—sharpening, challenging, and correcting each other—so they can stay sharp as true men of God.
The afternoon’s gathering perfectly demonstrated the enduring truth of Proverbs 27:17, proving that as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. In addition to serving as a spiritual catalyst for the Big Bend region, the annual fellowship continues to unite local residents behind Bear Creek Bethel’s ongoing campus expansion goals. Proceeds from the event support the future construction of a new Fellowship Hall on the church’s 10-acre campus.
