“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>West Side
Missionary
Baptist Church
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>spent the better part of June honoring Pastor Ronald L. Bobo Sr. for a quarter-century of service and leadership, culminating in a black-tie gala Saturday night at the Renaissance Grand Hotel.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“Pastor Bobo, you’ve outlasted Oprah,” Tiffany Hayes said at the gala. “We pray that you’ll be with us another 25 years.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>During the gala, the head table sat empty of Pastor Bobo and First Lady Darlean Bobo. They stepped away from their seats and took time to visit nearly every table in the Sparkle Ballroom, offering greetings to church members and inviting introductions to their guests.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“We try to make people feel as welcome as possible,” Pastor Bobo said. “People know it’s not enough to be a face in the crowd – we want everyone to feel like a part of the family.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>On June 1, 1986, Pastor Bobo, his wife Darlean and their three small sons were faces in front of the crowd when the Detroit native came from a small church in Kentucky to lead one of the largest churches in the area.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“There was multiple staff, a school, a credit union and a music academy,” Pastor Bobo said. “And in 1986 they were already computerized – which was a big leap. But staff and the members were gracious and kind and helped me every step of the way.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Under his leadership, West Side now serves members and the community in two locations (at 4675 Page Blvd. in the city and in the former Target building on Dunn Road in North County), with 2,000 active members.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>A resolution, a loving roast and rousing words were offered on his behalf at the gala.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>In the resolution, the Rev. Rosalind Denson said that Pastor Bobo had ministered and conducted missionary work around the world while simultaneously serving as pastor in St. Louis. He has visited 30 nations, including Russia, Cuba twice and three international war zones.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Pastor Bobo said, “I’m just blessed by the opportunity they have afforded me to pursue my passion to minister around the world. It’s the best of both worlds. Not only do I have a great church, but I also have an extended ministry around the world.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“If you make it a point to see pastor, please don’t go in there not sure of what you are going in there for. Take note cards, and don’t look at him,” the Rev. Jean Hardge said, as she offered love taps.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“Stick with your cards, because you will find him laughing with you and talking with you – and you’ll never get to why you came to him in the first place. And the next thing, you will find yourself in Siberia witnessing, because you went not prepared.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“He’s probably preached in every country on the planet,” the Rev. Earl Payton said. “He preached for me in Heidenberg, Germany at a church I planted there when he was on his way to Poland to do a meeting.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>But according Rev. Payton, as he moves around the world Pastor Bobo never forgets about West Side or its mission as a church to serve and build up the broken and uplift hearts.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“There ought to be a place where the meager and the marginalized – a place where the least, the left out, the lonely and the lost – can come,” Rev. Payton said.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“There ought to be a place where the church folk don’t step over them. And my good friend has been trying to make West Side that place for 25 years. He has tried to create a place that is inclusive – where the PhDs can sit with the G.E.D.s.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>As Pastor Bobo and his wife of nearly 35 years approached the podium, their grace seemed to reach out and embrace the crowd. They smiled at each other, the grown men of God they raised in St. Louis and their church family.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“West Side, you really know how to throw a party,” First Lady Darlean Bobo said, just before her husband approached the podium.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I thank God for the privilege of sharing what God has placed in me with you for these many years – and for your willingness to follow my leadership,” Pastor Bobo said.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“This is a great, awesome privilege, and I don’t take it for granted. I’m so grateful for the wife that God has given me. We came here with three little boys – 8, 6 and 3 – and look what God has done: raised them up to be godly men.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Of their sons, Charles Bobo and Michael Bobo are preachers, while Ronald L. Bobo Jr. is a deacon.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“It’s been a wonderful journey together with the people of God,” Pastor Bobo said. “And I’m looking forward to seeing what God is going to do.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>West Side
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Missionary Baptist Church “mso-bidi-font-style: normal;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>is located at 2677 Dunn Rd. and 4675 Page Blvd. Visit www.westsidembc.org/main.htm.
