During a summer business meeting back in late August, the congregation of Bearskin Missionary Baptist Church voted overwhelmingly to name the Rev. Valentino K. Bryant as the church new pastor, ending a pastoral search that had begun nearly a year earlier.
Situated in the center of the Bearskin community at 4721 Bearskin Road, Clinton, Bearskin Church has been the social hub of activity since its founding 124 years ago in 1892.
Bearskin’s new pastor, 41 year old the Rev. Valentino K. Bryant, is a native of Bolivia, NC and currently resides in Garner, NC with his wife, Kisha and daughters, Victoria and Faith. He is a graduate of Shaw University, where he earned a B.A. degree in business administration and his Masters of Divinity. Along with his pastoral responsibilities at Bearskin, Bryant works at Shaw as the Director of Alumni Relations.
Nearly three months after being named the new pastor at Bearskin Missionary Baptist Church, Bryant assumed the mantle of leadership during his installation service held on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. Serving as Master of Ceremony, the Rev. Dr. Reginald Wells, the pastor of Falling Run Missionary Baptist Church, Fayetteville and a seminary classmate of Bryant, officiated the afternoon installation program.
Along with officiating the ceremony of installation, Wells presented the Charge to the Bearskin congregation, with the members pledging to support their new pastor “through daily lifting him up in prayer, following his lead cooperatively and providing for his material well being so that as he serves you spiritual food he will not go wanting of physical substance.”
Other highlights of the installation service included inspirational music and a powerful keynote message which were handled by Bryant’s home church, Watts Chapel Missionary Baptist, Raleigh, under the leadership of Dr. Harry L. White, Jr. In his keynote message, White focused on “Getting Off to a Great Start” in which he offered counsel to Bearskin’s new pastor for moving the church forward.
In giving his Charge to Bryant, Rev. White asked, “Do you pledge before God and these people to fulfill your pastoral responsibilities as a pastor of Bearskin Missionary Baptist Church?” And Pastor Valentino Bryant responded, “I do.” Pastor Bryant further pledged that his chief task “will be to do God’s will, to please Him in all things, and be the chief servant among servants, not being served but to serve.” In expressing his gratitude, Pastor Valentino Bryant thanked the Bearskin Church family “for this opportunity to serve.”