A Word from the Moderator

As Moderator, I want to express my sincere appreciation to every pastor, officer, department leader, delegate, musician, volunteer, member, and friend who helped make the 62nd Annual Session of the St. Louis Progressive Missionary Baptist District Association a tremendous success.

To our entire cabinet, thank you for serving with commitment, maturity, and excellence. Every assignment mattered, and every act of service contributed to the strength of this session. You prayed, planned, prepared, adjusted, sacrificed, and remained faithful to the work placed in your hands.

I am grateful to serve alongside leaders who love God, love His Church, and love this district.

Throughout the session, I declared, "The Press Is On." That declaration cannot end with the final benediction. The press continues in our churches, in our preaching, in our outreach, in the development of leaders, and in our service to the communities God has called us to reach.

The session may be over, but the assignment remains.

This year's gathering produced several significant initiatives that will help move our district forward with greater purpose, connection, and effectiveness.

We are proud to announce the release of The St. Louis Progressive Pulpit, Volume I, a powerful collection of full-length sermons from seven of our own pastors and leaders. This historic volume preserves the preaching voice of our district and places sound biblical proclamation into the hands of pastors, ministers, students, churches, and future generations.

This is more than a book. It is a record of our witness, a celebration of our preaching heritage, and a contribution to the continuing legacy of the Black Baptist pulpit.

We are also announcing the formation of the SLPMBDA Rev. Dr. E. G. Shields Lyceum for Young Ministers.

The Lyceum will provide young ministers with biblical instruction, ministerial training, mentoring, preaching opportunities, and practical guidance concerning the sacred responsibility of ministry. We believe emerging ministers need more than opportunities to preach. They need formation, accountability, theological grounding, and trusted voices to help them grow into the calling God has placed upon their lives.

The future of the Church deserves our investment now.

We have also launched the SLPMBDA App, which will help our pastors, churches, and members remain connected throughout the year. Through the app, users will be able to receive announcements, review upcoming events, access district programs, and stay informed about the ongoing work of the association.

Communication strengthens connection, and connection strengthens ministry.

These initiatives are signs of a district that is not standing still. We are honoring our history while preparing for the future. We are building on the faithfulness of those who came before us while creating pathways for those who will come after us.

We are pressing forward with purpose.

The 62nd Annual Session has concluded, but our work continues. We are already looking toward next year with expectation, prayer, and fresh vision.

There is more ministry to accomplish.
There are more leaders to develop.
There are more churches to strengthen.
There are more communities to serve.
There are still people who need to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thank you again to our entire cabinet and to everyone who attended, supported, served, preached, taught, sang, gave, and prayed. Your presence, participation, and partnership helped make this session meaningful and memorable.

Stay connected and watch for additional announcements concerning The St. Louis Progressive Pulpit, the Rev. Dr. E. G. Shields Lyceum for Young Ministers, the district app, and our upcoming year of ministry.

The session is over, but the press is still on.

Rev. Dr. Fredrick Lemons II
Moderator, St. Louis Progressive Missionary Baptist District Association