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Enjoying his first pastorship
Pastor McIver
DeLawn and Frederick McIver
In August 2006, he was installed as the new pastor of one of the oldest churches in Liberty County.
Pastor Frederick A. McIver (a young 36 years old) is pastor of First Zion Baptist Church of Riceboro. First Zion is one of the daughter churches of First African Baptist Church, the oldest black church in Liberty County. Mother and daughter churches sit across the street from each other at the crossroads in Riceboro.
McIver has been in the ministry since 1994. “We enter into the sanctuary to worship, but we depart to serve. We come in and get what God has for us, and go out to do what God wants us to do,” McIver said.
Although a new pastor, McIver is proud of First Zion’s history. The church will celebrate its 137th anniversary in July. It is part of the Progressive Baptist Association, which is comprised of five churches, and has combined services every fifth Sunday.
A group that includes church members and others in the community visit the nursing homes in Midway and Ludowici every Wednesday.
“Whenever there is a need in the community, members of the benevolent ministry are there to assist,” the pastor said.
First Zion also has a youth ministry. “June is Youth Month,” McIver said. “We have a youth revival scheduled for June 6-8, and the second Sunday in June is Children’s Day.”
The youths assist senior citizens by raking yards and doing chores. When the senior citizens have an annual dinner outing, youths solicit donations to pay for the meal.
“In December they get together and do fruit baskets for the elderly and go out into the community caroling. During our annual Sunday school breakfast on the fourth Sunday in March, the youths also play a part,” McIver said.
“The Lord is really blessing,” he said. Since his installation, 50 members have joined.
“The church is really growing. People are coming to Bible study. First Zion was the winner of the MLK parade float this year.”
According to McIver, 97-year-old Mary Baggs is an asset to the church. “She encourages me and still teaches BTU. She helps with vacation Bible school and recently did a segment of a class on prayer.”
The pastor credits Pastor Harold Mungin with instilling important things in his life. “He taught me to always obey the Holy Spirit. He told me that man elects, but God calls.”
A busy pastor, McIver is involved in Liberty County as well as the McIntosh County. He participates in the Relay for Life, McSeed program in McIntosh County, and the McIntosh County Citizens Association. “We help with educational programs such as GED and tutorial programs,” he said.
McIver is married to DeLawn McIver, and they are the parents of two children Bryant and Jasmine. Mrs. McIver is employed with the RSVP Telecommunications Co. in Brunswick, and Pastor McIver is employed as a technician with Georgia Pacific in Brunswick. They live in Crescent.
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