New Xulon Autobiography Shares Reverend’s 29 Years In Ordained Ministry With Seminarians And Newly Appointed Pastors
Pomfret, MD (PRWEB) May 16, 2016 -- George F. DeFord’s new book, Experiences in Serving African American Churches in Context: Urban Suburban Rural, ($20.99, paperback, 9781498459693; $9.99, e-book, 9781498459709) shares the author’s personal experiences as a retired ordained pastor in the United Methodist Church. It is a summary of his twenty-nine years as an active ordained pastor in the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church until his retirement in May 2011. Though his story, he offers valuable advice to seminarians and newly appointed pastors to African American churches situated in urban, suburban and rural settings. This book is about experiences the seminary did not prepare him for and thus became an on the job learning experience for him.
“I hope the readers particularly new pastors will be prepared to serve with confidence churches in various setting,” states the author. “Moreover, I hope pastors assigned to rural churches will have a greater sensitivity to the cultural nuances and use the appropriate praxis of ministry with such congregations. What works for city churches does not necessarily work with rural churches.”
George F. DeFord is a native of Baltimore, Maryland, where he attended public schools. He is a graduate of Morgan and Coppin State Universities, earning Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education (Correctional Counseling) degrees respectively. After answering the call to Christian ministry, he matriculated at Howard University School of Divinity and earned Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees. DeFord organized Lenten Services for the Route 210 Corridor of Churches, southern Prince Georges and western Charles Counties, Maryland. He was the founding president of the Morgan State University, Southern Maryland Alumni Chapter that has awarded, since chartering in 2005, $41,000 to first time scholars from Southern Maryland matriculating at Morgan State. DeFord has made his church available to the Safe Nights program wherein Lifestyles of Maryland, Inc., during the winter months seeks shelter for homeless adults and children. He encourages members of Smith Chapel’s outreach team to provide meals to residents of the Robert Fuller Transition House, Waldorf, Maryland. Moreover, he is a strong supporter of prison ministries; several members are trained in Kairos prison ministry to minister to incarcerated women.
Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the world’s largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 15,000 titles published to date. Retailers may order Experiences in Serving African American Churches in Context: Urban Suburban Rural through Ingram Book Company and/or Spring Arbor Book Distributors. The book is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.
Media Contact: George F. DeFord
Email: secgensig(at)yahoo(dot)com
Press Release, Xulon Press, +1 866-381-2665 Ext: 1054, [email protected]
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