Sis. Jeannie Pierre
A community back-to-school event sponsored by St. Matthew A.M.E. brought Sis. Jeannie Pierre to the church. "The speaker inspired me and I was looking for a church home. I wanted to strengthen my relationship with God," she said. So she started attending the church in 2009 and joined in 2010.
Sis. Pierre, 37, grew up in East Orange and had attended a Haitian church with her family. But she said she never fully grasped what the minister was saying in French because she speaks French with a Creole dialect. "Because I was not understanding, I wanted to have my own relationship with God."
It is Ephesians 3:20 that guides Sis. Pierre. "Through the power of God, we can accomplish more than we might ask for or think we can do," she said. "Through my faith journey, I sometimes put limits on God. And normally God surprises me with the answers to my requests. He will do more than what I've asked for. Sometimes I have gotten a job. I may have taken a pay cut but the increase (in other benefits) was more than what I thought I would have received. God had already taken care of things I was worried about."
Sis. Pierre is the assistant leader for Class #5, a member of the Tribe and attends Bible study when she can on Tuesday evenings. "I'm still finding that ministry that fits me," she said. "I want to really contribute and bring value to any ministry that needs help. I would raise my hand and bring help."
Sis. Pierre attended William Paterson University where she majored in Business. She is a program manager at Audible and enjoys her job, she said. And she loves spending time with family and friends. She recently returned from a trip to Jamaica.
"When people see me, I want them to see I am a Christian. I want them to see I am a reflection of his work."
She is still growing and learning about the character of God, she said. "I think I have the foundation. I have a stronger relationship with God. I fast frequently and read the Bible consistently. My goal is to get more people into the kingdom; get more people into the house of the Lord."
And her younger sister Stephanie, who joined St. Matthew in 2014, saw that light in her sibling. Her sister told Sis. Pierre, "You encouraged me to go by your consistency and sincere dedication to getting closer to God and a community that would help you. So I watched you come and go every Sunday and was curious and felt convicted as well to go see for myself, to partake in the experience and encounter that you were having but in my own way."
Sis. Pierre said it is the outreach to the surrounding community that drew her to St. Matthew. "I like the outreach they do in community," she said. "During the pandemic, I believe we were one of the first sites to give out vaccine and protective gear. Our church is very in tune with what the community needs; that's what makes us special. The different things we do as a church helps us improve; helps us grow spiritually."
"When Rev. Melvin E. Wilson first became pastor and we were going up and giving the tithes and offerings, he called me by name and I felt like I was truly a member, not a number. He showed me the kind of leader he is. He wants everyone to be active, not take up space in church."
By Sandra Long Weaver