by Cathy Slade

If you don’t know there’s a new pastor in town, chances are you haven’t walked past the Roslindale Baptist Church at the corner of Cummins Highway and Florence Street. If you do, you’ll notice new paint, new improvements and most likely, the new minister getting his elbows dirty. And, chances are that you won’t pass by without getting a friendly greeting from this outgoing, likable man.

I had met Reverend Moses Taylor at the Sacred Heart Community Leaders meetings. He seemed like the type of person who would set his mind to something and make sure that it happens. He also seemed like he could pull you into his endeavors with his enthusiasm and passion.

Every month at the meetings, he would invite us to his installation ceremony as new pastor of the church. One night as I was walking past the church, the Reverend asked if I planned on attending. I wasn’t sure that I wanted to spend a few hours of my precious leisure time in church on a Saturday afternoon, but I was so impressed with his enthusiasm and so curious about his reaching out to the community that I decided to attend.

To my surprise, religious leaders from all around Boston and from all denominations participated. Mayor Thomas M. Menino and City Councilor Rob Consalvo spoke at the service. Captain Jack Kervin of District 5 Police was also in attendance. The celebration was quite spirited and spiritual, and I thoroughly enjoyed sharing in the joy of the occasion. I noticed the diversity of the people in the congregation. This was quite different from a year ago, and I was not the only one who noticed. The Reverend is of African-American descent which has something to do with the change, but I have a feeling there was something more, something having to do with community, and welcoming, and reaching out. So, I decided to learn more about this pastor who has managed to build up his congregation in a mere six months.

Sister Julia Jackson joined my interview with the Reverend. Her admiration of him radiated loudly and clearly. She credited the growth in attendance, membership, services, and activities to the Pastor’s exuberance for helping others. The Reverend listens to people, determines what the needs are, and makes things happen. Without a lot of financial resources, he just rolls up his sleeves and gets the projects done.

This is evident in a number of ways, not just when you look at the physical improvements, although there are many. They include painting inside and out, the addition of sensor lights, and repairs to restrooms and wooden floors.

The Pastor promised, “The church will blossom.” He and Julia spoke about putting the church in order, with committees working on various projects, and about the influx of new members, visitors, and people requesting sacramental services. In the past six months, twelve people have been baptized and many members of other churches have visited for Sunday Services on numerous occasions. In addition, some who are not practitioners of the Baptist religion have been married at Roslindale Baptist Church.

One of Reverend Taylor’s main goals is to keep young people involved. “God is working. We are moving forward,” said the Reverend, as he and Sister Julia both talked about the infusion of young people into church life. Pastor Taylor has already found a way to put in a computer lab for youth and is offering homework assistance on Mondays and Thursdays during the school year. The church now has a youth choir and a contingent of youthful ushers who dress up in black-and-white attire for services.

One day, 30 youth turned up to help with a clean-up project and were served pizza for their reward. In attendance were the Pastor’s sons and a number of Rossie Reps who upon Reverend Taylor’s arrival at the church, had started going to services there, along with their parents and their friends’ parents.

It is obvious that youth hold a special place in the Reverend’s heart, but it is also clear that he has another passion, that of working with those in trouble and with the imprisoned. Reverend Taylor has worked in ministry at the Middlesex District Court and the Suffolk County House prevention, the Reverend stated that every year it costs $28,000 to house each youthful offender and $58,000 for each adult. His theory is that we must “embrace things to change things,” and he firmly believes we should be spending money on prevention because prevention works.

Reverend Taylor wants to open his arms and the doors of the church to the community. He’d like to have the Roslindale Baptist Church be known as a friendly church. He stated, “The church is the community, and the community is the church. We are one together.”

I believe we will see a lot of community happenings at the newly painted Roslindale Baptist Church. We warmly welcome Pastor Taylor to our community.