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Southern Ulster Times, Wednesday, July 3, 2019
PUBLIC AGENDA
WEDNESDAY, JULY 3
WHAT: Plattekill Town Board
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Plattekill Town Hall
1915 Rte. 44/55, Modena.
MONDAY, JULY 8
WHAT: Marlborough Town Board
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Marlborough Town Hall
21 Milton Tnpk, Milton.
TUESDAY, JULY 9
WHAT: Plattekill Planning Board
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Plattekill Town Hall
1915 Rte. 44/55, Modena.
WHAT: Highland Fire Commissioners
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Highland Fire House
25 Milton Ave., Highland.
WHAT: Marlboro Fire Commissioners
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Marlboro Fire House
14 Grand St., Marlboro.
WHAT: Milton Fire Commissioners
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Milton Fire House
21 Main St. Milton.
THURSDAY, JULY 11
WHAT: Plattekill Zoning Board
WHEN: 8 p.m.
WHERE: Plattekill Town Hall
1915 Rte. 44/55, Modena.
HOW TO REACH US
OFFICE:
300 Stony Brook Court
Newburgh, NY 12550
PHONE: 845-561-0170, FAX: 845-561-3967
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WEBSITE
www.sutimesonline.com
The Southern Ulster Times (USPS 022-586) is a weekly
newspaper published every Wednesday at Newburgh,
NY 12550, with offices at 300 Stony Brook Court,
Newburgh, NY. Single copy: $1 at newsstand. By mail
in Orange, Ulster or Sullivan Counties: $40 annually,
$44 out of county. Periodicals permit at Newburgh, NY.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Southern Ulster
Times, 300 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550.
New pastor installed in Modena
By MARK REYNOLDS
[email protected]
I
n a recent ceremony Monique K.
Newkirk was installed as the new
Pastor of the Pentecostal Holy Joy
Church of the Lord in Modena.
Pastor Newkirk said, “this is the
Church where I first saw the light, the
Church I grew up in and got to know who
Christ was in my life.”
The Church was founded in 1960 by
her grandparents Bishop Bessie Emma
Williamson-Newkirk and Elder Willie
Lee Franklin-Newkirk.
Though Newkirk was a little surprised
at being chosen to lead the Modena
Church, she said she has always gravitated
to positions of leadership over the years.
She recalled directing the choir when she
was young and after learning to drive she
picked up kids to go to Church since her
older cousins were away at college.
“It’s always been in my heart to bring
people together,” she said.
Newkirk moved away from the area
to attend the Berkeley College in White
Plains, NY. During that time she joined
a ministry, “and I was there under
watchcare.” She later moved to Georgia,
but again served the ministry. Returning
home to New York, Newkirk became
a minister to a church in Westchester
County.
Newkirk’s decision in 2011 to direct the
Pentecostal Holy Joy Church Boys Mime
Ministry is what brought her home “to
her roots” in Modena.
Newkirk reflected on this next chapter
in her spiritual life as Pastor.
“It’s in my heart. I know it’s what I’m
supposed to do. I have helped a lot of
churches in New York and Georgia and
I ended up coming back home,” she said.
Newkirk renewed her commitment to
her hometown church after her cousin
Precious Newkirk was tragically killed in
a car accident in 2015.
“I realized that when I came to the
funeral and helped as much as I could, I
realized that my aunt needed ministerial
help at the church, so I came back home,”
she said.
Newkirk said doing the work of the
Lord has always been in her heart.
“I had a burden in ministry to help
people get closer to God, to feel happy
about the ministry work that they do and
I have always been a doer when I came to
a Church; I’ve never been one to sit and
watch,” she said. “I am always looking to
see what can I do to be a benefit wherever
I go, to be a help and not a hindrance.”
Monique K. Newkirk is the new Pastor of the Pentecostal Holy Joy Church of the Lord in
Modena.
Newkirk pointed out that her
installation on June 2 took place exactly
one year after she received her Sacred
Bachelor of Theology Degree from
Savona V. Roberts Christian Education
Academy in Poughkeepsie.
Newkirk said her long spiritual
journey, “just did not stop. It brought
me full circle; you’ll do all these things
and go on these detours, which you think
are detours, but were teaching grounds
for where you’re going to end up...I’ve
always been one to bloom wherever I was
planted.”
Newkirk said besides finishing some
needed work on the church structure, “I
want to start equipping the people in the
church to help them grow spiritually and
walk into their purpose.”
Newkirk said the word Pentecostal
comes from the Book of Acts, “when
the people got on one accord,” and is a
charismatic way of teaching the Gospel,
“and understanding it from a Christian
standpoint.”
Newkirk said singing is also a
significant part of her Church services.
She said her Church, “is like having a life
coach to encourage you every week and
you get a little bit of ‘Sister Act’ because
you get some gospel music too. When I
say ‘Sister Act’ people go, oh yes.”
Newkirk acknowledge the support that
her parents, Leita and Bobray Newkirk,
gave to her and her siblings.
“If it wasn’t for them bringing us to
church and being committed themselves,”
she said. “I don’t know how strong my
commitment would be to the Church as
it is now because of that. I want to make
sure I tell my parents thank you for them
being a great example to follow.”