Despite the pouring rain, more than two hundred Bishops, Pastors, Elder, Deacons, family and church members, and friends gathered in the Pearl Clark Banquet Hall to celebrated the 50th pastoral anniversary of Bishop Christopher Clark Jr. D.D., Prelate.

He is the presiding Bishop over Mt. Moriah Pentecostal Churches of America, Inc. at 7909 Stenton Ave.

Bishop Clark was called into the ministry in 1958. He received the degree of the Doctorate of Divinity from the New York Divinity School of Sacred Theology in 1970, and attended the Philadelphia Bible College where he was awarded the title of Outstanding Minister of the Year. He was consecrated as Bishop in 1966 by the founder of Mt. Moriah, the late Bishop Pearl Clark.

Mt. Moriah celebrated his anniversary with three services during the week and a banquet on Saturday evening. His family and friends traveled from as far as San Francisco, Calif., Milwaukee, Wis., New York, N.Y., and Washington, D.C.

The evening started with a procession of twenty seven dignitaries who were seated on the upper and lower

dais as well as many deacons, elders, and missionaries who were seated at the front tables. When they were seated, the first lady, minister Mary Clark entered accompanied by her son, professor Boyce Enlow of Maplewood, N.J. Then Bishop marched in fully vestured, to the applause of the guests and to the music of “Let the Church Say Amen.”

While Bishop Clark was humbled by this celebration, he enjoyed the outbursts of affection from those gathered that evening. His mantra for such an occasion as this was, “I am still on this mountain, giving God the praise.”

Dwayne McDonald, Bishop of the Highway; on the radio station, Gospel Highway 11, was the master of ceremony. McDonald, who was raised in the community, has known Bishop Clark for many years.

The program was splendid with soloists singing Bishop’s favorites songs and many testimonies proclaiming his walk with the Lord, and describing many moments of inspiration, teachings and vision for the church. He received loving testimonies from his children, friends, neighbors, church members and other clergy who have known him for many years. He received tributes from Gov. Tom Corbett, 9th District Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco, and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey. There was also a tribute from England from her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth.

Guests were also informed that the residents of King Street in Malvern were displaying the color of purple in their windows in honor of the Bishop.

Weeks before this celebration, a video of the church’s history was produced dating from August 1973, when the congregation marched from their church at 2263 N. 16th St. to their new church at 7909 Stenton Ave. singing “Marching to Zion.” This video was shown while they dined.

The powerful, keynote speaker of the evening was the Rev. Dr. Michael C. Turner of the Faith Missionary Baptist Church of Capitol Heights, Md. Rev. Turner has been a close friend of Bishop’s for more than 17 years.