Valdosta pastor soon to be a bishop

Dean Poling

October 02, 2006 11:11 pm

— VALDOSTA — New Greater Union Ministries Pastor Wade S. McCrae becomes Bishop McCrae this Saturday during consecration ceremonies scheduled to feature nationally known gospel singer Yolanda Adams and Dr. Juanita Bynum Weeks.
McCrae will be consecrated in conjunction with Rhema Word Covenant Fellowship of Pastors and the Joint College of African-American Pentecostal Bishops.
New Greater Union Ministries notes that McCrae’s becoming a bishop is special because it establishes legitimacy and apostolic succession.
Church leaders who became pastors and elders under McCrae’s direction solicited the Joint College of African-American Pentecostal Bishops to “acknowledge the work of Pastor McCrae and his spiritual posterity.” They elected McCrae as their bishop, submitting to him as their “governing spiritual father,” establishing his first degree of legitimacy.
His legitimacy is further established, according to the church, by the Joint College’s acknowledgment of McCrae’s work.
As bishop, McCrae’s territory stretches north to Rochester, N.Y., and south to Miami. This means he will often travel but, McCrae says, he plans to be in the Valdosta pulpit of New Greater Union Ministries, 1050 E. Hill Ave., two to three times a month. McCrae will remain the church’s senior pastor, helped by two associate pastors and 14 in-house preachers.
The church will also continue its long-running Sunday morning broadcasts on television station WCTV, Channel 6.
Given the demands of his church along with his new responsibilities, McCrae smiles and acknowledges that he is prepared for the challenges that come with the blessings.
“To whom much is given,” he says, “much is required.”
McCrae grew up in Tifton. He studied marketing and management at Valdosta Technical College and through the DeVry Institute of Technology. He was also an untrained evangelist preacher who felt his future was with the ministry.
McCrae attended and graduated seminary from Luther Rice University, Atlanta. He continues his studies and has been pastor of New Greater Union Ministries for the past two decades.
In that time, McCrae has led the church from about 50 members to nearly 1,000 members. The television broadcasts have been a regular part of the ministry for the past 11 years.
The church building has moved from Lee Street to Forrest Street to East Hill Avenue, where it has been located for the past eight years.
McCrae and wife LaConya have four children: Brandon, 20, who attends Florida State, Brittany, 13, Tyler, 6, and Immanuel, 17 months.
McCrae’s congregation is considered one of the region’s most progressive black churches, though he adds there are several white members. By “progressive,” McCrae explains, that New Greater Union is a charismatic, non-traditional church. New Greater Union is 67 years old.
To mark McCrae becoming bishop, a dual celebration has been planned. The official consecration ceremony will be held Saturday morning at The Vision Church. That afternoon, a banquet will be held featuring famed speaker Dr. Juanita Bynum Weeks and Yolanda Adams, whose hit Christian albums include “Just As I Am,” “Through the Storm,” “More Than A Melody.”