One of Rev. Dr. Herbert Miller II’s favorite scriptures is Psalms 46:10, “Be still and know that He is God.”
So when, two years ago, he heard the Lord’s still, small voice call him from his ministry at the First Baptist Church in Lexington, NC, to the pastorship of the Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle in Flint, he didn’t flinch.
“I felt I had reached a ceiling,” Miller says. “Therefore, I asked God to show me how and where I could go to replicate the work He used me to accomplish in Lexington.”
He left his comfortable position there determined to use what he’d learned at the North Carolina church to help rebuild the city Flint – spiritually, morally, socially, and economically.
He came to the city in 2015, at tough time in Flint.
“There were many residents telling me that they were trying to get away from Flint, due to the water crisis,” he says of those he spoke with before being installed as pastor of his new church. “They couldn’t understand why I would want to move my family here.”
However, Miller saw a distressed community in need of servants and leaders who would stand by those who remained and work to transform the community.
He had the background.
Miller made huge difference at First Baptist Church in Lexington. During his time there the church grew from approximately 50 members to more than 400 active members. However, the hallmark of his service was not the number of people who attended his church – it was his ability to unite the community.
Jesus made it clear serving God is not measured by what we do when we are in church. It’s what we do when we are not in church.” – Rev. Dr. Herbert Miller, Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle
He rallied the mayor, city manager, and the Executive Directors of all the community agencies associated with housing and well as the CEOs of numerous local non-profits, and leaders of many local businesses to form a housing coalition. That partnership created a one-stop shop, which successfully met the needs of countless underserved residents who struggled to sustain a roof over their heads or had difficulty obtaining housing.
In addition, he led the church in forming a non-profit organization called, “The Village One Inc.,” which focuses on job-creation and developing human capital, while fostering economic development and growth.
Miller and his wife, Veronica, published the only African American American newspaper in Lexington. Called “The Voice of African-Americans in Piedmont and Vicinity,”it was also distributed in Thomasville, Mocksville, Salisbury, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, and other surrounding cities.
He that experience and determination to his new church and today Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle is an anchor in Flint and is making a difference.
“I want people to know that Metropolitan’s goal is to make a difference and impact our entire community for the good.” – Rev. Dr. Herbert Miller, Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle
Its vision is to be “a church impacting the community through relevant ministry that addresses the needs of the community and makes a difference in the lives of people.”
Miller is currently working with the Metropolitan Housing Development Corporation to develop strategies to rehabilitate, revitalize and redevelop the community around the church.
“I want people to know that Metropolitan’s goal is to make a difference and impact our entire community for the good. This involves serving the whole person,” says Miller.
To help minister to the whole person, Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle provides a free, full-service fitness center that is available to residents, whether they are members of the church or not. The center has a Nautilus workout room, free weight works out room, treadmills, an elliptical machine, sauna, and whirlpool for both men and women.
“We are not out here seeking any economic advantages on the backs of the underserved. We want them to know we are here for them unconditionally,” says Miller.
The church also offers tap dance classes, Zumba classes, line dancing twice per week, as well as hip-hop dance classes for youth.
“Our neighborhood, like many others in Flint, has been devastated by business loss, the ensuing flight of local taxpayers, and blight. We just want to do our part in helping to restore life and development back to the community.” – Rev. Dr. Herbert Miller, Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle
Every Friday evening, the church opens its gym to the community for pickup basketball.
There is a library and technology center, which has study space, tutoring space, and a computer lab offering access to computers and the internet for those who might not have them at home.
The church also has a clothing and food bank and is a distribution center for the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. To help nurture the body, it provides cooking classes that teach people how to prepare healthy and nutritious meals.
“Our neighborhood, like many others in Flint, has been devastated by business loss, the ensuing flight of local taxpayers, and blight,” says Miller. “We just want to do our part in helping to restore life and development back to the community.”
Jesus made it clear serving God is not measured by what we do when we are in church. It’s what we do when we are not in church. It’s how we serve those in our community, wherever they are and whatever they are that helps us walk in the His footsteps.
Rev. Dr. Herbert Miller II is a living testimony of Jesus’ model of service. There is no doubt his eternal destiny is to hear Jesus say unto him, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Uplifted and United: Rev. Dr. Herbert Miller encourages congregants to make a difference added by Stacy Swimp on
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