Post by novillero on Apr 30, 2008 8:54:34 GMT -5
Minister has sought to make church a presence in town
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
The Rev. Dr. Andre McGuire
FREEHOLD - The Rev. Dr. Andre McGuire is a leader, an inspirational teacher and a man of God.
McGuire was recently honored with a resolution from Mayor Michael Wilson in recognition of his 15 years of service to the New Beginnings Agape Christian Center, Throckmorton Street.
McGuire is the pastor of the New Beginnings Agape Christian Center, which was previously known as the Second Baptist Church.
The borough's resolution states that McGuire serves as "an inspirational preacher, teacher, visionary and community advocate." It extends "heartfelt thanks to him for being a compelling influence for good in the community."
McGuire's journey did not start out in the direction of the ministry, however. The 46-year-old clergyman had a different dream in his youth - to become a professional football player.
"Being a minister like my father, (the Rev. Paul M. McGuire), was the last thing I wanted to do. In fact, I ran from it," McGuire said.
Football did not pan out and at the age of 30, McGuire said, "life circumstances, a love for God and people, and a calling to God" turned him to the ministry.
He received his Master of Divinity degree from the New Brunswick Theological Seminary in 1998 and his Doctor of Ministry from Drew University, Madison, in 2002. He said he now knows he is "definitely in the right place" in his life.
The 250 members of his congregation would most likely agree.
"I got the calling late," McGuire said, adding that he came to learn that his father believed his son would follow in his footsteps. "My mom, Dorothy, told me years after my father's passing that my father told her he always knew that one day I would go into the ministry. I myself didn't even know."
Once he decided to enter the ministry, McGuire served under his father's tutelage for four years as an associate minister before his father died in 1991. Paul McGuire, however, did not live to see his son ordained.
After his father died, McGuire was ordained as the minister of the church on Throckmorton Street and took on the responsibility of leading the congregation of the 114-year-old church that his father had guided for years.
In addition to leading the congregation, the minister oversees theMen'sMinistry, which teaches nurturing men how to teach the presence of God and how to love and adjust to the circumstances of their lives.
The church also has a Women's Committee, which addresses women and strengthens them to address their issues and concerns. He also oversees the Youth and Teen Church, which teaches godly principles to children and teaches God's work to teenagers.
McGuire has brought his own vision to his ministry. That vision includes the creation of the I Beseech Thee Community Development Corporation, which in turn will allow the other branches of his vision - a day care center, a Christian academy, a senior citizens facility and a homeless shelter - to come to fruition.
The I Beseech Thee Community Development Corporation created the Paul McGuire Family Health Care Center, which offers medical services to needy individuals.
McGuire said he believes it is important to teach people to nurture and strengthen their relationship with God and then apply godly principles to their lives.
"I try to help them do this," he said. "Apply what you've learned and bring God with you into your everyday life."
Within the community at large, McGuire serves on the Freehold Borough Human Relations Committee and on the Hispanic Affairs Committee.
The reverend said although his ministry has accomplished some of the things he set out to do, "there is so much more to do." McGuire said he wants to continue to strengthen the relationship between the church and the community and help the community as much as he can, "not just spiritually and financially, but in every way we can. We want to be a blessing.
newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2008/0430/Front_Page/046.html
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
The Rev. Dr. Andre McGuire
FREEHOLD - The Rev. Dr. Andre McGuire is a leader, an inspirational teacher and a man of God.
McGuire was recently honored with a resolution from Mayor Michael Wilson in recognition of his 15 years of service to the New Beginnings Agape Christian Center, Throckmorton Street.
McGuire is the pastor of the New Beginnings Agape Christian Center, which was previously known as the Second Baptist Church.
The borough's resolution states that McGuire serves as "an inspirational preacher, teacher, visionary and community advocate." It extends "heartfelt thanks to him for being a compelling influence for good in the community."
McGuire's journey did not start out in the direction of the ministry, however. The 46-year-old clergyman had a different dream in his youth - to become a professional football player.
"Being a minister like my father, (the Rev. Paul M. McGuire), was the last thing I wanted to do. In fact, I ran from it," McGuire said.
Football did not pan out and at the age of 30, McGuire said, "life circumstances, a love for God and people, and a calling to God" turned him to the ministry.
He received his Master of Divinity degree from the New Brunswick Theological Seminary in 1998 and his Doctor of Ministry from Drew University, Madison, in 2002. He said he now knows he is "definitely in the right place" in his life.
The 250 members of his congregation would most likely agree.
"I got the calling late," McGuire said, adding that he came to learn that his father believed his son would follow in his footsteps. "My mom, Dorothy, told me years after my father's passing that my father told her he always knew that one day I would go into the ministry. I myself didn't even know."
Once he decided to enter the ministry, McGuire served under his father's tutelage for four years as an associate minister before his father died in 1991. Paul McGuire, however, did not live to see his son ordained.
After his father died, McGuire was ordained as the minister of the church on Throckmorton Street and took on the responsibility of leading the congregation of the 114-year-old church that his father had guided for years.
In addition to leading the congregation, the minister oversees theMen'sMinistry, which teaches nurturing men how to teach the presence of God and how to love and adjust to the circumstances of their lives.
The church also has a Women's Committee, which addresses women and strengthens them to address their issues and concerns. He also oversees the Youth and Teen Church, which teaches godly principles to children and teaches God's work to teenagers.
McGuire has brought his own vision to his ministry. That vision includes the creation of the I Beseech Thee Community Development Corporation, which in turn will allow the other branches of his vision - a day care center, a Christian academy, a senior citizens facility and a homeless shelter - to come to fruition.
The I Beseech Thee Community Development Corporation created the Paul McGuire Family Health Care Center, which offers medical services to needy individuals.
McGuire said he believes it is important to teach people to nurture and strengthen their relationship with God and then apply godly principles to their lives.
"I try to help them do this," he said. "Apply what you've learned and bring God with you into your everyday life."
Within the community at large, McGuire serves on the Freehold Borough Human Relations Committee and on the Hispanic Affairs Committee.
The reverend said although his ministry has accomplished some of the things he set out to do, "there is so much more to do." McGuire said he wants to continue to strengthen the relationship between the church and the community and help the community as much as he can, "not just spiritually and financially, but in every way we can. We want to be a blessing.
newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2008/0430/Front_Page/046.html
