On Sunday, May 18th, 2025, Founders Pastor John Wesley McVicker, Sr., and First Lady Marilynn McVicker celebrated with Executive Pastor Treyvon Sinclair, members of the pulpit, CTK’s parishioners, and guest speaker of the hour, Rev. Dr. Don Darius Butler accompanied by his wife Attorney Butler all reminiscing collectively of how Pastor John Wesley McVicker, Sr, First Lady Marilynn McVicker, and CTK labored in love for 40 consecutive years at home and overseas. The Theme stemmed from the acronym ACTS.
A- Aligned with the Acts Church, C-Captured the Vision, T-Traveling Life’s Better Way S-Seeking & Following JESUS.
At the beginning of service, Founding members received silver crystal decorative plaques from the Administration and distributed by both the Office Manager, Mrs. Nicole Elms, and the Director of Ministry and Program Development, Mrs. Cynthia Stewart for the founders’ steadfastness, unmovable and unwavering faith in the ministry.
Rev. Dr. Don Darius Butler’s Response to those Contributing Members who have Passed on to Eternity
“Thank you, God. I have sensed beloved the spirits of the ancestors are with us now. Those who toiled and labored in this work and they have entered into the rest of God.”
“There’s that passage in the book of Hebrew that says, “And they without us will not be made perfect.”
“And over 40 years, Pastor McVicker has stood at this dispatch box and declared the Good Word over the fallen frames of faithful servants, and we dare not celebrate today without thanking God for their contributions to this work of ministry.”
“You know their names, and they sat right next to you. They were your prayer partners. They volunteered in the work of ministry alongside you and today, they are leaning over the battlements of glory, telling you to run on to see what the end will be. (Rev) Brenda Sheets, (Deacon) Marvin Bell, and Deacon Croft, Michael McVicker. Call their names. You know them, and today, we thank God for what the hymn writer says that we share with them a Mystic Communion.”
Deacon Marvin BellDeacon D. CroftMichael McVicker
Rev. Dr. Don Darius Butler’s Response to Pastor John Wesley McVicker, Sr.
“But thanks to God for His keeping power. God’s preservation of this congregation that stands not just in this city but across this country stands as an Exemplar of Innovation and Vibrancy in Christian Ministry, and that would not be possible except God gave you through the personality of a man who stands a cut above the rest. One whose spirit is both capacious and magnanimous. Whose heart has been devoted solely to the work of our God and of his Christ and whose hands have advanced that commitment through the work that we now behold. I’m talking about the inimitable and the indomitable John Wesley McVicker, Sr. God be praised for him. God Be Praise! Yes, Lord!”
Rev. Dr. Don Darius Butler’s Response to First Lady Marilynn McVicker
“And he does not stand alone. There is a quiet storm behind him, and she knows how to control the fire. And over these four decades, she has been a shining example of one whose purity of spirit coupled with ebony, beauty, and dignity unquestioned has provided for him the kind of shelter in the time of storm.”
Rev. Dr. Don Darius Butler’s Response to Attorney La Keisha Butler, his Wife, Joining Him for CTK’s 40 Birthday Party Celebration
“La Keisha usually lets me travel alone, but she made sure that she was here today so that together we might express publicly–our gratitude and our appreciation for them! When God gives you gifts, you, spiritual parents, people who will share with you freely out of their experiences, both successes and failures, and who will not try to shape you in their image but will call you to hear the voice of God for yourself! That’s a special thing! All of us here today are immensely blessed because God thought enough of us to place them (Pastor McVicker & First Lady Marilynn) in our lives. Amen.”
Rev. Dr. Don Darius Butler’s Response to Executive Pastor Treyvon Sinclair
“Let me say this word about our Pastor Elect with whom I share two beloved alma matas. You are doubly blessed because God did not leave you with one who is unprepared for the task. Amen.”
I am reminded at the opening of the Book of Joshua, As God says to Pastor Elect Sinclair, “As I have been with Pastor McVicker, so I will be with you.”
Acts 5:17 Unstoppable!
“Forty years later, you’re still on the wall. You’re still doing the work. You’re still lifting high the name of Jesus. Forty years later still, giving scholarships. 40 years later still, still convening health ministries. Forty years later, still empowering women and children. 40 years later, still bringing men together to lift their hands before the Lord. 40 years later! Time will tell, and time will talk,” said Butler.
Butler added, ” Gamaliel said, If it is not of God, it will come to nothing. But, if it is of God, sometimes you have to shut your mouth and let God do the talking on your behalf. And won’t he do it? Won’t He show your enemies how favor He’s given you? Won’t he open a door that no man can shut? Won’t he shut doors that no man can open? Won’t he make crooked places straight and rough places smooth? Won’t the Glory of God be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.” “Won’t He do it! Didn’t He do it? Hasn’t He done it? And guess what, He’ll do it again!”
Butler connected, “Oh, praise his name. Oh, praise his name. Oh, praise his name. Can you open your mouth and thank God for forty years of Victory? Forty years of success in ministry. Forty years of opening the doors of the church. Forty years of Serving Disciples. Forty years of preaching the Good News, and He ain’t done yet!” Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!”
“For Forty years, I’ve only asked people to bring their unchurched friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors, and they did it, and we outgrew the space. We were six months as a congregation, and we had already outgrown the space. The late Dr. H. Matthew Beecham, Pastor at the Cannan Baptist Church, was a good friend, and he called me late at night, as some of you know.”
Rev. H. Matthew Beecham became Pastor of Cannan Baptist Church in 1956.
“Dr. Beecham.” “Doc, I know where there is a building.” He told me about the property on Leon Terrance. A few of us went there and toured the building, and they were saying,
“They can’t get that building-they ain’t been around long enough to get the building.” “And I asked the congregation to say, “We got to raise some money put down on this building,” and so we raised our part!
“And, North Milwaukee State Bank was our bank, and Ken Little, he was a loan officer, and we were six months old, and he wrote up the paperwork believed in us. I asked the people to raise the money because we were new, so they wanted us to put a good get in a lot. The people saved it, and we bought the building.
We marched from the Vel Phillips. We got in our little cars and drove down Capitol Drive and came around there on Leon Terrace, and we outgrew that, and while we were growing, I said, “We need to get rid of this mortgage.” I just asked. You saw the picture. We burned the mortgage, and we kept growing. We had two services. People were parking all around Fond du Lac and all up by Shiloh trying to get to that church. We didn’t know where to park. We didn’t know where they were parking, and if you didn’t get there first, you had to sit around a corner and watch the service on television, and there was no screen like that it was a TV.
“We marched from the Vel Phillips. We got in our little cars and drove down Capitol Drive and came around there on Leon Terrace, and we outgrew that, and while we were growing, I said, “We need to get rid of this mortgage.” I just asked. You saw the picture. We burned the mortgage, and we kept growing. We had two services. People were parking all around Fond du Lac and all up by Shiloh trying to get to that church. We didn’t know where to park. We didn’t know where they were parking, and if you didn’t get there first, you had to sit around a corner and watch the service on television, and there was no screen like that it was a TV.”
I was driving one day to Northridge when Northridge was still somewhere to go because we had been looking all around for land- Archdiocese was selling their property, and we kind of didn’t want that because it wasn’t- you know? There is a difference between form and function and the forms would not function for our traditions, and we have exhausted every opportunity. We didn’t know what we were going to do, and I was going to Northridge, and I came up to 60th Street.
I drove past this property. Julietta Henry was working for the city at that time, and I called her. You know that’s when we had like when your cell phone was in a bag. Some of you all like in a bag? But some of you all know. When I called Julietta, I said,
“I just came past this vacant lot. Can you see who owns this?”
She told me it belonged to another church-I knew the Pastor and so the Lord told me to ask him for it.
I said, “Lord, I can’t ask that man for his property.” Sitting in my office late one night, about 10 pm, and I called him. After all the Salutations, “Hey, What’s happening?” “How are you doing? “Hey, John, How.”
The Lord was like, “Ask!” And I said, “Man, you know that land you own on 60th and Port? I’ve never heard of Port before.” He said, “Yeah.” And just like I’m quiet, I was because I was trying to get it out. I said, “I need that land.” “And he didn’t say anything.”
“I thought he was going to cuss like, “Man, what the hell are you talking about? You know something like, you know, I don’t know what he was going to say, but this is what he said,”
“John, you don’t know how timely this call is because I’m in Texas, and our church has already met, and we’re going to put a sign For Sale sign on that when I get back because we found another building that we’re going to buy.”
Dear All Combined Giving Donors at Casimir Pulaski High School, We have plans for our paychecks. Some workers may dream of a luxurious vacation, while others wish to buy something special for themselves or their loved ones. We all have our own needs and desires, and caring for ourselves is essential. But before one sets their heart on their priority plans, please pause and consider a question that Dr. Martin Luther King once asked, which holds immense significance.
What are you doing for others?
As January 2025 comes to a close, one should ponder how one can make a difference in February. Will one lend a helping hand to those affected by national disasters, support those in need, or demonstrate one’s faith through acts of kindness like volunteering at a local shelter, donating to a charity, or helping a neighbor in need? The potential for personal growth and learning through assisting others is immense. The satisfaction and personal development that come from helping others are invaluable. One may choose to keep everything for oneself, but the opportunity to learn and grow through helping others is valuable.
As the Combined Giving Coordinator, I thank everyone who generously contributed to the Combined Giving Campaign for the academic school year. Your contributions have made a significant difference and did not go unnoticed. Each participant plays a crucial role in the community, and I am hopeful about the impact everyone can make together. I wish you the best in participating in the upcoming years. May each year be greater than the year before.
Reporter Jude 