Church to honor pastor, his wife in Sunday service

Elder Jerry E. and Patricia Roach
Elder Jerry E. and Patricia Roach

Brotherly Love Ministries will host the 18th Pastoral Appreciation Celebration for Elder Jerry E. and Patricia Roach at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at 2309 Taylor St., Texarkana, Texas.

The Roaches opened Brotherly Love Ministries Sunday, Sept. 10, 2000, at the YWCA on Magnolia Street in Texarkana, Texas.

BLM was named after Elder Roach's favorite scripture, Hebrews 13:1, which states, "Let brotherly love continue."

Once the church opened, they started holding Wednesday night Bible studies, Sunday school, Sunday morning worship services and the occasional Friday and Sunday night services.

Just weeks after the church opened its doors, Patricia Roach met Ella Johnson, who lived across the street from the YWCA, and invited her to attend services. Johnson soon joined the church and opened her home to Bible studies on Wednesday nights.

After two years of holding services in the YWCA, the church started leasing a small building at 2102 Bell St. from Superintendent James Tudman; and on Jan. 1, 2017, the church relocated to its current location.

Over the course of 18 years, BLM has reached out to the community through food and clothing ministries, helps programs, back-to-school programs, a bus ministry and several other programs.

According to a press release, BLM's greatest mission is "to transform people's lives with the love of Jesus so that they will never be the same."

The Roaches believe God has many more blessings in store for the church's leadership.

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