Homecoming Day was celebrated in a traditional southern Black churches manner on Sunday July 10, 2011 at Warner Baptist

     Homecoming day at Warner Baptist consisted of a church service in the morning that was attended by former members, families, and friends; along with current members, families, friends and visitors.
    The pastor, Rev. Matthew J. Pearson delivered the sermon, using St John 9:33 for scripture. His text was "What is your testimony".
   The youths were called upon to give a presentation. They did a wonderful job.
    Melinda Saunders, a teenager, read an original writing that she wrote. Following, with Melinda's permission is her writing:

            Homecoming to me means being around friends and family and enjoying each others company and enjoying the good food people prepare for the church. It is about being around people that you have not seen in a while or just meeting them for the first time. My mom was telling me a story about how she would go to her grandmother's church and they would set tables up outside and everybody would bring a dish that they fixed; nothing was store bought. Everything was hand prepared by the people at the church and the kitchen committee was in charge of cooking the meats. After the meals were prepared, they would eat and have church and fellowship with one another and after church her family would go to her grandmothers house and eat and have more fun and then they would go home and go to bed. So I'm looking forward to enjoying the rest of this homecoming celebration. So sit back, relax and enjoy the rest of our 2011 Homecoming celebration.
Thank you and God bless,
Melinda Saunders

After the morning service, everybody was invited to stay and share dinner in the dining hall.

In the afternoon service, Rev Robert Yancy from St Paul Baptist in Arlington, Va and his church members were the guest.  His scripture was 1st Kings 13:7-15., text: "Wolves in Sheep clothings"

A good overall scripture for this day is found in Deuteronmy 32:6.

In conclusion, Homecoming services are generally more joyous than Homegoing services.  May we strieve to greet each other more often in between the services.
    (unedited edition)