McGruders to become bishops during 25th pastoral anniversary celebration at United Pentecostal

The First United Pentecostal Church of Kennett will be holding a three day long anniversary celebration Feb. 24-26. During the celebration Carroll, left, and Priscilla McGruder, right, will assume the office of Bishop and Don Sheerin, right, will assume the Senior Pastor role. [Click to enlarge]

Kennett residents Carroll and Priscilla McGruder will be assuming the office of Bishop of the First United Pentecostal Church of Kennett during their 25th Pastoral Anniversary celebration.

The anniversary celebration will be a three day event that will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24, continue at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25, and end on Sunday, Feb. 26 with a ceremony that will take place at 10 a.m. and again at 2 p.m.

After meeting each other in 1976, Carroll and Priscilla married and created a family which included three children, Eric, Shawnee, and Holly.

In 1980, the McGruder were invited to Kennett to audition for the pastorate of the First United Pentecostal Church.

"I believe it was between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday that we were given the news that we had been chosen to assume the pastoral role in the church," recalled Carroll McGruder.

Since that moment the couple have created an impression in the religious community that stands to remain forever.

In the last twenty-five years the couple has touched the lives of many, not only in the Dunklin County area but world-wide with their witness and testimony and there gift of music.

Though both feel that the church is based on a team concept, the pair have unintentionally created a sort of fame or stature for themselves in terms of the way outsiders and the community identify there association with the church. For example, the church itself has become more familiarly known as "The McGruder's."

Three years ago, Pastor Don Sheerin came to UPC elected as the associate pastor but under the agreement that he would assume the role of senior pastor.

"It was a little difficult at first to explain to the people that Sheerin would play a much larger role in the church than that of a typical assistant or associate pastor," said McGruder.

Both of the men went into the new setting knowing that they were ultimately pastoring together and that there would be no secondary ministry, once again defining their self-proclaimed "team concept."

Sheerin does indeed play a major role with the church as well as with many churches in Missouri. He serves as the Missouri State Director of Sunday Schools in which he oversees responsibilities that include, annual fundraisers, assistance for children, teacher training and development, children's camp, and bible enrichment programs that thousands of individuals participate in.

Sheerin is married to Chay and is the father of three daughters, Tess, Emma, and Abby. Before coming to the church he evangelized and served in several different capacities related to a pastoral role.

The McGruder's goal is to try and bring the whole gospel to the world and do so on a local level as well.

Truly active in the church and their evangelism, the two have traveled the world in attempts to bring the whole gospel. Priscilla has had many opportunities to carry out their goal with her ladies ministry, special singing, and as a featured speaker. She has been in nearly every state except North Dakota and Alaska and has recently been invited to places such as Northern Ireland, England, Africa, and Chile.

She has also had the opportunity to spread her healing testimony in person and in her book, "I've Just Started Living."

The book is self-proclaimed as an incredible story of deliverance from cancer and is available at the Dunklin County Library.

Sheerin and the McGruder's are anticipating a wonderful anniversary celebration weekend filled with marvelous ministry provided by four different speakers, Rev. Johnny Godair of Durham, N.C., Rev. Nathaniel Wilson of Sacramento, Calif., Rev. Roland Baker of Pontiac, Mich., and Rev. Kenneth Haney, general superintendent of The United Pentecostal Church International.

The services will also feature special recognition's and presentations, special singing, anointed preaching and a slide-show of UPC memories.

The McGruder's and Sheerin encourage everyone in the community to attend the celebration of a church that believes that the level of success can be raised in every aspect of the community through the church.

"The umbilical cord of your life should be the church," McGruder said. "By taking an active, hands on approach in the church and having the desire to support and benefit our local community outside of the four walls of the church, we can better our community."

What the McGruder's and Sheerin want the community and church to understand the most about the anniversary celebration and the transition of roles is that the decisions that are being made are being made selflessly and that the intent is to provide security for the church.

"This transfer in the role of leadership does not mean that we will no longer be a part of the church we have so long been involved in, it simply allows there to be a seamless uninterrupted transition of the church that ensures it will still remain long after we are gone," said McGruder.