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When CJ Rhodes speaks, he doesn’t come across as the self-proclaimed shy guy he describes himself to be. His demeanor lends itself to that of a person who is cool, calm, collected and in control of his every thought and word. One would never guess that this 30-year-old, well-poised, Baptist preacher ever had a fear of public speaking.

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Truth be told, Rhodes seems most in his element when using his oratory skills to galvanize people to action, be it civic or spiritual. The deliberate cadence of his voice is reminiscent of that of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whom Rhodes often mentions as being one of his greatest influences.

In fact, it was while reciting Dr. King’s “Drum Major” speech, Rhodes, then a 17-year-old Hazelhurst High School senior, faced his public speaking fears and moved a crowd to a standing ovation.

“Mrs. Gwendolyn Robinson is the woman who forced me to do the MLK speech and as I look back on my years at Hazelhurst High, I see that as a very pivotal moment,” Rhodes recalls. “I was very shy, but her making me do that, getting in front of my peers, was sort of the beginning of a profession of getting up in front of people to speak. That was one of my best moments.”

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As a young Rhodes traveled to churches and civic events reciting Dr. King speeches, he soon encountered another life changing moment.

“I was becoming more spiritual because I was going to church more, but my focus was on going to Ole Miss, majoring in international studies and becoming an international attorney,” Rhodes shared. “Religion was the farthest thing from my mind, but one day in July I had this profound vision.”

Not very acquainted with spirituality or religion, Rhodes wasn’t sure of what to make of the vision of mountains, cascading waters and a call to action telling him “you shall gather my waters.”

While it wasn’t a calling that Rhodes accepted immediately, he didn’t tarry too long with the decision and made hast to receive proper training and grooming for effective ministry and community activism. He graduated from the University of Mississippi with a degree in philosophy and a master’s in divinity from Duke University.

“The Holy Spirit will teach you all things, but we have to understand context,” Rhodes explains of his decision to obtain a divinity degree. “Where we are in the 21^st century, what people are dealing with, a hoop and a holler is not going to get it. Seminary doesn’t necessarily give you that, but it is an opportunity where you are able to think critically about your faith, your ministry and your role as a leader in God’s church and your role to reach people God is sending you to. For every anointing there is a preparation. I would never say that if you don’t have a degree you shouldn’t be in ministry, but what I will say is because ministry is so serious you should take every opportunity to educate yourself.”

It’s this same type of logic that Rhodes shares in his recently released book “Thy Kingdom Come: Reflections on Pastoral & Prophetic Ministry.”

“Thy Kingdom Come” is a sampling of articles, essays, presentations, and sermons that reflect Rhodes’ vision for contemporary Christian leadership. Rhodes said these writings seek to remind the Church that it is God’s hope for the world.

“Bill Hybels said that the local church is the hope of the world. I know that sounds audacious, but I tend to believe that,” Rhodes said.

Rhodes believes that the word from the Lord has the greatest power to help relieve people of the worldly conflict, especially in politics.

“The church is the greatest institution to provide a word of hope, a word of direction and a word of clarity,” Rhodes confidently proclaims.

Jefforey Stafford, who enjoys exploring the minds of ministries and ministers, has had the opportunity to read Rhodes’ book and found it to be applicable to all areas of life.

“Especially when he talks about the beloved community,” Stafford said. “Being the person of God, the people of God and shepherding the people of God to where we are in Jackson now, as well as, looking in a futuristic kind of way, prophetic if you will, and how Jackson, as well as, the larger community and Christian culture, can move forward in a balanced kind of way without tipping on toes.”

Like King, Rhodes is one of today’s youngest pastors and critical thinkers, traits that did not go un-noticed by the parishioners of the historical Mt. Helm Missionary Baptist Church when they interviewed Rhodes for the position of senior pastor.

Mt. Helm is Jackson’s oldest African American church. The church’s origins trace back nearly 200 years to the basement of First Baptist Church Jackson. Both the Church of Christ (Holiness) USA and Church of God In Christ emerged from Mt. Helm.  In April of 2010 Rhodes was named the church’s 23^rd pastor.

“Over the last 30 years the church has lost its authority in some way and I think that the church has to regain that,” Rhodes adds. “Because it (church) is the hope of the world, it needs to be able to speak in a definitive way and live it out in such a way that people that are looking for hope and direction can say I find it in the church.”

“Thy Kingdom Come” can be purchased at www.godzchildproductions.net or by emailing admin@mthelm.org.

Written by Shameka L. Reed