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Sunday, November 5, 2006
Taylor makes whirlwind tour among 4 churches
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Taylor spent the last Sunday before Tuesday’s general election for governor in church - or make that several.
Starting at 9 a.m., Taylor hit four metro-area churches, asking members to pray for him and of course vote for him in his quest to unseat Gov. Sonny Perdue.
“I ask for your prayers. I know that the Lord will do his will on Tuesday,â€? Taylor said several times on Sunday. “I only ask that you go to the polls prayerful with the conviction of Christ, that the Lord will have his hand in that election.”
Throughout the morning, pastors urged their members to go out and vote on Tuesday.
“One of the things I’ve learned as an adult, there are times in your life when you have to make choices,� said the Rev. Thomas L. Bess, pastor of St. Paul A.M.E. Church, where Taylor made his first stop. “I am a registered and voting Democrat. I voted in every election Democratic and I don’t plan on changing.�
Taylor’s whirlwind trip through the churches – all black – came days after he received a major endorsement from the religious community. A group calling themselves Ministers for Mark Taylor placed ads in several newspapers and handed out color fliers with their photos on them, supporting Taylor.
The list of ministers includes Bishop Eddie Long, the Rev. Timothy McDonald, the Rev. Gerald Durley, Bishop Wiley Jackson and the Rev. Walter Kimbrough.
“We had a big luncheon on the 26th with the ministers, we have visited all of their churches and they have shown their support,� said LaSalle Smith, Taylor’s religious coordinator. “They are enthusiastic about Mark being their next governor.�
Taylor, who is a member of Porterfield United Methodist Church in Albany, said the church visits were a nice way to rejuvenate for the last few days of what has already been a grueling gubernatorial race.
At the services, Taylor sang. He tapped his feet. He prayed. He shook hands. He took pictures and on occasion, preached the word.
“It is extremely inspiring. The music. The spoken word. And I know that I have some of the same challenges personally that some in the congregations have,� Taylor said. “It is a reminder that all of the slings and arrows of a campaign are worth it. It keeps you in touch.�
Although he was only able to stay at each church briefly, Taylor was able to piece together the full black church experience.
At Tabernacle Baptist Church, the choir, led by Michael Meredith, sang, sweated and hollered for at least 30 minutes before Taylor spoke. At Covenant Ministries, Bishop Quincy LaVelle Carswell promised at least five times that he would finish in 10 minutes as he delivered a rousing sermon about overcoming adversity and searching for hope.
“They messed with your children. They messed with your reputation,� Carswell told Taylor. “But I know above all else, that you are a good man.�
On each stop, Taylor carried his Bible with him. And when time allowed him — at the first two stops — he read from it.
At St. Paul he quoted from the Book of Mark, chapter 10, verses 43-45. “But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant.�
At Tabernacle, he used Matthew chapter 7, verse 20, to take a shot at Sonny Perdue’s record in office. “Therefore, by their fruits you will know them,� Taylor quoted.
“The words come mighty easy for a politician,� Taylor added. “They have pretty ads of you walking your dog and your wife talking for you. They come cheap. That is the word, but where is the work.�
Taylor tailored his standard stump speech at every stop.
He talked about health care when Bess told the congregation that since the state changed insurance carriers, he is now paying “mega-bucks� for his cancer medication.
At Tabernacle, he talked about HOPE and Pre-K education, after the minister’s wife, Lydia Meredith, talked about the church’s educational programming.
Taylor received standing ovations at each of the churches he spoke at Sunday. The Rev. Timothy McDonald, who stood by Taylor’s side as he spoke at First Iconium Baptist Church, said Taylor has long been a friend of the church.
“The reason I let Brother Taylor speak was this was not his first time here. Or his second, third or fourth. He has been coming here over the years,� McDonald said. “But, if Sonny Perdue had asked, I would have let him speak too. I’d say something after he spoke, but I’d let him speak.�
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