Linda J. Ivey Ministries
Church Membership: Pastor of the Polite Temple Baptist Church, Philadelphia, PA
Pastor Waterman’s Background: A retired educator with the Philadelphia School District, serving God all her life and over ten years as a minister and recently celebrated her one year anniversary as the first female pastor of Polite Temple Baptist Church’s one hundred year history as she preaches and rebuilds the church.
Pastor Waterman’s Testimony: The Holy Spirit continued to convict me until I made a total commitment and stopped delaying, running, stalling and postponing my Calling. I finally submitted completely and rededicated my life by being baptized and living as one who was truly saved. Realizing my body was a temple, I stopped smoking cigarettes and “clubbing” on Saturday nights and then showing up on Sunday mornings singing God’s praises in the choir. I got serious about my YES to the Lord.
Pastor Waterman’s Reflections: When I look back on my journey as a young woman entering the ministry, I would give my younger self some advice I never received until I was much older. I’d advise the younger Bernadine to “love yourself more”. I would want her to know she would have to develop a strong relationship with God by praying daily along with daily Bible study. I would counsel my younger self about the spiritual change she would undergo because God would be preparing her for her next level, which would mature her Calling. I would warn her against being a person who freely gives to those who don’t respect her “office” and to stop worrying about being perfect. I would encourage my younger self to become “thirsty” for God and not to be discouraged when He teaches her lessons through trials and struggles. I would remind her of James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.” I would mentor my younger self about her greater future, her anointing to preach and minister to God’s people, explaining how she’ll need to pray about her Calling, but reassure her there will be a Word to guide her and signs to confirm her path.
Pastor Waterman’s Observations: Having undergone so many spiritual transitions to become a pastor, I faithfully encourage and mentor other women into ministry. I advise them to say yes to their Calling. I tell them to strengthen their relationship with God because they’ll discover that “It ain’t about you; it’s all about Him.” New ministers should never go out to preach by themselves. After preaching, they should be mindful of the people around them because that’s a time when their spiritually is depleted and weak, which makes them susceptible to attacks by the enemy.
Pastor Waterman’s Challenges: I’ve also seen some cruelty towards females in ministry from male preachers who believed women should not be in the pulpit. There will always be people who don’t respect your Calling, regardless if you’re a man or a woman. Young men in ministry also experience disrespect from older preachers. However, as young men become more experienced older preachers will reduce their malice. This is not the same for many women in ministry. Two male pastors participated in my ordination, but sometime later, they shunned and snubbed me by not allowing me to sit in their pulpits. I’ve been directed to sit on the side benches with their Deacons because the church’s pastors rejected women preachers. This taught me when accompanying my Pastor to preach at other churches, wait on him to discern the receiving Pastors’ protocol. Do they accept or reject God’s Calling of female preachers? It was disappointing, they would accept my Pastor, yet treat his female associates with disdain. It made me sad.
Pastor Waterman’s Most Significant Accomplishment: Polite has gone through several transitions within the past year, which has left us emotionally bruised. While we have grown closer, we are still recovering from the changes. I am also grateful for my ministry within my home, within my marriage, my children and within my community. One of my greatest accomplishments in ministry was my job with the Philadelphia School Board. I retired and showed God’s love as I represented Him to children who may not have known Him.
Pastor Waterman’s Vision for the Church: Now, as a brand-new pastor, like Nehemiah, I am working on rebuilding. Polite’s mission is “Building Upon The Inside, Reaching to The Outside, One Body, One Spirit, One Faith”. My focus has been to honor our past accomplishments while building unity and strengthening Polite’s faith and love for Christ.