On Sunday, May 31st, Spirit of Truth Church at 3447 W. Harrison Street in Chicago witnessed something special — a first-time preacher stepping boldly into her calling and moving an entire congregation to the altar.
Evangelist Sabrina McCraley, who has been a member of Spirit of Truth for just two months, was allowed to deliver the Word by Senior Pastor Rev. Robert Patterson — a deliberate act of investment in her spiritual growth and confidence. She took the pulpit for the very first time, opened with honesty, and never looked back.
Her First Time, His Glory
Evg. McCraley began by letting the congregation know she was nervous — it was her very first time preaching. She grounded her message in Matthew, Chapter 1, Verse 8, and from there, she let the goodness of Jesus speak for itself.
Using a series of vivid, relatable metaphors, she painted a picture of a Savior who meets people right where they are. She compared His compassion to a Coca-Cola — refreshing and satisfying. His relief, she said, is like aspirin. His protection wraps around you like a seatbelt. He lifts you like an airplane and brings you down gently like an elevator. He is as sweet as a Snickers bar and as dependable as State Farm — a good neighbor.
“How do you spell relief?” she asked the congregation. “I spell J-E-S-U-S.”
The message was creative, heartfelt, and undeniably anointed. By the time she closed, six individuals made their way to the altar and confessed their love for Christ — a remarkable response for any sermon, let alone a first.
A Church That Invests in Its People
The spirit of celebration extended beyond Minister McCraley’s message. Pastor Patterson also took a moment to honor the young people of the church who recently graduated, acknowledging their achievement with pride and encouragement.
“I want to thank all of those who graduated and let y’all know how proud I am,” Pastor Patterson said. “It means so much.”
In closing, Minister McCraley expressed deep gratitude to Pastor Patterson and First Lady for believing in her enough to hand her the mic — and to Jesus, whose greatness gave her every word she needed.
Min. Sabrina McCraley came to Spirit of Truth two months ago. On May 31st, she showed the congregation exactly why God sent her there.
