The Rev. Marcus Stroud.

MOULTRIE, Ga. — The Rev. Freddie L. Castle and Mother Easter Baptist Church will observe the church’s 125th anniversary celebration on Sunday, July 21, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The Rev. E.H. Hopkins, pastor emeritus of Mother Easter, will be the speaker at 11 a.m. The Rev. Marcus Stroud, choir and congregation of First African Baptist Church of Sylvester, Ga., will be in charge of the 3 p.m. service.

Stroud, a native of Athens, Ga., came to the Albany area in 1994 as a student at Albany State University (ASU). He graduated from ASU and later finished his Master’s Degree in Education at Troy University, then completed his Education Specialist degree from ASU. He currently serves as the education specialist for the Department of Corrections at Autry State Prison. He has also taught in the Dougherty County School System for number of years. Stroud has received numerous awards as a result of his teaching career and has recognized teaching as a true calling and a passion from the Lord.

Stroud acknowledged his calling into the preaching ministry in 2001. He was licensed in 2004 and ordained in 2005. He understood that the Lord was doing a major work in his life and prepared him for the awesome tasks ahead. Stroud was called to the pastoral ministry in February 2006 and is the pastor of First African Baptist Church of Sylvester.

“Pastor Stroud has been blessed with the gift of teaching and has a style of preaching that captivates his audience and catapults them to a level of insight that clarifies the message and causes his practical teaching to be absorbed by many,” according to a press release from Mother Easter Baptist church. “He is sharp in expository preaching and rightly divides the word of truth with great delivery and simplicity.”

Stroud is the founder and CEO of Celestial Outreach and Training Services Inc. which is a faith based outreach organization that endeavors to reach underprivileged individuals who may have a need in the areas of food, clothing, education, and workforce development.

Mother Easter, located at 1400 Central Ave., invites the public to come and help celebrate the occasion.