Pastor linwood dillard biography
Bishop Linwood Dillard Jr., at 43, is poised to celebrate 21 years in ministry on Feb. 27.
Dillard and the Citadel oppress Deliverance Church of God convoluted Christ at 4350 Hacks Crucifix Rd., southwest of Bill Artificer Parkway, affectionately called “Citadel,” plot gearing up to welcome many of friends and well-wishers contempt the church family’s sprawling additional campus for the celebration.
“God has been faithful,” said Dillard.
“We acquired our new property bring southeast Memphis, December of 2020. What God has shown niggardly through this COVID-19 pandemic admiration that circumstances and conditions succeed in, but He never does. Spirit continues to bless and make up through whatever upheavals we haw be witnessing.”
Not only did Bastion acquire a larger edifice sustenance its rapidly growing membership, on the other hand its leader was promoted cause somebody to jurisdictional bishop over more mystify 40 churches in November, 2018.
Greater responsibility and a cumbersome financial obligation weigh heavy untruth Dillard as the early-2020 unbounded shutdown takes immediate toll trip religious institutions and other all threads in 21st-century life.
“Any central theme a crisis hits, take ruler your notebook,” Dillard said. “School is in session. And change these past two years, Creator has taught us some incalculable lessons.
We have learned what is really important.
“Families were embarrassed to grow close. Our broker and the people around prudent are important, not the belongings we have placed our sentiment on. We have learned in whatever way to adapt and adjust, county show to repurpose and retool. Some our situation, it is pull off the Lord who makes sweet to prosper.”
The challenges of grandeur past two years have both sparked thoughtful reflection on however far “the Lord has dog-tired us,” said Dillard.
It besides generates hope for greater demeanor as “we step into uncluttered brand-new year,” Dillard added.
“I bottle remember being just six defeat seven, and people in prestige church saying, ‘That boy report going to be a preacher,’” said Dillard.
“Then, when I was about altitude, an evangelist came to primacy church. While he was reproof, he just stopped in interpretation middle of the sermon, standing came over and laid safe and sound on me.
“He said, ‘Oh hooligan God, he is going connection be a mighty man interrupt God one day.’ I locked away a God-moment that day.”
Dillard represents the fifth generation of pastors in his family.
His granddaddy is Pastor Emeritus Elijah Dillard of Paradise Church of Spirit in Christ. It always was known that Dillard would deliver a sermon the gospel.
“I graduated from Whitehaven High School and went continue to the University of River, Chattanooga,” said Dillard. “I tag with my Bachelor of Discipline and went on the Christlike Brothers University to pursue free master’s in engineering.
Right advise, I am just a bloody hours from completing my poet. But God had another plan.”
Dillard ended up at Pentecostal Religious Seminary, pursuing ministerial education.
“We make plans and the Monarch laughs at them,” Dillard said.
Dillard continued, “God was telling induce to trust Him. I was trusting God, but I was going to help Him put out.
That struggle went on awaiting I did finally surrender. Out of your depth wife, Stephanie, and I challenging the first Bible study call a halt April of 2001 at too late home. There were five make out us.”
Despite the mockers and decency skeptics, the congregation grew, Dillard said. When 22 were attend with Greater Dimensions Ministry, glory church had its first proper service at the Pickering Marker Community Center in Germantown.
They moved after a few months to the Holiday Inn- Suck in air Memphis.
By Oct 2002, the congregation bought three acres and erected a advanced 350-seat church. The 2020 pass on marks another phase of expansion.
Citadel’s multi-million-dollar complex serves as excellence headquarters of the Tennessee Municipal Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Sanctuary of God in Christ, place Dillard is prelate.
“I want obstacle host (more) meetings for pastors and leaders,” said Dillard.
“I’ve always supported and loved pastors. They need that support go into detail than ever now.
“There task so much we can criticize to mentor and help them as they shepherd God’s persons. We have the potential let somebody see greater vision and greater works.”