By Bishop Larry D. Trotter
Sweet Holy Spirit Full Gospel Baptist Church
Chicago, Illinois
| About Bishop | Words of Encouragement | Church Information |
Bishop Larry D. Trotter, the youngest of four children, was born March 19, 1957 to Mother Dorothy Trotter. Born and raised in the "inner city" of
Chicago, Bishop Trotter has readily accepted and overcome the many challenges of being raised by a single parent.
At age 12, Bishop Trotter accepted Christ and was baptized at Soul Reviving Church. He was instrumental in organizing the Gospel Choir while attending
Lindblom High School.
In 1975, he accepted his call to ministry and became one of the youth ministers of House of Inspiration, under the leadership of Dr. Samuel
Fluker. In 1976, he became Youth Pastor and Minister of Music at Greater New Mount Eagle, where he served until 1981.
It was in 1981 when God called him to pastor Sweet Holy Spirit Baptist Church, being the successor of the late Pastor Herbert Hawkins. At that
time, Sweet Holy Spirit had a membership of 20 active members. Today, Sweet Holy Spirit has over 3500 active members and worships in two
locations.
Under the leadership of Bishop Paul S. Morton, Bishop Trotter was consecrated to the Holy Office Of Bishop of the Midwest Region of the Full
Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, International in 1993. He oversees approximately 200 churches in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,
Ohio and Wisconsin. He also serves as First Assistant to Bishop Paul Morton.
In May 1998, Bishop Trotter received his Doctor of Divinity Degree from St. Michael's Institute.
A man who understands the purpose of family, he is happily married to his "true love," Lady Celeste and they have five wonderful children.
Carrying a huge vision and a heart for God's people, Bishop Trotter is a well respected and much sought after Pastor, Speaker, Spiritual Father,
Author, Recording Artist, Community Activist and Religious Leader...definitely SOMEONE YOU SHOULD KNOW!
If ever you are in the Chicago area
and you're looking for an Anointed Spirit-Filled Church,
We encourage you to visit Sweet Holy Spirit Full Gospel Baptist Church!
Look below for Service Times:
Sweet Holy Spirit Church is "One Church in Two Locations.
Sweet Holy Spirit-Main
944 W. 103rd Street
Chicago, Illinois 60643
(773) 233-4477
SUNDAYS
7:30 am - Alpha Worship Service
9:30 am - Morning Glory Worship Service and Sunday School
5:30 pm - Sunday Night Live (Broadcast Service), 2nd and 4th Sunday
TUESDAYS
12:00 pm - Word Explosion (Bible Study)
Sweet Holy Spirit-East
My friend and brother, Dr. Albert Jamison (Chairman of the Board/Gospel Music Workshop Of America) was preaching here in Chicago for me some years ago at the beginning of his message, he made a statement that I have taken and used over and over again. That statement was, "What's coming is better than what's been". It is a statement of faith, a statement of progress and a statement of encouragement. I believe that one of the most needed things now in this season in which we love is Encouragement. Therefore because I am a "people builder" I have launched what I call a crusade of encouragement
in which I will carry this message of hope to people every where I go.
Many of you will say why is there such a great emphasis placed on this. It's simply because I believe it balances out the body. We have crusades of
deliverance, crusades of healing, crusade of mercy, crusades of prophecy, great music tours, great Evangelistic crusades so why not stop sometimes and
just say, I'm going to go out of my way to encourage or uplift somebody whose down in the dumps.
I was saying to our church the other week that we cannot continue to say things like "Love them to death" we must make a drastic change and learn how
to "love people to life!"
When I say, "What's coming is better than what's been", what I'm doing is trying to encourage an individual be he saint or sinner that with Jesus, your
tomorrow can and will be greater. Many of the Life Application Bibles have outlines on encouragement but not enough of it is said or done from our
pulpits. I took this outline from Navpress life Application notes;
ENCOURAGE - ENCOURAGEMENT
I. Who can be encouraged.
However, I would like to suggest that this ministry is needed within the walls of the church as well as outside of the walls of our sanctuary. I believe that there are many things that you and I must share in church before we dare to go to the prison, the battered women's shelter or any other institution of entrapment. Simply because there are people inside the church and under the banner of Jesus who are entrapped and need a word of encouragement. The writer of the proverbs helps me defend my point here:
Proverbs 12:25
Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
Proverbs 15:23
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
Proverbs 25:11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Many of us are in various areas of ministry where it becomes necessary to touch what I call the untouchables but isn't that what Jesus did/, he went about trying to touch everybody that he could rather he was sanctioned by the disciples of not and he spoke words over their lives that I call words of encouragement. And what I'm saying is I know that we have the responsibility of preaching Holiness, I know we have the responsibility if pointing out sin, I know we have to present the judgments of God but we also have a responsibility to show compassion, love, mercy and encouragement as did Jesus:
Matthew 5:3-18
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they, which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they, which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
I personally don't believe that he was just speaking to the righteous folk but to the unrighteous as well. I hope that when we witness to people that we are
looking for a certain look or language . I pray that we are willing to speak words of life into every situation that we encounter both end and outside the
church.
To the girl who feels that she has no option other than to sell her body, she needs to know that there is a better way.
To the woman who comes to our churches, concerts, conventions, etc. who is raising her children by herself, she needs to know that, "What's coming is better than what's been"
To the person who is in a constant struggle with his or her life style, they need to be given a word of hope, that what's ahead of you is better than what's behind you.
To the pastor who is dealing with all of the pressures of trying to keep a small congregation together, he/she needs a word of hope that "what's coming is better than what's been"
What I'm trying to say in this issue is simply before we get too far gone in the year, let's unite in a crusade or movement of encouragement, whereby we
are not just concerned with what we have going on but also are concerned about the lack, shortcoming, hurts and pains that some one else might be experiencing.
Listen, it is a part of our Christian responsibility. Hear the words of Paul as he writes to the Church of Corinth:
2 Cor. 2:1-14
1 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is
the joy of you all.
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
5 But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. 14Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
He goes on to encourage the Saints at Philip:
Philip. 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
And then he goes on to encourage his son Timothy in the work that he's doing:
1 Tim. 6:12-21
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all
things to enjoy;
18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
2 Tim. 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
The year is moving on rather rapidly, who have you helped, who have you spoken words of life into, who have you poured yourself into , who have you blessed, who have you told that there is a better way, who have you sent strength, who have you told, "What's coming is better than what's been"?
Written By: Bishop Larry D. Trotter
Pastor: Sweet Holy Spirit Full Gospel Baptist Church
Chicago, Illinois
Site Designed By: Marva Brewington
