by Clarence W. Thomas, Jr.
MGI Contributor
thomasjr63@gmail.com
Pastor Dr. Todd Shipp says “business as usual” in the church is no longer acceptable. “We have to stop looking to man for the answers and start looking to God for His Divine intervention “he insists. Synergy Church is where he’s putting his belief into practice.
The church has been in existence for eight years but moved to its current location in April. The church motto reads, “The Church Where Everybody is Somebody” and is proving to be worth the wait it took for Shipp and his wife of 33 years, Dr. Debra Shipp, to make it reality. “We have a great time studying the word of God through praise and worship,” he shared with the Informer.
Synergy has been a work in progress. Before settling on the current address, the Shipps held services in a couple of Macon locations including a hotel and office building. Dr. Shipp believes in preaching the unadulterated Word of God from the pulpit and making it simplistic to understand. The retired Army Lieutenant Colonel and retired K-12 Principal humbly admits that although he holds the position of Lead Pastor & Shepherd, God has directed him to lead this congregation. “Sometimes when you have a gift from God people aren’t always able to “exercise” their gift. I’m here to help guide my parishioners into getting a better understanding of the Word of God, their spiritual gifts and the work in helping build the Kingdom of God,” he said.
Dr. Shipp – Macon-Bibb County’s first Black Male Teacher of The Year, former Georgia Teacher of Teacher of the Year and recipient of the prestigious Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award ($25,000) – accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at age 13 but did not accept his calling in the ministry until 2002. In that same year he preached his first sermon at Macon’s St. Paul A.M.E. Church under the leadership of his former Pastor Rev. Terrence R. Gray. He was later licensed and ordained.
His greatest challenge has been trying to lessen the impact of “tradition in the church” through progressive, practical preaching and teaching. He says the church must get back to basics of studying God’s Holy Word, dissecting it, and researching it for clarity and most of all understanding. “God provides the increase. We’re supposed to be servants. I’m not here to be an entertainer. My goal is to make sure these parishioners I’ve been charged with leading are becoming more Christ-like; and that life with God is better every day and, in every way,” he added.
Dr. Shipp is striving to create host Men & Women’s Initiatives that are family focused like Men & Women’s Conferences and Men Empowerment Breakfast & Mentorship for teenage boys. The ultimate goal is to have Men, Women & Children, including the elderly, committed to recognizing the need for God’s Word in their daily lives. “Older people have always had a special place in both my wife and my heart too,” he shared. “They blazed a trail and made what younger generations have and do possible through their testimonies of God’s work in their lives.”
When asked what he wants people to experience when interacting with Synergy members, the Hodgenville, Kentucky native says, a sense of feeling welcomed, loved, valued and the precious gift of the Holy Spirit. Dr. Shipp believes if this happens behind and beyond the walls of Synergy, God will provide the increase. “I want people to see God working in me and this church. Making the Bible more simplistic and members more consistent and committed is the goal.”
Synergy Church is located at 7181 Zebulon Road in Macon. Worship service is held the First and Third Sunday at 8:15am. For more information on the church call 478-284-6971.
