Pastor Robert Clemons plans for a growth at River Road Church of Christ in attendance and buildings.
Ashley Hindsman

ALBANY — With 10 years of pastorship under his belt, Robert L. Clemons Sr. has watched his congregation at River Road Church of Christ blossom into a mixture of diverse races, age groups and backgrounds.

“We have a cross section of people. A good percentage of elderly people, some in their 90s, still try to make it as many Sundays as they can. Plus we’re developing a real strong youth ministry,” the Aragon native said.

Far from its humble beginnings at the church’s original establishment on Lincoln Avenue, the congregation now extends its message across the seas with the Southern Africa-America Cultural Exchange and Training Program.

As part of the program delegates from South Africa come to Albany and live with some of the members of the congregation for a week. The delegates are taught health education, money management skills, church organizational skills and other aspects of American life.

In addition to that delegates from the church travel to South Africa and live  with them for two weeks, where they learn about South African culture and tradition.

Clemons said he just returned from his sixth trip with the program and is very proud of its success.

“We have that exchange (with the delegates from South Africa) and it’s just beautiful. It helps you to appreciate all the conveniences we have now, and it helped us to learn a lot about Africa.”

Youth members of the church also travel to Africa during their Christmas break from school as part of the youth ministry that Clemons said is quickly developing.

The youth ministry, led by John Watson, was developed to stress the importance of education and abstinence.

“We want to help young people see the progression from education, then career, then get married to help build stronger families in the church,” Clemons said.
 
 

Bro. Robert Clemons Sr.  Minister

Coming from a strong Christian background, Clemons went to Southwest Christian College in Terrell, Texas, with no real career plan outside of wanting to remain true to his religious beliefs.

“I had no idea what I wanted to do, I just knew I wanted to go to college,” he admitted.

Regardless, Clemons said his career in the ministry seemed to flow naturally, leading him to Arlington, Texas, Wichita, Kan., St. Petersburg, Fla., and then to Albany.

Ten years later, Clemons said he still has a lot of expansion in the works for the church. He said he hopes to build a family life center and a senior citizen complex in the near future to make the church the ultimate haven for the community.

“The River Road church is a real friendly, compassionate, outgoing church and our mission is to provide high quality teaching of the word of God, and to live by the same.”

This article was reproduced from the February 3, 2007           Albany Herald -Albany Ga.