Community Worship: Rev. Dr. Charles Boayue Jr.

Lakeside is excited to welcome Rev. Dr. Charles Boayue Jr., Senior Pastor, First United Methodist Church in Birmingham, Michigan, as Guest Preacher on Sept. 1. This week’s preacher is supported by Michael Henderson.

Boayue will lead the final 10:30 a.m. Chautauqua Community Worship Service of the season on Sunday, Sept. 1 in Hoover Auditorium. His sermon is titled “Actions Speak Louder than Words,” based on the scripture lesson Matthew 21: 28-32. In this parable, Jesus presents a father and his two sons. The father asked each of his sons to go and work in his vineyard. The older son says he will not do it but proceeds to do it anyway. The younger son agrees to do it, but really does not follow through. Jesus asked his disciples to identify which one of these two sons did what the father asked. They identified the older son who actually did what his father asked despite initially saying he would not do it. The sermon examines the meaning of this parable and its application in the lives of those who follow Jesus Christ. What does the Lord require of us? How are we answering God’s call? These questions face every disciple of Jesus Christ as we navigate the challenges and opportunities of our world today.

Michael Shirtz and guest artists will provide musical leadership during the service, while the liturgy will be led by Rev. Dr. Charles Yoost, Senior Director of Religious Life & Pastoral Care. Worship music for the 2024 summer season is supported by James E. Beardsley and Doris F. Beardsley.

Following the opening prayer, children (ages 5-11) will proceed to Bradley Temple for Children’s Church with Chip Richter. There will be a message by Richter, songs, crafts, lemonade and cookies to share. Preschoolers are welcome if accompanied by an adult.

Boayue was superintendent of the Greater Detroit District from 2015-2022 and has served the following appointments in the Michigan Conference, Detroit: Metropolitan Associate Pastor (1990-1992), Jefferson Avenue (1991-1993) and Second Grace (1999-2015) and Associate Council Director & Urban Missioner of the Detroit Conference (1993-1999).

He has had productive ministries everywhere he was appointed. At Metropolitan, he developed the Social Development and Athletic Program and recruited 163 neighborhood children and youth within one year. At Jefferson Avenue, his community outreach within the first year led the congregation to receive the Detroit Conference Church Growth Award for small churches in 1992. At Second Grace, he led the congregation to develop, build and successfully operate a $1 million health clinic on Detroit’s west side, and twice received the “Spirit of Detroit Award” from the Detroit City Council for his work to improve the quality of life for the city’s residents.

Between 2004-2010, the congregation purchased, renovated and established the Ellison Center (a community center within the Cody-Rouge neighborhood to serve the needs of children, youth and their families). In 2011, the congregation purchased a modern parsonage in Southfield.

Boayue led Second Grace UMC’s membership growth from 275 in 1999 to 426 in 2015 at a time when most congregations in the City of Detroit were losing members. The membership grew in diversity with persons from 13 different countries, and by lowering the average age of members from 69 years to 36 years within his 16-year leadership. In addition to 426 adult members, there were approximately 200 children and youth, up from about 26 children and youth when he first became pastor.

Boayue, a native of Liberia, received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Bethune-Cookman College (1984); a Master of Business Administration from Florida Southern College in Lakeland (1986); a Master of Divinity from Duke University (1989); and a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Trotwood, Ohio (1995). His doctoral dissertation, “The Role of Cross-Racial & Cross-Cultural Appointments in Nurturing Inclusiveness in the Michigan Area of The United Methodist Church” explores how our United Methodist itinerant system offers a creative pathway for the church to help society make the transition to a more inclusive future.

He served as conference youth president in Liberia and as youth chairperson and presidium member for World Methodist Council (1981-91). For his work in fostering the Wesleyan evangelical mission around the world, he was awarded the World Methodist Council’s Honorable Order of Jerusalem in 1999. Elected to five General and seven North Central Jurisdictional Conferences as a clergy delegate from Michigan, Boayue has served on a number of district, conference, jurisdictional and general agencies of the Church and provided significant leadership in the General Conference.

He has been married to Elizabeth, his youth sweetheart, since Dec. 22, 1990, and they have one young adult son, Charles III, a 2018 graduate of Wayne State University and works for the Henry Ford Health Systems. Elizabeth has worked as a Patient Care Counselor for Henry Ford Health Systems in Ferndale, Michigan, since 1999.

Boayue brings a global experience of the church and a unique witness to the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ.

Guests are welcome to attend Community Worship free of charge by requesting a complimentary Church Pass between 7:30-10:30 a.m. Sunday; valid until 1 p.m. The pass includes admittance for guests and auto. This pass must be presented to the gate attendant upon departure. If the time allotted is exceeded, the guest(s) will be charged a fee. This pass does not include access to the Grindley Aquatic & Wellness Campus pool. Complimentary passes are available for all worship services and Faith for Living Hour.