By Ulysses Stephen King, Jr.
“For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand . . . These forty years the LORD your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing” — Deuteronomy 2:7, NKJV
The following blog is an excerpt from a chapter in my upcoming and new book which I hope to publish in the Spring of 2026. The new title, “Running Back to You” is a follow-up to my first book, “Running Away” (2015). I had gone through several titles before deciding on this one. It was while I was listening to gospel artist, composer, and writer, Fred Hammond’s song, Running Back to You that I was inspired to adapt “Running Back to You” as the title for my new book. Thank you in advance for sharing with me in my journey towards fulfilling my destiny.
“Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God has done.”[i]
My father, the late Bishop Ulysses S. King, Sr., sang this hymn—which he loved—often during our worship services. Not many black classical Pentecostal churches during that time sang from hymnals, and few do today. He believed every word he sang from this hymn[1]. He was neither rich nor famous, but he knew he was blessed. He loved being a pastor and serving the people of God was his joy. I never once heard him complain nor witnessed him speaking ill towards the saints, the church, ministry, or people in general.
I wish I could say that my past 40 years in pastoral ministry and leadership have all been filled with joy and excitement, but then I would not be telling the truth. The truth is there have never been a day since I was officially installed as pastor[2], where I felt completely comfortable, confident, and secure in my calling and position to serve in the body of Christ. I wish I could say that I was like my father who never complained and who loved every minute being in ministry, but once again, I’m unable to make that claim.
In March 2025, our church leaders decided to set a date to plan a service to celebrate my 40 years in pastoral ministry and leadership. When asked by the ministerial staff for the exact date of my pastoral anniversary and installation, I had to literally search our church records for that moment in time. I had honestly blocked it out of my memory.
After I retrieved the church records and began reviewing them, it immediately brought back painful memories of years long past, particularly of the time when my father called me into his office to inform me of his decision to appoint me to succeed him as pastor in his place. I was neither ready nor prepared for this moment. I was, however, obedient to my father’s instruction and direction. He was not only my biological father he was my spiritual father as well. I believed God directed him in this decision even if I could not understand God’s will or plan for me at the time.
My life would be forever changed by the weight of that decision. I would never be the same.
At that time my father was 78 years old and critically ill with cancer. He had a sense that his life was quickly coming to an end, and there was no certainty there would be a tomorrow for him. He was concerned about the future of the church and the time to transition leadership was imminent, urgent, immediate, and necessary. In my mind I honestly believed my father would be healed of cancer and the church would go on as it always had been before becoming ill.
For 40 years, Dad served the church, community, and the people of God with distinction and faithfulness. The church was literally his life, and he was deeply committed to it. It wasn’t until late in life that he took time away from the church and the pulpit to spend time in personal, physical, and mental care and rest. The timing of his death in 1985 (40 years as pastor) and my appointment to be the shepherd over the church (now 40 years) seemed coincidental.
There had been no discussion about a transition of leadership, or a plan of succession in place (something every church needs and should have). We were people of faith who believed and trusted its leaders to follow God’s command and direction for his Church. And if I was to be God’s choice in this decision then it was my duty to be an obedient servant and serve. I was loyal and faithful to my father and never questioned his leadership and authority as God’s apostle. I also loved my father completely. Some might even call it an obsession.
The actual date of my appointment to be the pastor was March 4, 1984, so our church leaders decided March 30, 2025, would be an appropriate date to then celebrate my 40th year as pastor. The one and only anniversary service I can recall was in 1985, the very first one nearly a year after my appointment. In the 40 years after, I don’t remember nor recall celebrating any pastoral anniversaries. This may have been an intentional decision on my part to mentally block the past from memory. I was a little anxious and apprehensive about celebrating this one.
I tried my best to discourage and persuade our ministerial staff from following through with the service, but I was quickly overruled. I was counseled that my actions were selfish and that I was preventing those who had been blessed to serve under my leadership and ministry from expressing and showing their sincere appreciation and love for me. It was once said, “A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love, and well-being.”[3]
The Bible is replete with instructions to the body of Christ how to appreciate the shepherd who cares for God’s sheep. In 1 Timothy 5:17, Paul encourages us to give “double honor” to those who preach and teach. Certainly, pastors who so willingly serve and shepherd their congregations are worthy of showing honor. When we express our appreciation, it is not only the pastor who is being blessed—the church congregation is blessed too.
Needless it is to say, I am not unique in any way. I am no Moses, Joshua, or David. I am nowhere near or in the same category of ministry as some whom God has called. I am not famous or popular. It is my hope, however, I will be remembered as being a faithful and committed servant. Success to some is measured only by the sheer number of followers and members one has in his or her church. Ministry has turned into a form of competition—not by our mission and calling which . . . “is to go forth in the power of the Holy Spirit to save souls for the kingdom of God.”[4]
It is not important to me that no one knows me or my name. I am no longer relevant as I once was in my youth. Friends who once called upon me at times to minister in their churches are few. The ministry and preaching trends and styles have changed over the years. Today’s focus tends to be on personality driven ministry rather than preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.
My calling and appointment to pastor and to lead the flock of God was not (as I stated above) entirely my own. It was not intentional nor something I’d planned as a life’s goal. I had no burning bush experience like Moses or a light shining from heaven and a voice speaking to me like the apostle Paul. My calling into the ministry was during a revival service at the age of 13 when I heard and discerned the call of God to preach. I knew then the hand of God upon my life to be an evangelist. The future however would be different. It wasn’t until many years later that I fully understood the purpose of my calling under the anointed apostolic leadership of my father.
The past 40 years have not been all bad. I’m sure some would say I am not as beloved, open, and as caring as my father was. To be fair, I am not my father. I believe there were many who may have had unrealistic expectations of me and assumed I would follow completely in my father’s footsteps. In their view I failed to meet certain expectations of leadership set by my father. I can certainly understand some of their disappointments. My father was an exemplary leader who in many eyes was their Moses. But even Moses had his moments of failure, doubt, and disappointment.
There have been times of great celebrations over successes and battles fought and won. I believe the majority of us in pastoral ministry do our very best to be faithful to our calling and fulfill our purpose. We want to please God above all else. Faithfulness. Service. Godliness. Character. These are words that define us as true spiritual leaders whom God calls. (Rev. 2:10).
Despite the trials, tests, and failures I am truly thankful to God for placing those special people in my life that make ministry all worthwhile. John Hanneman, writes in his Bible study in the book of Colossians, “We follow Jesus by loving God and loving others. Being a servant is more of a mindset or an attitude that we carry with us throughout our days rather than a task we strive to complete. We simply do what is before us faithfully, most of the time without notice or fanfare. There are no qualifications needed for being a servant, no degree, no theological training; just a willing heart that sees the needs of others with kindness and compassion. The amazing thing is that being a servant isn’t work, it is life giving.”[5] Throughout my 40+ years in ministry I’ve been blessed to know and find that “faithful few” who will stand by and with you through and in the midst of the storms of life—in the good and bad times.
So, what now? I read someplace that retirement is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible. Just when I thought or felt it was the time for me to step down, I quickly realized it was only a minor detour. I needed to pause, rest, and for strength to be renewed. That time will come but the Spirit says, not yet. The journey may seem long at times and there are many detours along the way, but I’ve learned they are only there for my protection and to calibrate where He is leading me. Job said, “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).
There has been a change in me. I want to believe I have grown and that growth has awaken me to awareness of who I am and an understanding of my relationship with the One who called me. His voice is clear and speaks to me still, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you” (John 15:16, NKJV).
The pathway to spiritual growth and change was a process of personal identity creation and formation—natural and spiritual. There were times when I felt I had to recreate myself to fit each generational change and trend in ministry in order to be heard and accepted. During my adolescent years I was known as “Jr. King” the aspiring young preacher and evangelist (age 15 into my 20s). Then I grew from Jr. King to Stephen the minister and pastor (20s into my 30s). Then from Stephen to Ulysses (mid-30s to the present). Each name change was a marker in my life.
What do I mean by life-markers? Life-markers are reminders of life altering events, or major decision taken at various points in our lives. I’ve had many along the way and I would think forty-plus years in ministry would definitely count as a life-marker. Olivier Serrat said, “Life-markers are points of inflection: some are shared; others are yours alone. Personal life-markers hold one-of-a-kind energy that frames our values and imbues our lives with sense, coherence, and meaning.”[6]
Through it all I am eternally grateful for the lessons learned, the highs and lows, the trials and tests, and for faith increased. Sho Baraka, Editorial Director of Christianity Today, wrote in an article, “. . . let our fellowship with God be the tutor that leads us to graduate to new seasons”.[7] This has been my life’s goal and mission, that is, to please God. Nothing else matters.
Some of what I have written would seem counterintuitive and the opposite to everything I’ve said and believe but that is the beauty of writing. Writing allows one to think freely and openly and share one’s thoughts, angsts, emotions, and feelings with an unseen audience. I, however, must be willing to be open to criticism, opinions, and even judgment. At the end of the day, regardless to what people think and say of me, I want God to be pleased with me. There is no safer place than to be in the arms of Jesus. As the lyrics in Fred Hammond’s[8] wrote in his self-reflective song says,
“I am running back to you
I see your standing there for me
Your arms are opened wide
And I don’t have to cry no more
You’re standing there for me and I am running back to you
Why do I go away when I know I am no good when I’m on my own.”
[1] Melodies of Praise (The Gospel Publishing House, Springfield, MO, 1957), No. 43
[2] September 16, 1984
[3] “James E. Faust Quotes.” BrainyQuote.com. BrainyMedia Inc, 2025. 15 August 2025. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/james_e_faust_621216
[4] Ministry Magazine, “What Constitutes Success in the Ministry,” Archives, September, 1950 | https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1950/09/what-constitutes-success-in-the-ministry
[5] Peninsula Bible Church Cupertino, John Hanneman, “Spiritual Companions and Faithful Servants,” 8/26/2012, https://pbcc.org/sermons/spiritual-companions-and-faithful-servants/
[6] Olivier Serrat, 2021. “Life-Markers and Personal Values,” Springer Books, in: Leading Solutions, pages 55-56, Springer.
[7] Sho Baraka, Editorial Director of Christianity Today, “A Life Well Lived”, CT Mosaic, Christianity Today, August 8, 2025.
[8] Hammond, Fred, “Running Back to You” (Commissioned), 1986.
[i] Oatman, Johnson, Jr. (1897), “Count Your Blessing” (Baptist Hymnal, 1991)