Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church welcomed its 11th pastor in 138 years on Sunday with hymns, prayer and several hundred parishioners and dignitaries on hand to wish him well.

The Rev. Vincent K. Campbell, 45, who moved to Pittsburgh with his wife and five children from Nashville, said he was “delighted” to be in the city.

“From City Council to all of the residents of the Hill District, they've all welcomed me with open arms,” he said before a 3 p.m. church service. “I look forward to serving all of the residents of the city.”

The historic Hill District church, which members rebuilt on Wylie Avenue after a devastating 2004 fire that killed two firefighters, hosted a weekend-long celebration of the new pastor starting on Friday. The Rev. J. Van Alfred Winsett retired last year after serving 39 years.

“I feel that Pastor Campbell is an answer to our prayers, and we believe that he will lead Ebenezer to the next level,” said Gloria M. Walton, a church deaconess. “He's going to take off where Rev. Winsett left off. For everything there is a season and a purpose under the sun, and this is Pastor Campbell's season.”

The Sunday afternoon service featured guest speakers, including District Judge Oscar Petit, who grew up in the Hill; City Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle of the Hill; state Rep. Jake Wheatley, D-Hill District; and the Rev. Forest E. Harris Sr., president of the American Baptist College in Nashville.

Lavelle and Wheatley presented Campbell with proclamations from City Council and the state House.

“He's from out of town, and the big question is, ‘Can he learn to love the Pittsburgh Steelers?' ” Petit said, drawing laughter from the crowd. “He'll have to answer that.”

Bob Bauder is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-765-2312 or bbauder@tribweb.com.

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