Arnold minister named bishop of Haitian church
After 40 years in the United States -- 18 of them as pastor of the First Church of God of New Kensington -- the Rev. Leon Pamphile soon will return to his homeland of Haiti.
Pamphile has been designated the next bishop of Haiti for the Church of God in Christ. He will be installed during a ceremony next month in St. Louis.
"I have enjoyed my time in New Kensington," Pamphile said. "I feel God has blessed me and used me to touch many lives."
Pamphile, 68, of Pittsburgh, moved from Haiti to Pittsburgh in 1971 to further his education. He attended the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary on a scholarship and since has earned a doctorate in education from the University of Pittsburgh.
"It has always been my dream to be a minister," Pamphile said.
That dream came true in early 1994 when Pamphile took over as pastor of the First Church of God of New Kensington. He succeeded Elder George Houser, the congregation's founder.
"I came to study. I ended up staying, teaching and also I got the opportunity to fulfill the dream of my life," Pamphile said.
The public is welcome to attend a farewell service in Pamphile's honor on Sunday.
His final service with the church will be Oct. 30.
"He always encouraged us and empowered us to read the word of God, and that's where we've always found strength," said Deborah Ayers, a lifelong member of the church who became associate pastor about five years ago.
"He always has given words of encouragement," she continued. "He's very upbeat. He always has a song to sing."
Ayers said Pamphile's wife of 42 years, Rozelle, has been very involved in the church: "Him and his wife, they come as a package, and she's a beautiful person, as well.
"They have been with us through many of the challenges and many of the transitions we have made," Ayers added.
One of those challenges came in 2007 when the church's Fourth Avenue home of more than 50 years was acquired through eminent domain and demolished as part of New Kensington's revitalization efforts.
The congregation of about 100 members met in a senior citizens center until September 2009, when they moved into the former All Saints Catholic Church at 1700 Leishman Ave., Arnold.
"I hate to see him go," Ayers said. "He has had a great effect on my life."
Dedicated to Haiti
Although more than half of his life has been spent in the United States, Pamphile has remained close to Haiti.
He founded the Functional Literacy Ministry of Haiti in 1983. The Christian-based nonprofit organization provides education, health care and other basic needs for the Caribbean country, which struggled with poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and political upheaval long before the devastating earthquake of 2010.
Pamphile said he hopes to continue with his work at FLM Haiti.
Meanwhile, his duties as bishop of Haiti will include overseeing 120 churches and about 100,000 congregants.
He will be based in the country's capital, Port-au-Prince.
He will assist in the rebuilding of churches and communities damaged by the earthquake.
"Definitely, since the earthquake, it has been a big struggle," Pamphile said. "Rebuilding the country, the Church of God in Christ is in the middle of it."
Pamphile sees the opportunity to use his contacts within both countries to raise money and awareness for Haiti's plight.
"In another dimension, I will be like an ambassador of goodwill in the United States," he said. "I will help maintain relations between the mother church and the churches there. But also finding financial resources to help them."
Haitian connection continues
Ayers said Pamphile's continued dedication to Haiti has been an inspiration and helped inform people here about the country.
"His heart was with Haiti. He has never forgotten his homeland. That's something I admire in him," Ayers said. "Many people leave their country and forget, but he has always remembered where he came from."
"We have had events in the Pittsburgh area and in New Kensington to open people's interest in Haiti and what has been happening there," Pamphile said. "I have found a good deal of goodwill in the Pittsburgh area, and especially in New Kensington."
A local tie between Haiti and New Kensington will continue with Perry Tima, the new interim pastor of the First Church of God of New Kensington. Tima spent a decade of his childhood in Haiti and ministered to Haitian and other urban youths in South Florida.
"Pittsburgh in general has loved the Haitian people with a great deal of passion," Tima said. "Dr. Pamphile has been an educator in the community and helped shape a generation."
Tima said he looks forward to leading the congregation, but doesn't call himself a replacement for Pamphile.
"No one person can fill the shoes of the Rev. Dr. Pamphile," Tima said. "He is an excellent man of God. To me, he's like a father.
"If I can become half of the man he is, I'll be happy."
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Interim pastor
Perry Tima, 31, said he's excited to lead the congregation of the First Church of God of New Kensington.
'New Kensington seems to be a lovely community with a lot of hope and possibilities,' Tima said.
Tima moved to the Pittsburgh area about two years ago and lives in Penn Hills with his wife, Nerlange, and their 1-year-old son, Perry Jeremiah. Tima has been working with the Leishman Avenue church for at least a year.
'We're very excited, getting to meet the people, especially the youth,' he said.
The Timas moved to Pittsburgh to pursue their education. She's seeking a graduate degree, and he plans to begin at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary next fall.
Tima hopes his multicultural background and experience working with youth will benefit the First Church of God of New Kensington.
He was born in Maryland, moved to Miami as a toddler, then spent a decade in Haiti. He moved back to South Florida as a teenager and lived there until coming to Pittsburgh.
'We are excited to be here, and we invite people to come to our church,' Tima said. 'We are an international community of prayer and love.'
