LeRon West delivered his first sermon at Tulsa, First North, the oldest African American church in Tulsa. It was Jan. 1, 1983, and he preached on Psalm 1 to 300 people on that New Year’s Day.
“I thought I did an outstanding job,” West said about his inaugural sermon delivery. “I found out later that it was a lousy sermon. But I learned how to prepare a sermon, and God has blessed me since. That’s how I got started in the ministry.”
West has been pastor of Tulsa, Gilcrease Hills for more than 20 years, and it is the only church he has pastored.
West is a multi-vocational pastor. He previously was a firefighter and a real estate broker and currently works as a licensed electrical contractor. He said his electrical work helps support mission work.
He appreciates his church supporting the Cooperative Program (CP), knowing they are doing more through CP giving than just on their own.
“Our church has been faithful in giving,” he said. “Even through COVID, they gave.”
West encourages other multi-vocational pastors to be faithful to their calling.
“God will make time for you to be able to do what you need to do,” West said. “There’s a lot of times when you feel like you haven’t studied a sermon enough. If you make the effort to do what you can, God will fill in the rest. I know He works through me when I preach. God is always faithful. Do what you can, and God will take care of the rest.”
