Thank God for our Pastor.  Praise Jesus that His mercy and grace never stop shining.  After seeking God for a number of years for direction,…visiting numerous churches for a place of worship for himself and his family… and after much prayer, God stirred his passion for spreading the empowering truth of God’s Word to the people of God.. in a contemporary manner (form).  In 2008 God prompted Pastor Sams to seek out a venue for Essential Truth Ministries.   A friend allowed God to speak through him; prompted by God… Pastor Richard W. Sams answered his call to ministry in 1999 and in 2009 founded Essential Truth Ministries, Incorporated of Bartow, Florida.  Prior to becoming a Minister of the Gospel, Pastor Sams served as a Deacon at Mount Olive Free Will Baptist Church, Bartow, FL under the leadership of the late Bishop Andrew D. Smith.  In 1990, he was appointed as Chairman of the Trustees, shortly thereafter, he was appointed as Chairman of the building committee for a new edifice.

After a number years of faithful service, Pastor Sams accepted the call into ministry leadership in 2000; God, thereby confirming his gift of leadership.  Essential Truth Ministries is blessed to have a true Man of God.  Now, years later, he continues to lead Essential Truth Ministries spiritually and do the work that God has called him to do.  As we all know, we are influenced by our family and environment of community.  Pastor Richard W. Sams was born to the late Roscoe Sams and Mrs. Juanita Sams where they resided on the East side of Bartow, where he grew to adulthood.  Roscoe and Juanita raised him to be a hard worker, to be respectful to others and considerate for the less fortunate.  He is the third born of five children, in a home where love flows from corner to corner twenty-four hours a day three hundred and sixty-five days a year.  In this Christian home, he was continually exposed to the love of God which developed his quality of character.  He is a graduate of Bartow Senior High School he attended Alcorn State University in Lorman, MS.  Pastor Sams received a Bachelor in Theology from United Bible College and Theological Seminary in 2007.

Life is a journey and as we journey we are hoping and believing God for the very best life has and, to Pastor Sams’ wonderful surprise, God blessed him that on May 23, 1992, Pastor Sams united in holy matrimony with the beautiful former Pamela M. Jones, a native of Fort Meade, FL.  Pastor Sams is the father of three wonderful children, Courtney, Trace and Aissa. Fast-forwarding to work in ministry, the urging to become proactive as well as effective, he became involved with a group of citizens who were concerned for the betterment of the community.  God always knows and He always considers the needs of His people.  This Ministry is blessed to have a spirit-filled, God-ordained Pastor who is led by the Holy Spirit and shares God’s word with a calm authority.

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God. (Matthew 16:16)….Jesus said, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (truth) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. (Matthew 16:18) To God be the glory!!!! We know when in ministry, God has a plan.

We thank God for what He has already done, is doing and will do; therefore, we hold on to the Word of God in I Corinthians 2:9 that says “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” We know that the best is yet to come because Jesus is Lord!!!

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...an enriching spiritual journey