RELIGION /V1 G Mi)

The Chapel Hill News Friday, November 15, 1996

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Banker-turned-minister says choice was God's BY PATRICK O'NEILL Correspondent CHAPEL HILL - Father, husband,

school board chairman, student, banker. Those are just a few of the titles held by Mark Royster. On Sunday, Royster will add

ordained minister to his list. Royster, 45, a ~CB vice president; is slated for ordination during a public ceremony at Graham Street's First Baptist Church at 6p.m. A deacon at First Baptist since 1983,

Royster is quick to tell you that he did­ n't decide to become a minister, but rather he was called by God to his new vocation. For Royster, there was nothing sub­

tle about the call. Rather, it was some­ thing akin to being hit over the head by God. Before saying yes to God, Royster

said he was having trouble sleeping and he was not at peace. "A person does not decide to go into

ihe ministry," Royster said. "It was like something constantly pulling at you. I could not refrain from answering the call." So, Royster asked God for a sign. "I felt like there were already a lot of

things on my plate," Royster said. While he was visiting a church in

Granville County, a minister read from Romans: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel ofpeace," (Romans 10:15). From then on, Royster called the

minister who spoke those words - the Rev. Arthur Parker - "my sign man." On Nov. 1, Royster preached his first

sermon as pastor of Cedar Rock Missionary Baptist Church in New Hill. In addition to a Sunday morning ser­

vice, Royster will spend Tuesday nights at Cedar Rock leading a Bible study for his small congregation that numbers less than 50 members. Church members called Royster to

be their pastor despite the fact that he holds a degree in mathematics from Johnson C. Smith and works as a com­ mercial lending specialist at CCB. He also holds a graduate degree in bank­ ing from the University of Delaware To help him move from the analyti­

cal to the spiritual, Royster is now enrolled in Shaw Divinity School, where he is working toward a masters

in divinity degree. Royster is the youngest of Henry and

Grizel Royster's 12 children. The fami­ ly owned a farm in rural Granville County outside Oxford. Born in 1888, Henry Royster died

when his son Mark was just 8 years old. Grizel Royster is 85. While he remembers little about his

father, Royster says people only say positive things about Henry, a man who was very dedicated to his family. Looking through family papers,

Royster said he found documents showing that a mule and plow were among the things his father mortgaged to buy the family farm. After attending segregated schools

for most of his youth, Royster spent his final year of secondary school (1968-69) at Oxford's Webb High after the black school was closed. It was during that final year Royster

realized that separate was not equal. Interested in science and math,

Royster was awed to see the quality facilities at Webb High.

"More than one Bunsen burner, sinks everywhere," Royster said. "I just couldn't believe a school could be so nice. I never really realized just how the people on the other side of the tracks lived." Royster excelled at Webb High. He

received a citizenship award and was named to the National Honor Society. Quality education is something that

Royster wants to see guaranteed for all. That's why in 1993, Royster ran for and won a seat on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools board. He is now board chairman. Instead of complaining about inade­

quacies and wondering who was going to fix them, Royster said he decided to look within for solutions. Like his leap of faith into the min­

istry, Royster felt "a call" to run for school board. He thought of Isaiah 6:8 "I heard the voice of the Lord saying: 'Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?' Here I am. Send me." A Democrat, Royster said he prefers

to encourage people to vote their con­ sciences rather then for specific candi­ dates. Royster said First Baptist pastor John

Manley is a personhe c_on iders 'l en- tor. - • ' • · "Dr. Manley has really been very

instrumental in my spiritual growth,"

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Staff photo by David Alford

Mark Royster will be ordained a minister Sunday at First Baptist Church.

Royster said. "He encourages you to think and look deeply within your­ self." When it comes to ministry, Manley's

instructions are simple, Royster said. "Go with the Bible in your hand and

the word in your heart," Royster said Manley advised him.' Royster is married to the former

Phyllis Webb. They have lived in Chapel Hill for 19 years. Royster met his Jutul'€ wife while both were in high school. The couple has three children: Mark Jr., 22; Tremaine, 17; and Phylicia, 10.

Royster said he initially wondered how people would receive a preaching banker. So far, so good, he said. "I've always treated people fairly,"

he said. 'Tm able to get up the next morning and look myself in the mirror because I have told the truth." For now, Royster plans to remain a

banker and a preacher. But he remains open to God's call. "I promised the Lord I would go

wherever he would lead me," Royster 1 said. "I am willing to do that. The Lord has surely blessed me."

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CLIPPING SERVICE 1115 HILLSBORO

RALEIGH, NC 27603 (!; TEL. (919) 833·2079

NEWS & OBSERVER RALEIGH, N. C.

JAN 31 ~7- ,;, 'i l - -+tfr­ B a p tis t church to install pastor

NEW HILL

T he Rev. Mark R. Royster wi~ be-installed Sunday as pastor

of Cedar Rock Missionary Baptist Church. Royster is a native of Oxford.

He became a minister in 1996

and served as associated minis­ ter at First Baptist Church in Chapel Hill until he was named pastor of Cedar Rock Missionary Baptist Church late last year. He currently is enrolled in the

master of divinity program at Shaw Divinity School and also is a vice president and commercial/ real estate lending officer at Central Carolina Bank. In addition, Royster is chairman of the board of education of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. Royster and his wife, Phyllis, have three children. The installation ceremony will

begin at 3 p.m. at the Cedar Rock Missionary Baptist Church, which is about 10 miles south of Apex on Old U.S. 1, near New Hill.

FROM STAFF REPORTS

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CLIPPING SERVICE 1115 HILLSBORO

RALE\GH, NC 27603 (!/ TEL. \919) 833-2079

PUBLIC I.EDGE.I OXFORD, N. C.

~\,.. tro NOV (, l 99

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Monday, November 1, 199~

Royster celebrates 71-w; third anniversary NEW HILL - Pastor Mark R.

Royster Sr. and First Lady Phyllis W. Royster will celebrate their third anniversary at the Cedar Rock Missionary Baptist Church Sunday, November 7. The morning worship service

will begin at 11: 15 a.m. and Min­ ister Gracie Perry, associate minis­ ter of the Michael Creek Mission­ ary Baptist Church in Stovall, will deliver the morning message. The anniversary service will

begin at 3 p.m. and the Rev. T. C. Nicholson, pastor of the · Glenn Grove and Jones Chapel Mission­ ary Baptist Churches in Hillsbor­ ough will deliver the afternoon message. Pastor Nicholson will be accom­

panied by his choirs and congrega­ tions. A fellowship dinner will be served immediately after the morning and afternoon services. Pastor Royster and Sister Roys­

ter are both natives of Granville County. He is the son of Mrs. Grizel P. Royster and she is the daughter of Mrs. Carrie H. Webb. Pastor Royster is a 1973 gradu­

ate of Johnson C. Smith University where he received a bachelor of science degree in mathematics. He received his graduate degree in banking in 1992 from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Delaware in New-

ark, Delaware. Royster is also a May, 200(

Master of Divinity degree candi· date of the Shaw University Di· vinity School in Raleigh. In addi­ tion to his pursuit of Christiar education and his pastorate, he is employed as a first vice presidem and commercial lending specialisi at Central Carolina Bank and Trusi Co. Royster resides in Chapel Hill

and has been very active in com­ munity affairs. One of the most noted community positions was his being elected chairperson of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School Board of Education. He and Sister Royster are the

blessed parents of three children and a daughter-in-law, Tremaine, Phylicia, Mark Jr. and his wife, Christina. The Cedar Rock Missionary

Baptist Church family invite the public to attend both services. The church is located at 4908 Old US #1 Hwy. in New Hill. For more information, call 362-8090.

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