About the Author and Pastor – Joshua A. McClure, was called to pastor the Pleasant Street Baptist Church, Westerly, RI in 1986, after having served five years as associate pastor.  Before arriving in Westerly he served five years as associate minister of Pond Street Baptist Church, Providence, RI. 

Joshua graduated with a BA in Biblical Studies from Barrington College, Barrington, RI in 1983, receiving the school’s Biblical studies award. He attended Andover Newton Theological School in Newton, MA, until the fall of 1986.

He was elected president of the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island in 1980, along with receiving the denomination’s Man of the Year Award.

Joshua A. McClure’s Testimony Joshua A. McClure was born in Brooklyn, NY, in October of 1931 to devoted Christian parents. As a child he witnessed up close the sovereignty and healing power of the Most High God. Who else but God could take an angry and bitter African American man scarred by bigotry and racist events of his past, and bring him to minister in a small church in a predominantly white Italian Catholic community in the town of Westerly, Rhode Island. The miraculous thing is that McClure had been at that church before in December of 1959 when as a cabinetmaker he was asked to build the Church's communion table in memory of his mother who had recently passed. Five years later 70% of the church was destroyed in a disastrous fire, and yet this same communion table was miraculously undamaged. Was it a coincidence or was it the beginning of God's plan and vision for Joshua, Westerly, and the surrounding community? For in 1976, God placed His vision in the heart of Pastor McClure. That vision compelled him to give up everything he held dear and set him on the road of forgiveness and healing. In the Town of Westerly, 17 years after the fire, Joshua found himself standing behind that very communion table as God unfolded His vision at Pleasant Street Baptist Church. God had supernaturally prepared him to minister to people much like himself; those who were hurting, bruised, disenfranchised and in need of healing. Yes, Joshua would now be directed to share the gospel of God's love in the most distressed area of Westerly, Rhode Island. This is a triumphant story of restoration of a people, church, and community. It is a story of how a faithful God keeps his promise to all who will faithfully follow him. It is a story that all Christians need to hear. For more on Joshua’s testimony I refer you his book, "Can These Bones Live?"

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This site is dedicated to those who would desire to know a vision of God’s heart for His church. Vision is the prerequisite that gives divine direction to transform churches and communities Into vital living organisms that bring glory to Him Vital, alive churches manifest vision. Dying churches lack vision. God has been the life and hope of the church since its birth at Pentecost but somehow its flame and fire and vitality have been reduced almost to intellectual ash. It might even be said today, we closely resemble the period of 1 Samuel 3:1b where the writer reveals, “Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon.” [NLT] However, God still speaks through visions but the church must be open to see and hear. Vision is the way back to the flame, zeal, and power of the early church.

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Book shelf of my favorite titles.