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Verdell O. Hickman knows a great deal about sacrifice and struggle. His journey to become a bishop of the True Church of God of the Apostolic Faith hasn't been an easy one.
Hickman's ordination was announced in 2006. However his enthronement as bishop took place in Toledo, Ohio, on July 28 of this year.
The ceremony took place at the Toledo-based True Church of God of the Apostolic Faith mother church.
Each of Hickman's garments -- including the miter, staph, cross and ring -- were brought forth in a ceremonial way, said Hickman's wife, Rosetta.
She said each garment is san.jpgied, and bishops pray over each one.
"It was quite a ceremony, and it's not something that happens often in True Church," she said. "If you go back a little with even our missionaries, our evangelists, and our teachers in the church, we don't just get those titles in True Church, and the apostle takes them very seriously."
The enthronement means Hickman is third from the throne over the church. Presiding, in order, are the apostle, the presiding bishop, and Bishop Hickman.
His journey to bishop began as a student at the University of Toledo Technical College, where Hickman studied environmental and public health technology. When Hickman was one field trip from graduation, and with all courses completed, the church needed assistance in the worst kind of way, he said.
"There was none other to step into that situation other than myself," Hickman said. "Upon weighing the benefits, I decided to help the church and missed the field trip and did not graduate, but I don't regret that."
Hickman went on to receive a bachelor's degree in organizational management from Voorhees College in 1997 and a Master of Divinity from Carolina Theological Bible Institute in 2003.
Hickman was baptized in 1971 and received the Holy Spirit in January 1979. Afterward, he was immediately appointed to the office of deacon and formally ordained in August 1979.
In 1981, Hickman was appointed director of the College of Deacons. As director, he conducted the affairs of the school according to the wishes of the president and bishop of the college.
Hickman was also the chief instructor in the College of Deacons. As such, he supervised and taught the deacons-elect, or young men called to possibly become deacons. Hickman instructed them on all things required of them to be considered.
Requirements for men to be considered for the College of Deacons include being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins and receiving the Holy Spirit.
Other requirements are faithfulness to God, his word and the church; obedience to the faith; loyalty to the church, and responsibility to handle assignments as directed. The men also have to be students of the word of God.
Hickman's position as chief instructor was a 5-year project that began with five men and evolved to a college exceeding 27 men. He held post from 1981 to 1988.
In April 1986, Hickman was declared an elder and pastor by the apostle and ordained formally as pastor in August 1986 at the church's general convention. He was installed as pastor in Orangeburg in October 1988 and moved his family to the area in February 1992.
Hickman's selection as bishop has been an ongoing process, he said.
"It's a process that can span over any number of years," he said. "In the case of the True Church of God hierarchy, they look in depth for the type of person they believe can serve God best. That person would have had to have displayed over a long period of time faithfulness and loyalty to the church. That person would have to have exhibited define and undisputable gifts of God working in that person. That person would have to be willing to give himself totally to the Lord, whatever it might require. Many times it requires tremendous sacrifice, sometimes even some suffrage.
"These are defining points which differentiate between someone who would just like to be and someone who is truly called to be."
As bishop, Hickman is responsible for five churches, including his home church in Orangeburg on Irvin Street, as well as churches in Wilmington, Del.; Newport News, Va.; New York City, and Florida. He oversees the churches and must keep a physical eye on them as best he can -- even if that involves being drawn out of his home to drive over and see what's happening at any given time, he said.
"The bishop is entrusted with many churches; therefore, he is entrusted to oversee many souls, and one soul is most precious to the Lord," Hickman said. "If you fail the church, then you fail him (the apostle), thus you cause him to have failed God."
Hickman's wife, who is a missionary in the church, can te.jpgy to the fact that her husband's journey to be ordained bishop has not been easy.
"You have to study, and they're watching you," she said. "There are actual examinations that you have to take to show that you know something about the word of God. So it's not something where you just get a piece of paper."
At one point, Rosetta Hickman said she had to be questioned to see you how she felt about her husband becoming a deacon, an elder and then a bishop to see if she was in agreement, she said.
"There are also times when even if you become a missionary your spouse has to right a letter," she said. "In our church, if you get a title, it really means something. It's not something they just give you. It's not something that should be taken lightly."
Together, the Hickmans have nine children -- Kimani, Ayanna, Kenyatta, Akua, Anika, Kalanji, Anna, Pamela and Kelli.
Daughters Anika and Anna said it was rough growing up with both parents involved in the church, but both agree their father is deserving of all his titles.
"To have parents that are in ministry it is a very difficult thing," Anika said. "They make a choice to put God first, each other second, family third and if it's out of order, then there will be nothing but chaos."
She said there were times she and her siblings didn't understand having to sacrifice time with their parents for the church.
"We were sometimes without them immediately around us, and as children you don't understand it," Anika said. "I understand it now, but it's not an easy adjustment, and it's not roses as a lot of people think. They see the family, they see the structure, and they think, 'Oh this is easy.' It's not an easy thing."
Daughter Anna agreed it was difficult, saying the spotlight was put her and her siblings to always do the right thing.
"Growing up, it was hard to do, for people to always look up to you and always put you on a pedestal because of who your parents were," she said. "As I've gotten older, I think that both of my parents being in the ministry had an effect on me and my walk with Christ."
After watching her parent's lives, Anika said they were perfect examples of what parents should be, what saints should be, what a missionary should be, and what a bishop is and should be.
"They sacrificed themselves even to this day continually for the cause of Christ and I have nothing to do but support them and try to hold them up as they go on in their journey," Anika said. "It strengthens me and causes me to want to do, I can't say the same thing, but as far as God wants me to go, I'm willing."
Rosetta Hickman said it doesn't come as a surprise that her husband was chosen.
"He's a listener and he has always taken a lot of time with the members of the church," she said. "He's always given of himself. If things were kind of tight for us, he still always found a way to share whatever he had with members of the church that didn't have or who were in need."
Bishop Hickman said his family has been through a great deal for the kingdom of God and the church, and God continues to bless his family.
"God to a great degree has prospered us, because you can never ever even contemplate in your mind doing more for God than he will do for you, if you trust him," Hickman said.
T&D Features Writer Candace Newson can be reached by e-mail at cnewson@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5540. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.