Deacon Brian Outlaw Sr. will deliver his trial sermon at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept 22, in Christian Fellowship Center, 2400 Godwin Blvd.

Outlaw is a native of Suffolk and a 1984 graduate of the former John F. Kennedy High School. He has also attended classes and workshops at the Virginia University of Lynchburg. He is the eighth of 14 children born to Clifton and Josephine Outlaw. He is also married to the former Sheranda Shambley of Suffolk, and they have three children-Kimberly, 18; Brian Jr., eight; and JaMelvin, 3.

Outlaw has been a member of Metropolitan Baptist Church for 29 years and a deacon of the church for 11 years.

Outlaw said that he has always wanted to be a minister but didn’t quite want to accept the calling.

&uot;I have always done a lot of speaking engagements and people would tell me that I was doing an imitation of the real thing. I also couldn’t rest because God was constantly picking with me to do more. That’s when I knew what my calling was.

&uot;I love people ,and when you love people you can make a difference in their lives. I want to make a difference in and out of the community as well.

He also gives a lot of credit to Dr. Melvin Boone, pastor emeritus of Metropolitan Baptist Church. He said that Boone has nurtured him in the spiritual warfare and has seen great works come from this man of God. He also hopes that one day his ministry will affect people the same way that he has seen Boone’s ministry affect people.

&uot;When I told him that I had gotten my call into the ministry, he told me to do what God said to do – look to the hills where my strength comes from, keep my eyes locked on Christ and then my ministry will grow, flow and bloom like a flower,&uot; Outlaw said.

He is sending a special invitation to the class of 1984 of the former John F. Kennedy High School and is asking them to come and witness what the Lord is doing through His servant.