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Off The Road, With A Vision

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 1, 2007

Updated: 11/29/2007 06:35 pm

EDITOR'S NOTE: This an occasional series spotlighting local clergy members. This week's column features Edith Langston and Rosetta "Rose" Smith, co-pastors of Gospel METS Ministries. The church, with about 50 members, is at 1102 E. Laura St. and its telephone number is (813) 759-0607. Services include Sunday worship at 11 a.m., Bible class from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and prayer and praise from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursdays.

PLANT CITY - Co-pastors Edith Langston and Rosetta Smith smile and laugh easily as they talk about their work through Gospel METS Ministries. The church meets in a worn-looking building, but the two sisters are quick to point out that life is on the insides.

Except where otherwise noted, the following responses are from Langston.

Q. What does METS stand for?

A. Messengers of Edifying Truth and Salvation. It's a church and a support agency.

Q. What do you say to those who insist women shouldn't preach?

A. They need to read the Bible more carefully. In Christ Jesus there is no male or female. We're not under the law any longer. We're all one in Christ.

Q. When, and why did you start the church?

A. It was 1990. We were reading the newspaper and read about all this crime in Plant City. The Lord started talking and told us if we come off the road he'll give us a place.

Q. The road?

A. The Gospel METS singing group; the Lord spoke and said come off the road. That was a hard pill. We loved to travel and we had some great experiences. But God wanted us to start the church and that is what we did.

Q. Why one more church in Plant City?

A. We wanted to do something to really benefit the community. We have a food bank, a clothing bank, plus furniture and whatever when families are down and out. It's a church with a mission and with a vision.

Q. Is the mission effective?

A. Yes. We did 'Operation Restore' some years ago. We'd hit the high crime areas and sing and pray. Crime went down while we were doing that.

Q. Where were you trained?

A. We got it in church all our lives. We are licensed, and we were evangelists on the road. But God said set up a ministry at home.

Q. Are you from Plant City?

A. Born in Keysville; Edith 1943 and Rose 1945 Crump. Our mother was a homemaker. Our father - Joe Crump - worked at the sawmill and played baseball. We grew up in the Firstborn Church, and also the Baptist church in Keysville.

Q. How about school?

A. Keysville, then Marshall. It was an all-black school in that time.

Q. When did you start singing?

A. We were 5 and 7; the Crump sisters our other sister is deceased. We used to sing on the radio for local radio station WPLA; they put us up on a stool. We were always singing in somebody's church.

Q. Have you recorded?

A. We'd just made one album, 'Hurt' Gramercy Records, 1988. Edith had written songs for professional groups. The producer said I was one of the best songwriters he'd heard. God gave us a prophesy that the album was coming back; we made a CD and it's still selling.

Q. What's your vision for the future?

A. To have a bigger place where we can better assist young people, a safe environment where we can teach them how to become well-rounded citizens. We already offer free music lessons and tutoring. We want to go back to the old ways, how the church used to serve the community; taking care of people who need.

Q. What are the challenges?

A. God has taken care of this place. The drug dealers are gone; God owns the corner now. Our biggest problem is lack of space and finances.

Q. Do you have a favorite hymn?

A. Edith: 'Father I stretch my hands to thee, no other help I know...'

Rose: 'Amazing Grace.'

Q. What Scripture inspires you?

A. 'I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.' (Philippians 4:13), and 'Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.' (Psalms 100)

Q. Do you have Bible heroes?

A. Moses, because he led the people. And Paul, because of the letters that he wrote concerning the ways that we should walk.

Q. What do you do for fun?

A. Rose: Travel, take two or three days.

Edith: I like to go out to eat and talk to people.

Q. Do you like Plant City?

A. Only thing I don't like about Plant City is the shopping! We need a major department store. We have a lot of friends here. People are all basically the same.

Q. Are you optimistic?

A. Oh yes. Because of the promises of God. Where he gives the vision he'll make provision. We take God at his word, regardless of what anybody says. God has dispatched angels around us to protect us.

Is there someone you would like profiled? Call Derek Maul at (813) 245-2304 or e-mail him at derekmaul@gmail.com.

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