Deeper Life Church Ministries Celebrates 37 Years

Goldsboro, NC – SAVED News – Deeper Life Church Ministries (DLCM) celebrated its thirty-seventh Founder’s Day on Sunday, February 21, 2021. This celebration was different for the DLCM founder, Apostle Norbert E Simmons. While now serving as Founder and Overseer of DLCM, Simmons acknowledges how things have changed. The first difference was the worship service was held via Facebook and YouTube due to the continued impact of covid19. The second difference in this Founder’s Day was that Apostle Simmons had retired as the church’s senior pastor. “That’s why having a succession plan in place is so important. Little did I know we would have a pandemic which would amount to virtual worship services. I selected the right young man at the right time. Not only is my successor an excellent preacher, teacher, and leader. He is also up to date on all the current technology needed for the church to go virtual.” The virtual worship service began with a look at thirty-six years of Apostle Simmons’s accomplishments as founder, teacher, senior pastor, builder, and community leader.

Passing the Sword

On February 16, 2020, Apostle Norbert Simmons passed the sword that hung on the wall in his church office to the current Senior Pastor, Dr. Aaron McNair, II with these words, ” Don’t be afraid to rebuke, be unselfish in your leadership, don’t be selfish with your love…love the people and they will love you back…Wow, this is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but I feel good about it because I know it’s going to be in good hands. I release my duties as Senior Pastor of Deeper Life Church Ministries into the hands of you my son, Pastor Aaron McNair, Jr. and to you Lady McNair….First Lady and I release our responsibilities into your hands.”
Receiving the baton was a surprise. “I am a 7th generation preacher,” said Aaron McNair, II, DLCM Senior Pastor. “I was already the pastor of Mt. Moriah Community Church in Raleigh, N.C.. I not only pastored; but I was doing workshops, writing my first book, and pursuing my doctorate. Little did I know that God also had plans for me to succeed such a giant among men and community leader, Apostle Norbert E Simmons, the founder and senior pastor of Deeper Life Church Ministries. I am truly honored and humbled by this assignment. I know that to whom much is given, much is required.”

Apostle Norbert and First Lady Gwen Simmons.
Photo courtesy of Deeper Life Church Ministries

Giving Honor

First Lady Gwen Simmons stated that she is privileged and honored to have been by his side, having a close view about how he feels and thinks about doing ministry. His retirement has meant that we have more time together. I’m really going to enjoy my time with him just to do whatever we decide to do. However, I am certain that while he has retired as senior pastor, he has not retired from the ministry.”
DLCM’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Victor Boykin “I have found Apostle Simmons to be a true man of God. Always teaching, preaching, saving souls while being the first partaker and living by the word of God. His teaching and preaching have shaped me into a better husband, father, and man of God.
LaVone Hicks has been a member under the pastorship of Apostle Simmons for forty years. “I only know Apostle Simmons as a man of integrity, despite challenges, when others went low, he kept the high roll. He is truly a man of God.

Apostolic Wisdom

Apostle Simmons’s message to pastors is to prepare for retirement and know when it’s time. If you are in God’s time, it will be a sweet transition. If you are confused, it’s not of God. Seek someone who will leave the ministry better than they found it and that the ministry will thrive and grow. Retire while you are on top. Don’t stay in the pulpit so long that you tear down what you built up. My successor can do just that. I am happy with my choice.

Apostle Simmons’ History

Norbert Simmons was born to the late Levancie and Georgie Lena Jones Simmons in Mt. Olive, NC, on March 29, 1949. He graduated from Carver High School and serves as the National Chaplain of Carver HS Alumni. Apostle Simmons received a MA and Doctorate from North Carolina College of Theology (NCCT), Wilmington, NC. He has also served on the board of directors of NCCT. After being born again in 1974, he soon became a renowned evangelist and later a pastor and founder. He remodeled two churches and build three new churches from the ground. DLCM, the last church built from the ground, began with nine members has grown to as many as 2000 members at one point in its history. The current location is over 52000 sq feet, totally equipped for ministry. The church thrived under his leadership and now the sword has been passed to his current successor, Aaron McNair, II.