Hattiesburg American
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| Randall Silas has been named bishop of a Hattiesburg congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Photo: Matt Bush, Hattiesburg American) |
LDS bishops are lay ministers who are not paid for the 20–30 hours they spend each week ministering to their congregations. The bishop is assisted by two counselors. Bishops serve for five to 10 years, and are recommended to the First Presidency of the LDS Church by the local stake president, the ecclesiastical leader of a geographical area that comprises 8–10 wards or congregations (3,000–4,000 members).
"The stake president and his two counselors consider individuals within the ward/congregation and prayerfully consider who has the leadership skills, but more importantly, who can nurture and guide the members as they learn and grow in their knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ," said Hattiesburg Stake President Howard Stevens.
The church leadership in Salt Lake City, Utah, approves the nomination and it is ratified locally.
Silas is the first African-American bishop for the 380-member Hattiesburg congregation, which has about 15–20 black members. Stevens said the exact number of African-American members in Hattiesburg is not counted because membership records do not differentiate race.
"We do hope that Bishop Silas' involvement in the African-American community will open additional doors for our missionaries to share their message about our church," Stevens said.
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| Randall Silas, a bishop of a Hattiesburg congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks with Chad, Colleen, and their daughter, Sadie Foote, outside the church. (Photo: Matt Bush, Hattiesburg American) |
Silas is employed as a licensed radiologic technologist at Family Practice After Hours Clinic in Hattiesburg and Magee General Hospital, and he also works at Grover Brothers Restaurant Equipment in Hattiesburg.
A Poplarville native, he was raised in Hattiesburg by his father and stepmother, William and Ola Silas, after the death of his mother, Margie Silas. He graduated from Hattiesburg High School.
"I joined the church (in 1992) as an adult after being raised Baptist, going to Holiness church in my preteens and studying with Jehovah's Witnesses for a month and a half," he said. "You could say I was searching but didn't find it until later in life."
Silas and his wife, Betty Bouie Silas, have five children, Randi, 26; Keshia, 23; Christal, 21; Randall II, 19; and Ariel, 12.
"Christal and Randall II have chosen to take their faith to a level that many of the young adults in our church have been asked to," Silas said. "They left on Aug. 11, going to the church's Missionary Training Center for nine weeks where they will learn Spanish and the culture of the people of Argentina. Then they will be off to Argentina where they will serve the remainder of Christal's 18 months in Buenos Aires South, and Randall two years in Cordoba. They will not even be together in Argentina. Not many parents can send two of their kids away on his birthday for such long periods of time and feel blessed to do so. Not that I won't miss them, I love them dearly, but for what the Lord will teach them during this time that I cannot."
Randall and Betty were high school sweethearts.
"Behind every good man is a better woman is a fact when it comes to her," he said. "She has been with me literally through the good and bad. She is culinary chief assistant at Olive Garden, but more importantly, she is a loving mother and role model to our five children."
Silas also gives credit to his two assistants, professors at the University of Southern Mississippi.
"The Lord has given me two of his dear sons to serve alongside me, Jeff Tucker and Scott Klingler, whom I have asked the Lord to allow to serve with me. And has has granted my request knowing my weaknesses, and their strengths."
Silas replaces David Hunt, a college professor who has served as Hattiesburg bishop for the past six years. He and his family have relocated to Augusta, Ga.
"Bishop Silas has been a very active member of the church and has been a role model for other members for many years," Stevens said. "As spoken of in Titus and I Timothy, Bishop Silas is sober, apt to teach, a steward of God, and a man of faith. He has served in various church positions which have allowed him to grow in his faith and demonstrate that he loves all people regardless of their current conditions. This will help him lead, teach and counsel with the members of his ward."