Alamogordo Proud Guided by Faith: Rev. Warren Robinson Retires as Owen Chapel Pastor By Jedi Moerke

Stepping inside the Sgt. Willie Estrada Memorial Civic Center, one almost felt as though they had just walked into Heaven itself.

Wide strands of white cloth radiated from the central chandelier to the outer edges of the room, diffusing the light that shone down upon tables and chairs adorned with white and accented with purple and gold. The color scheme gave a felt sense of the joy and solemnity of the evening and made one feel as though they were attending a heavenly feast.

Friends, family, and colleagues gathered on Saturday, June 24 to celebrate the retirement of Rev. Warren Robinson from his work as Pastor at Owen Chapel of the African Methodist Episcopalian Church. They came from various parts of the country to celebrate and honor him.

Among the crowd, local ministers from churches serving the Black and African-American community shared their reminiscences of Rev. Robinson’s work both inside and outside the church. They highlighted his prior career in education, his involvement as the Chaplain for Gerald Champion Hospital and the Alamogordo Police Department, his membership on the boards of CAPPED and COPE, and his contributions to cultural events including Kwanzaa. Some who spoke also referenced Rev. Robinson’s campaign for Magistrate Judge last year, further emphasizing his high ethical standards and compassion for others.

Pastor James Forney of Corinth Baptist Church playfully invited Rev. Robinson to continue his ministerial service among the Baptists since the AME Church requires retirement at 75. Pastor Forney’s words, though delivered with love and humor, underscored the respect and admiration Rev. Robinson earned among his peers. His community work and his impact garnered recognition; his colleagues and friends wanted more of his leadership, his compassion, and his wisdom. The heartfelt laughter of the crowd reflected bittersweet feelings about Rev. Robinson’s retirement.

Pastor Dr. J. L. Walker invigorated the crowd with words of comfort, assurance that God would guide those gathered through the change brought about by Rev. Robinson’s retirement, and a reminder that transition marks a beginning as well as an end.

Rev. George Mayes Jr. of Reno performed songs he wrote. His voice filled the room with melody and sentiment. Along with Pastor Leroy Copeland, Rev. Mayes led the group in a song about serving, healing, and blessing the community, a sentiment that encapsulated the spirit of the evening. Rev. Mayes found inspiration in Rev. Robinson; Mayes decided to nurture his talents and deepen his worship through music after experiencing blindness.

Rev. Robinson, always a servant leader, took his turn to inspire those present with a song of his own. His voice conveyed a message of moving through transitions with faith and a reflection of the journey that lay ahead for him and his congregation. It was a moment of vulnerability and strength. His song also let those gathered know that he intends to continue serving God and the community regardless of the titles he holds.

In his characteristic humility and appreciation for others, Rev. Robinson concluded the evening by presenting awards to members of his church, acknowledging their dedicated service. It was a reminder that, while he might have been at the center of the evening's celebration, he didn't stand there alone. His work and his impact were linked with the efforts of those around him. This expression of gratitude served as a testament to the exceptional qualities of the man attendees gathered to honor.

At evening’s end, one left the Sgt. Willie Estrada Civic Center feeling like they had truly enjoyed a heavenly feast attended by friends and loved ones. As attendees departed from the Civic Center, their hearts were filled with mixed emotions including pride in Rev. Robinson’s achievements, a touch of sadness for his retirement, and hopeful anticipation of his next endeavors. It was apparent to everyone present that Rev. Robinson’s legacy of service would be an inspiration and felt for years to come.

Special publishers note by Rene Sepulveda: AlamogordoTownNews.com and KALHRadio.org welcomes our newest contributor Jedi Moerke to our portfolio. Jedi offers a unique perspective and unique style to their pros. As our newest roving local community journalist, we hope our local community embraces her contributions and joins us in welcoming her to the portfolio. More on Jedi to come in a future story.

 Congratulations to Warren L Robinson. The staff and partners of Roadrunner Emporium and AlamogordoTownNews.com  had table for this event. We were especially moved and honored to be  part of this celebration of Warren Robinson as he truly represents service, commitment, community and humility. Reverend Robinson is an inspiration and role model to many and will continue as such in his next phase of service, a bit different then the past 20 years. We look forward to more from Mr. Robinson, in whatever path forward he chooses, as he truly represents what is right, possible and positive within Alamogordo and is certainly representative of “Alamogordo Proud.”

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