Pastor Billy Ingram
Pastor Billy Ingram Celebrates 30th Anniversary
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I love life, I’m having a lot of fun and I’m doing what I want to do. I really enjoy the ministry and I’m fortunate to be celebrating 30 years at the same church and 38 years of preaching”, the Ingram states.
By Niele Anderson
Sentinel Religion Editor
Billy Ingrams was born in Alabama, his family moved to Los Angeles when he was four. He attended Monroe Jr. High and Morningside High School. He is the father of 5 and is married to Solombra Ingram.
What a lot of people may not know is Pastor Billy Ingrams lives a double life. Not only can you find him in the pulpit spreading the message of the love of Jesus Christ you can also find him behind the camera on the red carpet. He is a professional photographer for Wire Images a division of Getty Images, which is the largest agency in the world located in 100 plus countries.
Pastor Billy as he is affectionately known has worked with Stevie Wonder on the original hit Ingram authored “The Legacy”, a history audio lesson that took off on KJLH. He’s participated on the Bible Experience an all African American cast of the bible on audio. He was once the Chaplin for the Los Angeles Lakers; he’s a lover of jazz music and has traveled the world more than twice.
The church he founded and presides over Maranatha Community Churchwas purchased in 1984 around the same time Tom Bradley broke ground at the Baldwin’s Hills Mall. The church sits on a very controversial piece of land know as Marlton Square. When asked what his thoughts were about the property he stated ” This is shame, I can say I’ve been in hundreds of meetings over the past 25 years regarding the Marlton Square property which the church resides on and either they think I’m stupid or that church people are stupid. I understand business but some of the people who have approached us are stupid and incompetent”.
Marlton Square sits between Baldwin Hills, View Park and the jungles on about 20 acres of land. Ingram has no plans of relocating but wants beatification to the piece of land.
His favorite thing about ministry is people. He states, “I love people and I love helping people. I also love to study”. His favorite book in the bible is a toss up between the book of Romans, Galatians and Ephesians. After thinking about it he laughingly states “its an unfair question because there are so many wonderful books in the bible”.
When asked what have been some of your challenges over the past 30 years he states ” People either misunderstanding, misinterpreting or misrepresenting who I am or what I have said. Which has lead to confusion in their mind and when people talk it then spreads confusion and foolishness. I have had conflict with people who question my authority and my leadership”. Even with all the challenges Pastor Billy is ready for more.
On Sunday April 25th Pastor Billy and First Lady Solombra Ingram will celebrate his 30th Anniversary at Maranatha Community Church with a special word from Pastor Charles E. Blake, presiding bishop of the Church of God in Christ. The celebration starts at 3p.m. with a reception and dance that follows. Maranatha is located at 3800 Martin Luther King Blvd. Los Angeles, CA. For more information call 323 295-4044.
