Anthony Graham's Story

Hope is a person, and His name is Jesus.
I want to introduce everyone I know to Him.

The Hope and Holiness Trust is
sharing Healing & Restoration

The house was packed, and the people were ready to worship, but twelve-year-old Anthony wasn’t scared. God had called him to be a pastor, and he didn’t need to wait until he was grown to begin leaving a legacy. He stood up on that platform and preached the Word.

Trinidad was Anthony’s home, and these were his people—but Anthony knew God had bigger things for him. Four years later his family moved to the United States, where he soon enlisted in the army and served in Korea. On his return, he pursued his education—getting many degrees—without ever losing sight of his goal to preach.

Today the Rev. Dr. Anthony M. Graham teaches high school in the New York Public School system, which is a powerful ministry in itself. He also pastors the church he planted twenty years ago with eleven other people. New Hope Family Worship Center is a multicultural Wesleyan Church in the inner city. It now has a weekly average attendance of 500, with a myriad of ministries—including an after school program, computer literacy program, G.E.D. program, and compassion ministries (providing food and clothing to the needy).

Anthony’s work is bearing fruit: A young fellow who had been into drugs and alcohol visited the church, accepted the Lord, and became active in the youth group. A gay ex-convict turned away from his past and testifies to knowing Christ through New Hope. “These are real people,” Anthony says. “By looking at them you would never know what has been going on in their lives.”

A young high school co-ed, mature beyond her years, came to her pastor one day and said, “Rev. Graham, I need your help.” Her father had been sexually abusing her since she was a little girl, and she had finally been able to make it stop. “I’ve been coming to your church and I know that Jesus is real,” she said. “How can I get my dad to know him too?” Anthony was amazed at her forgiving heart and promised to meet with her father for prayer as often as the man was willing, which turned out to be daily. In time, the father accepted the forgiveness of the Lord and was radically changed. Father and daughter now attend the services together, healed and holy.
Another real person in a surreal situation was Arthur, a white-collar employee with a master’s degree, who seemed to have his life sorted out. Anthony had known the man for years but noticed a sudden change in his demeanor. “You need to come to church,” Anthony said, not even aware of what the problem was. Arthur refused for weeks but suddenly appeared at the end of a service one Sunday morning, desperate for help.

“I’m possessed,” Arthur said. “Please pray for my deliverance.” At a martial arts class, Arthur was pulled into a strange ritual, and he felt something enter his body. He became physically ill, and his mind was filled with wicked thoughts. He began to think and act in horrible ways that did not fit his character. He had gone to doctors who prescribed medicines, but nothing worked. He knew it was a spiritual issue. “And whenever I’m near a church,” Arthur said, “I feel a stirring in my spirit.”

Anthony, true to his character, was not afraid. He had the Word of God to protect him. He turned to Mark 16 and cast the devils out. They resisted with evil voices and Arthur’s whole body shuddered each time one left, but the power of the blood of Jesus could not be denied. Arthur was completely restored and is now baptized and a covenant member of the church.

“Hope is a person,” Anthony says, “and His name is Jesus. I want to introduce everyone I know to Him.” Anthony and his church want to leave a legacy of “Hope” in the inner city of New York.