‘Preachers of Detroit’ Cast Member Talks Ministering Through Reality TV

Bishop Clarence Langston was called to ministry at the young age of 20, and has served in ministry for nearly 20 years. Langston is the founder and Senior Pastor of Word in Action Christian Center, located in Detroit. His wife, Robyn, is the co-Pastor. The couple have three children: daughter Gabrielle and twin boys Jonathon and Joshua. Bishop Langston is a current cast member on the hit reality TV show, Preachers of Detroit. Langston discusses how he was called to ministry, why he chose to participate in reality TV, and what he hopes viewers take away from the show.

On what led him to becoming a minister

“I grew up Jehovah Witness, so I didn’t really believe in the church at all, I was taught against the church. I went through a life of being caught up in the streets at a young age, which led to me being homeless. When I was on the streets of Detroit, I remember one day praying and asking God to feed me. I just wanted God to let me find a dollar to buy a bag of chips Â After asking God, He spoke to me and said, “Clarence, would you feed my sheep?â€ I didn’t have a clue what He was talking about because I was hungry and I was asking to be fed, and I kept hearing His voice asking would I feed His sheep. I ended up getting saved and going to church, and every time my pastor would get up to preach, I would hear that same voice speak those same words. I remember going to my pastor for prayer, and I told him that I keep hearing this voice asking me ‘Will I feed His sheep.’ And so my pastor asked me did I believe that God was calling me to ministry. I told him ‘No I didn’t believe,’ and I also didn’t have any desire to preach. And the next thing I know, he was putting me up to do a trial sermon. I guess my trial sermon went well, because he asked me to head the street evangelism [division] because I was bringing so many people to church and it grew from that.â€

On what he does for the community and outside of preaching

“We do a lot of community work. From feeding the hungry to voter registration, to a health club, where I bring in fitness instructors and allow the community to participate to focus on their health. We mentor young people and college students, and take them on college trips. I also own real estate, and my wife is an attorney, and we do our own investments in real estate. Our lives have really been blessed. God has blessed us with everything that we put our hands on. So I want to give all the Glory to God.Â We are just grateful that we can be a beacon of light in the community and be able to give back to the community that we serve. That is one of the things that we really pride ourselves on. My wife and I pride ourselves on being a married couple of God, and also the things that we are able to do with the church.â€

On what led him to feel comfortable as a cast member of Preachers of Detroit

“Initially, I didn’t want to do the show. I had a lot of things going on in ministry, and when they first came and asked me I told them no. Every time I said no, I was getting a check in my spirit from God. I asked God was this something that he wanted me to do, and the Lord that it was indeed something that He wanted me to be apart of. So hands down, I wanted to be in the Will of God, so I said yes.Â Today, I am so thankful and grateful that I did, because it is a great platform for people to see into our personal lives. Viewers are able to see that even after we get through preaching and teaching that we are still responsible for carrying the word of God. They are able to see our day-to-day lives. People sometimes view ministry leaders as not having any problems and that their life is a life of ease, but it is not our reality. Preachers of Detroit allows people to see the true reality of a preachers life.â€

On how appearing on the show has affected his ministry

“One of the things that has really been a blessing is that, I went through a lot of personal deliverance while taping the showing. There were so many things that I was dealing with personally in my life and on my journey to becoming a bishop. I thought that was a real blessing to be able to show people how I overcame obstacles in my life. And then to be able to show forth my testimony, and how God has brought me from such a far away place in my life to be where I am at now is an amazing opportunity. I have been able to see the testimonies, I mean people have been calling and on [reaching out on] social media. So many people’s lives have been turned around, changed, and delivered, just based off watching the show. That is one of the things that I am really excited about, that I am able to do ministry from a whole different platform.â€

On what he wants viewers to take away from the show

“I want the world to really see my transparency while I am on the show and to see the love of God that is in my heart. I also want people to see how God has turned my life around, and things that God has done for me despite the things that I have gone through. There may be people that are tuning in that feel like God can’t use them because of some of the mistakes that they have made or where they are now in their life. I want them to be able to take away and see what happens when you put God first.â€

You can watch Preachers of Detroit Fridays at 8/7 CT Â on the Oxygen Network.

Author Chanel Martin (@ChanelEbone) is a Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer of Techturized (@Techturized) Inc. She is also a wife, new mom, and lover of all things hair. She works full time at Techturized. Techturized’s first product, Myavana (@Myavanahair) provides hair care personalization for female consumers around the world.