Soul Factory Marks Decade With Giveaways
'You Want to Be a Blessing' to People in Need, Leader of 5,000-Member Church Says

By Hamil R. Harris
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, July 1, 2006

It was rush hour, and the line of cars trying to get into a Forestville Exxon station stretched for nearly a block as platoons of young people dressed in jeans and black T-shirts held up signs that read, "Let Us Buy You Free Gas."

"We are doing it, baby ! You got the minivan coming at you," screamed Sean Hunter, 38, as he ushered vehicles to the gas islands. Six years ago, Hunter said, he doubted that God existed. Today, he is a leader at the Soul Factory, a 5,000-member church that celebrated its 10th anniversary this week by giving $10 worth of gas to hundreds of people.

"Honey, I don't care if it was $2, It's free; praise the Lord," Fort Washington resident Evelyn Martin said as she drove up to the tank at the station across from the church. "I go to St. Stephen's Baptist Church in Forestville. I am going to put this idea to the pastor's ear."

Although most churches mark their anniversaries with such traditional events as banquets or concerts, there is little that is traditional about the Soul Factory, 7701 Marlboro Pike, and its pastor, Deron Cloud, 39, who arrived at the gas station driving a black and red Humvee that he calls the Bat Hummer. And by the way, he recently purchased a Batmobile from the 1960s television series.

"We are trying to show people that church is not always about taking; it is about giving," Cloud said. "There are people who are in need. And because there are needs, you want to be a blessing. Without people, I wouldn't have a ministry."

In the last decade, Cloud has gone from producing and starring in plays with adult themes, such as "Boyfriend Girlfriend Thang" and "The Anatomy of a Brother Who Has Raised Himself," to building an orphanage in South Africa. He is the leader of a ministry with most people in their twenties, and practically nobody wears a coat and tie on Sundays.

As she held up a "Free Gas" sign, church member Justine Leak, 16, said: "I am glad that we are doing this for the community. We are bringing people off the streets. If it wasn't for Deron, I don't know where I would be today."

The Soul Factory has an extensive ministry for young adults. Last year, the church held a conference for nearly 1,000 girls and young women ages 12 to 20 to teach different aspects of becoming a young lady.

"The young girls learned about self-worth. We gave them the lyrics to several popular rap songs so they can see what the real messages were," said Ayesha Bernardo, 28, another ministry leader.

The church's programs include "dramanars" -- seminars with a dramatic twist -- and stage productions. "We realize that this generation is caught up by the MTVs and the BETs of the world, and in order to reach them we have to come at them the same way," said Glenn Brooks, also a church leader.

Cloud said he doesn't focus on having a plush sanctuary, dressing in suits or even being called reverend. "It is about keeping it real and being able to relate to people on their level. I never lose sight of where I came from. When I get to Heaven, God is not going to call me Reverend; he is going to call me Deron."

Cloud began his ministry as pastor of Church of the Lord's Disciples. In 2003, he changed the name of the ministry to SOLDIERS Ministries (for Sold Out, Living Delivered, In Everlasting Righteous Service). SOLDIERS Ministries is now in the Soul Factory, a converted retail store.

"It is about changing lives," Hunter said. "I came here a broken individual. I was an angry dude. I came to church angry. I really didn't believe in God. Through the teaching, through the ministry, I learned to believe again, to find someplace that was real."

Although Arthur Chaudry, owner of the Exxon station, might have lost business because the lines at his station were so long, he said, "This is a good thing to give to the community."

The ministry gave out more than $4,000 in gas Wednesday, Thursday and yesterday. In addition, Cloud and his band of "Soldiers" gave 80 families $50 bags of groceries in the parking lot of the Shoppers Food Warehouse in Forestville yesterday; today, they will give away $50 tennis shoes by the dozens.

One satisfied customer at the Exxon station, Geraldine Webb of Capitol Heights, said: "I was at home, and my sister called me and said they were giving out free gas, and I came right over. I will be visiting the church."