Natchez — What’s in a name? When that name is Pilgrim Blvd. it all boils down to kingdom building, said Melvin White, pastor of Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church.

Pastor White became the church’s leader in 1999 when services were at the old sanctuary located on Cemetery Road. At that time he announced his vision, which encompassed a larger building and a larger congregation. This led to the construction of the new sanctuary on Wilson Road.

“It’s all part of kingdom building, but the vision is not yet fully realized,” White said.

So you can imagine how overjoyed Pastor White was when he was approached with the idea of renaming Wilson Road. The committee began work on the proposal and through the blessings of God, another part of the pastor’s vision will become reality on Sunday when pastor White, along with Mayor Phillip West, the Board of Aldermen, the King David Grand Lodge AF&AM and the M.W.W.T.M Grand Jr. Grand Lodge AF&AM, will dedicate the street’s new name, “Pilgrim Blvd.”

Also in keeping with the holiday season, Pilgrim will present its first Christmas concert today at 8 p.m. In concert will be the Pilgrim Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir and Youth Choir under the direction of Minister of Music, Alvin Shelby. Accompanying the choir will be an orchestra made up of stringed and woodwind instruments.

“We want our first Christmas concert to be our best,” said Alvin Shelby. “This is a free concert and pastor White extends an invitation to everyone throughout the Miss-Lou area.”

“This will be a weekend of history in the making for the Pilgrim Baptist Church as well as the City of Natchez. But at the end of the day, it’s not about us, it’s all about Jesus,” said White.