I Do, I Do: Tracey James and Glen Forbes

“Behold, the bridegroom cometh!”

The voice of Kevin A. Bouknight II, the godson of bridegroom, rang out through The New Deliverance Evangelistic Church on Saturday, Oct. 10. Proceeded by his 13 groomsmen, indeed came the bridegroom, Glen Alan Forbes, 41.

Outside, his love Tracey James, 46, was arriving— beautiful in a sweeping floor length gown sparkling with sequins and crystal beads. Over 600 guests stood as she entered in what surely was one of the most personal, glorious and reverent wedding ceremonies the good people gathered there had ever seen.

“Dearly Beloved…Dearly Beloved,” intoned Bishop Gerald Glenn, relishing the moment. Tracey James was marrying the man she had waited all her life to find—Elder Glen Forbes who had grown up far away in Springfield, Mass., with his five brothers and parents Gladys and Adolph Forbes Sr.

“Glen Forbes needed a wife,” spoke the Bishop warmly, “and Tracey James wanted a husband.”

Everyone laughed as the church overflowed with affection for the enormously popular couple who, despite complicated lives, had found one another.

Weaving biblical history with music and dance, the multi-media celebration began with soaring vocals. Then 13 bridesmaids, the entire adult Anointed Movements of Deliverance, twirled down the aisles in a “Praise Dance” to the music of “Just the Beginning.” All told, over 50 singers, dancers and members of the wedding party added their talents to the celebration.

“I’m the leader of the Youth Dance Ministry,” explained Tracey of the joyous performances. “Everyone in the congregation was invited to our ceremony, which Glen wrote to declare our devotion to God and each other. So many people had rooted for me while I waited for ‘the RIGHT one’.”

Waited might be an understatement. “I never chose to marry,” explained the mother of Tempest Rogers, a student at VCU. “About 10 years ago I started practicing abstinence—and people knew that wouldn’t change until we married.”

Glen Forbes, who works in Data Operations at the Richmond Police Department, orbited into Tracey’s world in January of 2006 following a church anniversary service.

“I enjoyed the dance ministry,” he told her after. “It’s much more than dancing in front of people, it’s dancing in front of God.”

“You got it!” said Tracey to the tall gentleman.

“Of course I got it,” said Glen. “I said it.”

“We soon started emailing—I was looking for a job and Glen was trying to help,” explained Tracey, who is now a computer assistant/training specialist at the Virginia House of Delegates. “I quickly realized that intellectually and spiritually we had many common interests and beliefs. When I mentioned him to someone, they said, ‘Oh, that’s Elder Forbes.’ Elder? I was astounded I hadn’t noticed him!”

“I had been recovering from a divorce, and my children lived out of state,” explained the Elder. “But I greatly enjoyed talking with Tracey. We didn’t have to dumb anything down. As our opinions came against each other, we sharpened up.”

“Iron against iron,” said Tracey, the former Brooklyn, N.Y., resident who loves a lively discussion and is known for being outspoken. With their faith as a cornerstone, the two built a loving relationship. “I said to Bishop Glenn that God sent me a person I could talk to and challenge.”

Elder Forbes thought so, too. “One day I said, ‘I love you’.”

“And I said ‘I love you!’” answered Tracey. From there on, they knew the altar lay before them.

After proposing twice in one August evening, Glen got a “yes.”

“I was eating string beans at the Hong King Buffet and he asked me again,” said Tracey. “So I said ‘We’re right next to Jared’s!’”

Then the couple went to Bishop Glenn for his blessing.

“On Sunday morning, Bishop Glenn made the announcement in Church,” said Tracey, “and the place went into an uproar! But you know, so many people came up to me afterwards and said ‘You gave me hope!’”