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January 23, 1989
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9 Congressman Flake
9 WMS Meeting
10 Bishop Mayo
in Texas
11 Sharpesville Six Gets
Stay of Execution
12 Bishop Cousin
Preaches
12 LA Mini Revival
12 Keesee Speaks
Bishop Bishop
Bish
Vinton R. Anderson Robert Thomas, Jr. an twine menop Bishop
Allen Hildebrand James Haskell Mayo Rembert E. Stokes py bie
FAME Lock-in 5 tae
Page 3—FIVE BISHOPS SHARE IN DEDICATION OF ‘‘NEW’’ GREATER ALLEN be . :
Page 8
Bishop Vernon Byrd
ITC Receives
Scholarship in
Honor of Dr. King
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1.35
HiLADEL!
DR
I
hn Page 8
Well Known Clergy-
man, John Ragin
Weds Bernice
Tillman McDaniels
Vol. 138, No. 9 January 23, 1989
National Campaign Fights
Birth Defects
PRICE: 50 CENTS
Every two minutes, a baby is born
in the United States with a birth de-
fect, a leading cause of infant mor-
tality in this country. The U.S. infant
mortality rate is alarmingly high. Ac-
cording to the Marh of Dimes, more
than forty thousand babies a year die
before they’re a year old.
This month, the March of Dimes
continues its commitment to prevent-
ing birth defects—and giving every
baby a healthy start in life—through
the annual Mothers March fund-rais-
ing campaign. This national door-to-
door campaign raises more than $9
million annually and funds research
and prenatal care programs to prevent
birth defects. This year, the Mothers
March will receive a helping hand, and
a fund-raising boost, from Kentucky
Fried Chicken, the national sponsor of
the March and long-time supporter of
the March of Dimes.
Kentucky Fried Chicken will under-
write educational materials to be dis-
tributed by the six hundred thousand
Mothers March volunteers to the thir-
teen million homes they will visit to re-
quest donations. These educational
materials, which should reach thirty-
nine million American men and wo-
men, will help raise awareness in this
country about the need for adequate
prenatal care to prevent premature
birth, birth defects and infant mortali-
ty.
According to the March of Dimes,
Please turn to page 7
ALLEN UNIVERSITY RECEIVES
$100,000 GIFT
Mrs. Georgia Teal Ransom
Bishop Frederick C. James
Mrs. Georgia Teal Ransom has
given to Bishop F. C. James
$100,000.00 for Allen University.
The name of the late Mrs. Georgia
Teal Ransom is already prominent in
the annals of African Methodism.
Mrs. Ransom was a stellar daughter of
the Seventh Episcopal District, born in
Abbeville, South Carolina, and was
the wife of the legendary Bishop
Reverdy C. Ransom. She is further
remembered as an active leader in the
Women’s Missionary Society, as Dean
of Women at Wilberforce University,
and as Director of the Emma Ransom
House in New York City.
We praise God that she lived to see
the Bicentennial of the church she lov-
ed and to be a part of the Bicentennial
History. We also praise God that her
love for her church and her generosity
have led to an act that will grant her a
place in our Zion’s Tricentennial His-
tory.
The story begins at the 1987 Qua-
drennial Meeting of the Women’s
Missionary Society in Atlanta, Geor-
gia. At that meeting Mrs. Ransom and
another A.M.E. giant, Bishop Fred-
erick C. James, had a one-and-one-
half hour conversation that included
much discussion of the renaissance of
Allen University. That meeting
prompted Bishop James to put Mrs.
Ransom in touch with Dr. Collie
Coleman, President of Allen Universi-
ty, whose mailings and other contact
further enlightened Mrs. Ransom on
Allen University’s progress.
Mrs. Ransom was so impressed
with Allen University’s progress from
Please turn to page 7
FAME’s Urban You Loder
a
Gang and Drug Prevention
For At-Risk Youth
The First African Methodist Epis-
copal Church of Los Angeles sponsor-
ed its eighth Lock-In On Values Semi-
nar for children and young adults, ages
10-18. Approximately two hundred
and fifty youth interfaced with com-
munity professionals, church mem-
bers and selected role models, dis-
cussing ways in which they can resist
the temptations of drugs, gangs and
sex, as well as develop a code of con-
duct that will continuously enhance
their lives.
A concept of Dr. Cecil L. Murray,
Senior Minister of First A.M.E.,
Lock-In On Values is an early inter-
vention program for at-risk Black
Dr. Cecil L. Murray
youth, designed to provide them with
information, role models, strategies
for developing positive lifestyles and
Please turn to page 4
Bishop Philip R. Cousin Appointed
to Special Committee
BISHOP COUSIN TO REPRESENT
A.M.E. CHURCH ON NCC
REORGANIZATION COMMITTEE
New York—Bishop Philip R. Cousin
has been named to represent the Afri-
can Methodist Episcopal Church on a
special committee charged with
recommending a new structure for the
National Council of Churches to the
NCC Governing Board when it meets
next May. The appointments were an-
nounced by the Council’s president,
the Rev. Patricia A. McClurg.
Bishop Cousin, of Jacksonville, FL,
is bishop of the 11th Episcopal Dis-
trict, African Methodist Episcopal
Church. He is immediate past presi-
dent of the NCC and currently chairs
the NCC Division of Church World
Bishop Philip R. Cousin
Service Unit Committee.
The Committee of Fifteen was au-
thorized by the Council’s Governing
Board on November 4, in response to
severe financial problems which are
Please turn to page 7
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A man happily told his friend, ‘‘I
don’t have to worry about anything
anymore. I have hired a person who
will do all of my worrying for me.”’
“How does that work?’’ asked the
friend. ‘‘Well, for a thousand dollars,
he has agreed to do all of my worrying
for me.’’ The friend, knowing that his
pal didn’t have any money, asked,
“‘Where are you going to get a thou-
sand dollars?’’? The happy reply was,
“That’s his worry!’
It would take a miracle for one to
be worry-free as easily as that. There
is no segment of society that is exempt
from worry. I, certainly, have had my
share—some that have almost over-
whelmed me. Indeed, someone has
adroitly stated that worry is public enemy number one. Psychiatrists of note
report that people in the U.S.A. WORRY ABOUT WORRY!
One of the popular songs of 1988 was made so by Bobby McFerrin. One
of the reasons for the popularity is that people, more than anything else,
would like to be able to do just what his hit song advocates: DON’T
WORRY, BE HAPPY. Set to a calypso, or raggae type beat, the lyrics say,
“This little song I wrote, you might want to sing it note for note. Don’t
worry, be happy. In every life we have some trouble, but when you worry,
you make it double. Don’t worry, be happy. Don’t worry, be happy.”’
Countless numbers of books are written and crammed full with statistics
on the devastation wreaked by worry. Suicide in America—and, particularly
so among the youth—is on the increase. Drug and alcohol abuse has been on
the increase and still gives the users the false sense of peace and tranquility in
a dream world. The users too soon again discover that we all, indeed, live ina
real world that will continue to stress-test us to the limit. In these times,
worry is not only a serious matter, it is extremely dangerous and cannot but
be considered a vital factor that undermines the health of our society.
Stop Worrying and Get Well is the title of a book written by Dr. Edward
Podolsky. He deals with the correlation between worry and heart trouble,
worry and high blood pressure, worry and rheumatism, ulcers, common
colds, thyroid malfunction, arthritis, migraine headaches, and a host of
stomach disorders. It is true, worry will take your appetite, give you sleepless
nights, cause you to lose weight, lose interest in your work, and lose your
sense of self-worth and sense of direction. It has been suggested that, when
you find yourself under increased pressure and find yourself spaced out by
stress from worry, you would do well to get out to some places you don’t us-
ually go and spend some time doing something new, or, better yet, meet some
new people.
I have often wondered how much worry did Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr., experience, and how much fear possessed him during his civil rights
leadership struggle. One of his characteristics was his courage to mobilize the
powerless in order to effectively challenge the powerful. Dr. King was at the
garbage workers’ strike in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 3, 1968, when he
gave his famous last speech. He mentioned both worry and fear in a way that
ROBERT H. REID, JR. .
THE A.M.E. CHRISTIAN RECORDER
The Christian Recorder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (USPS
016880) is published bi-weekly by the A.M.E.C. Sunday School Union, 500 Eighth
Avenue, South, Nashville, Tennessee 37203-4181. Second Class postage paid at
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Lee Henderson.
Dr. A. Lee Henderson, Publisher
Dr. R. H. Reid, Jr., Editor
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tributing Editor; Dr. Jamye Coleman Williams, General Features Editor; Mrs
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Jamison, Laymen's Editor; Chaplain (Captain) William Holt Liptrot, Jr., vee Te
Editor; Atty. Mary R. Turner, Basic Law Editor; Dr. J. W P. Collier, Overseas ra
respondent; Dr. Kenneth S. Robinson, Medical Ministries Editor, Rev Frederick
Harrison, Overseas Mission Editor; Mrs. Sarah Nkele Malthare, South pte
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ifill, Sr., Contributing Editor, Dr. Henderson Sheldon Davis, Archives Editor; Dr
William P, DeVeaux, Career Development Editor; Dr, Dennis Clark Dickerson,
Contributing Editor; Rev. Cecil Murray, Contributing Editor; Dr, Marjorie “or
Contributing Editor; Rev. Walter Winstead Reid, Sr., Contributing Editor, Rev
Cyrus Keller, Religious Literature Editor.
ts readers on matters
The A.M.E. Christian Recorder welcomes letters from i
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The A.M.E. Christian Recorder will occasionally withhold the name of a writer ot a
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Postmaster please send address correction to A M.E. Sunday School Union,
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The AME Christian Recorder
WORRY: THE WORST ENEMY OF HAPPINESS
January 23, 1989
I have, ever since, tried to understand fully.
Listen to his words: ‘‘But I want you to know tonight that, as a people,
we will get to the Promised Land. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not
fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”’
The next day, April 4, 1968, the assassin’s bullet ended his life.
Maybe, the glory of the Lord does, indeed, help to reduce fear and
worry. It is easy to say, don’t worry, but exceptionally difficult to do;
however, when you have something to have faith in, you can better discipline
your emotions of worry and fear and more easily unburden yourself. In the
Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the people in Philippi, he tells them he has
learned how not to worry and that neither should they. (Philippians 4:11, 12,
13, 19) “Not that I speak in respect to want: for I have learned, in whatsoever
state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I
know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be
full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things
through Christ which strengthened me, but my God shall supply all your
needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’’
The Book of 150 Psalms begins by saying, (Happy) Blessed is the man
that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sin-
ners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Psalm 120:1 says: In my distress I
cried unto the Lord and he heard me. Psalm 121:1, 2 says I will lift up mine
eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the
Lord, which made heaven and earth. Psalm 100:3 is a helpful reminder:
Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we
ourselves; we are his people . . . So, it appears, the stronger your faith and
hope the less should be your worry. When worry is strong enough to override
your faith, it makes you subject to any negatives, including a nervous
breakdown.
If an individual lived a solitary existence, there would be no cause for
worry; the great problem would be an elementary one of self-preservation.
The objects of concern would be food, shelter and safety. Life would be ex-
ceedingly simple. However, a person does not live a solitary existence. You
are born into a community which is an integral part of a complex society.
People find themselves constantly in an intimate relationship with others.
Others different in race, color, creed, religion and conditions of servitude.
Others who are victims of crime, greed, vice and corruption, of less religious,
or non-religious, persons. So, a valid concern does exist for the conditions
that make worry almost a natural by-product of life.
The greatest need in this world is for LOVE. Genuine love creates a
bond that gives security that all but eliminates cause for major worry. That is
why God gave the world a LOVE GIFT in hopes not only to save it, but to
eliminate conditions that caused happiness to be superceded by worry.
SO JUST YOU BE HAPPY, because you are loved; and, if it is shared
according to the Master Plan, we can all sing, DON’T WORRY, BE
HAPPY.
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
LETTER TO THE
EDITOR
NATIONAL OFFICE
1325 Walnut Hill Lane
P.O. Box 152079
Irving, Texas 75015-2079
214-580-2000
Dr. Robert H. Reid, Jr., Editor
The Christian Recorder
500 Eighth Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203-4181
Department of
the Army
Headquarters Company 3rd Battalion
7th Infantry (M)
Ft. Stewart, GA 31314
AFZP-VAM-CH (165)
MEMORANDUM ...
For: All A.M.E. Chaplains
Subject: A.M.E. Christian Recorder
Articles from Chaplains
Dear Dr. Reid:
Thank you for your excellent (edi-
torial) article in The Christian
Recorder, the official publication of
the African Methodist Episcopal
Church,
The results of the National Good
Turn-Scouting for Food have been ex-
cellent. Scouts collected more than
sixty million items . . . the largest col-
lection of nonperishable food ever
conducted in our nation, It was a val-
uable experience for the young Scouts.
Best wishes for a wonderful 1989
for you and those you love.
Sincerely,
Julian Dyke
bem
NOTICE
New Office Address
Effective December 1, 1988
BISHOP S. S. MORRIS
P. O. Box 53539
400 East 41st Street, Suite 114
Chicago, Illinois 60653-2757
(312) 373-6587 / (312) 373-7622
1. As the Chaplains Editor for the
Christian Recorder, this isa brief letter
to encourage each of you to write
articles for the A.M.E. Christian
Recorder. The September issue
presented an_ article by retired
Chaplain Carroll R. Chambliss (CPT)
USA (Ret.).
2. You, too, have the unique
opportunity to have your opinions,
insights, and messages spread across
the connection, Review your files
and/or write new material. Articles
must be double-spaced and no more
than 2 1/2 pages in length. They may
or may not be accompanied by a pro-
fessional photograph. Mail your cor-
respondence to The Christian
Recorder, P.O. Drawer 24730, Nash-
ville, TN 37202. I will be happy to re-
view and edit all literature.
3, We have made great progress as
A.M.E. Chaplains, Do not allow this
opportunity for Christian service to
pass us by.
Wm. Holt Liptrot, Jr.
Chaplain (CPT) USA
Battalion Chaplain
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January 23, 1989
The AME Christian Recorder
———LLLL—L—L——maamnanieaGaGao_
Five Bishops Share in the Dedication of the ‘‘New’’ Greater Allen
Dayton, Ohio—November 13-20,
1988, marked the Celebration and
Dedication of a new 10,000 square
foot education and fellowship addition
and the complete renovation of the ex-
isting edifice of Greater Allen A.M.E.
Church in Dayton, Ohio, pastored by
the Rev. Charles L. Scott, Sr.
Five Bishops shared in making this a
most monumental ecclesiastical ex-
perience. Bishop Vinton R. Anderson,
Presiding Prelate of the Fifth Episco-
pal District, preached the sermon for
the service of Praise and Thanksgiving
on Thursday, November 17, 1988, at
7:00 p.m. Bishop Anderson electrified
the whole church with his message en-
titled “‘The Ability to see it Through.’”’
The Greater Allen congregation paid a
special tribute to him for using his
godly judgment and sending to Greater
Allen the kind of pastoral leadership
that made this celebration possible,
while he presided over the Third.
Bishop Robert Thomas, Jr., joined
Bishop Anderson along with Bishop
Richard Allen Hildebrand, General
Officers Floyd Alexander and Edgar
Mack, Presiding Elder J. Allen
Parker, Rev. Lyman Liggins, Rev. H.
Mason Brown, Rev. C. Garnett Henn-
ing and other guests in this joyous
service. Bishop Thomas the Presiding
Prelate of the 15th Episcopal District
shared in remarks of congratulations
to Pastor Scott and the Greater Allen
congregation.
On Friday, November 18, 1988, Bis-
hop Rembert E. Stokes, was the key
note speaker for an evening entitled a
“Cultural Explosion”? which gave a
unique celebration in art, dance,
music and drama. Bishop Stokes and
his queenly wife Dr. Nancy Stokes
shared with the Wilberforce Univer-
sity Choir who sang for the occasion.
On Sunday, November 20, 1988,
Bishop Richard Allen Hildebrand pre-
sented the Reverend Dr. C. Garnett
Henning as the 10:45 a.m. worship
speaker. Dr. Henning was warmly
welcomed by Greater Allen where he
served as a student associate while at-
tending Payne and Wilberforce in the
fifties.
At the 4:00 p.m. Service of Dedica-
Bishop Vinton R. Anderson
———
Bishop Robert Thomas, Jr.
Bishop Richard Allen Hildebrand
Bishop Rembert E. Stokes
tion Bishop Hildebrand took the
church to the mountain top with his
dynamic, spirit-filled sermon, chal-
lenging the true purpose of the church.
He then served as Chief Celebrant of
the most unique Dedication ceremony
designed by Mrs. Charlotte McGuire
the General Chairperson of the Dedi-
cation week. The Rev. Dr. Donald H.
Jordan was the presiding officer and
his outstanding choir of Quinn Chapel
Forest Park, Ohio rendered songs.
On Sunday, December 4, 1988, Bis-
hop James Haskell Mayo, Presiding
Prelate of the 10th Episcopal District
was the guest speaker and the Chief
Celebrant for the first Communion
Service in the new facility.
Bishop Mayo preached an outstand-
ing sermon entitled “Making Prepara-
tions’? which was most provocative
and inspiring. Bishop Mayo also came
to inspect the new Mayo Family
Prayer Chapel which he is a most
generous benefactor.
SAMI RMTR SAITO RMSR alas onl enuaRonleasenleanenlneancnl RN
Christian Trail Blazed Again
After attending a series of seven (7)
spirit-filled, financially sound, well-
attended annual conferences, our re-
cently appointed ‘‘son of the soil’’ re-
turned to conduct the first Quarterly
Conference of the 1988-1989 confer-
ence year with New Bethel A.M.E.
Church family, Jackson, Mississippi.
Rev. George Willis Tyler assembled
with us for the beginning of Sunday
School. His main thrust is to have all
churches on the Jackson-Meridian
District have a well-organized, well-
attended Sunday (Church) School. He
continues to admonish the youth and
adults to actively participate in all fa-
cets of God’s services. The work of
our zion can only progress with all of
us working cooperatively.
During the morning worship our
Young Adult’s Choir was at its very
best. Just before the profound mes-
sage of our Presiding Elder the choir
filled the sanctuary with strains from
the song ‘‘Jesus You Are the Center of
My Joy.”’
Reading from St. John 17:21-22.
From the 17th verse he used the sub-
ject ‘‘Pulling Together in Jesus’
Name.” High points from this fervent
message were: ‘‘Jesus is the pause that
refreshes’? Avoid misunderstandings.
Pray without ceasing that we may be
one together in Christ. Oppositions
creep in when congregations are not
founded on religious principles. There
can be no kingdom building when
church members are divided against
each other. Let nothing separate us
from the love of God. We must be de-
termined that for Him we will live and
for God we will die.
Stewardess Board #3 spared no
pains in serving a sumptous meal dur-
ing the fellowship hour.
Monday evening the business ses-
sion of the Quarter was held. The
Presiding Elder extended high com-
mendations to the officers, members
and Pastor Chapman for the coopera-
tion and fine reports made during the
Annual Conference. Each department
of the church was well-represented,
both financially as well as in atten-
dance.
We are extremely proud of our Pre-
siding Elder and we are pleased with
the progress we are experiencing.
Bettye Jenkins Caston, Reporter
Bishop James Haskell Mayo
Rev. Charles L. Scott, Sr., is to be
highly commended for the outstanding
leadership he has given since being ap-
pointed to Greater Allen in 1981, by
Bishop Vinton R. Anderson. He lead
the congregation in the liquidation of
a quarter million dollar mortgage in
1985. His ministry has brought spir-
itual growth to the congregation along
with a sizeable membership increase
averaging over one hundred new addi-
tions each year. He has led also in the
development of ten new ministries in-
cluding an outreach ministry which
feeds hundreds of hungry people each
week. This latest accomplishment
gives the A.M.E. connection one of its
most beautiful, spacious and complete
facilities which also included the com-
pletely renovated sanctuary, seating
over six hundred, with a new stain
glass altar window, a new grand piano,
a new organ, a new cry room, a new
nursery, a new choir room, a remodel-
ed ladies lounge, a new office for the
Charles L. Scott
associate ministers, a new and beauti-
fully appointed conference room, a
new glass blocked secretary’s office, a
new spacious lobby, a new completely
computerized Ethel C. Prear Memori-
al Library, the new Mayo Family
Prayer Chapel, five new Sunday
School class rooms, a modern spa-
cious new kitchen, a new large chair
and table storage room, a new and
beautiful, plush and spacious Charles
L. Scott, Sr., Fellowship Hall, which
is decorated with laminated timber
beams and a wood decking ceiling with
new “pro-gym’”’ carpet which affords
the comfort of carpet with the flex-
ibility of sports. The room has a hard
wood floor stage with stage curtains
and spot lights and a new P. A.
System. The total cost of this project
exceeds three quarters of a million
dollars which brings the total insured
value of Greater Allen to one million,
six hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
To God be the Glory.
iE STEARNS LER SAIL
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4 The AME Christian Recorder
January 23, 1989
Continued from page |
FAME’s Urban Youth Lock-In: Gang and Drug Prevention for At-Risk Youth
A delicious meal is
served to each partici-
pant. Nourishment for
the body as well as spi-
ritual food makes a to-
tal person.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY—motivational workshops, resource persons
Bible insights. At the conclusion of
each Lock-In, youth participants are
asked to sign a ten-point commitment
form pledging, among other things, to
remain drug free and gang free with
the help of Almighty God. After a
ninety-day period, another Lock-In is
held as a follow-up to measure pro-
gress and insure that commitments are
being kept. The Foundation of the
Lock-In concept is centered around
the five A’s:
1. Awareness: Who Am I?
2. Assessment: What resources are
available to me?
3. Acceptance: I must be responsi-
ble for the purpose of my life.
4. Aims: I must set goals and limits
for my life.
5. Actions: I must set an agenda of
steps to become a positive member of
my community.
South Central Los Angeles has ex-
perienced a major escalation of youth
involvement in major drug distribu-
tion and its use in addition to a rising
gang problem. These actions stem
from the absence of wholesome self-
concepts, clear life goals, recognition
of alternative viable options and a per-
sonal relationship with God. First
A.M.E. believes the temptations of
youth toward negative behavior can be
permanently altered through Lock-In
and other programs of its type.
Beginning with prayer, music and a
statement of purpose by Pastor Mur-
ray, the October Lock-In included se-
lections by FAME’s Young Adult
Choir, a viewing of Jesse Jackson’s
speech directed especially toward
youth, followed by a discussion of the
pea RS SR SEE SS SS Pa SS
Vesper Service was held in the beautiful Sanctuary of First A.M.E. Church. This group
paused for a picture after a period of enlightenment.
After Vesper Service, peer groups discuss vital issues.
speech at dinner, workshops featuring
resource persons sharing personal suc-
cesses using the Five A concept, a
movie, inspirational hymn singing,
Vespers Service in the sanctuary, rap
sessions, boys: ‘‘Becoming A Man,”
girls: ‘Choices or Chances,’’ taps and
bed roll, morning exercise, breakfast,
general assembly: ‘*Teenage Sexuality:
A Lifelong Responsibility,’ FAME
A.1.D.’s project, DARE presentation,
fellowship and free time, commitment
forms signed and a salute to the posi-
tive self: ‘‘I Am Somebody,’’ and a
reunion with families.
Lock-Ins are held monthly from 5
p.m. on Fridays until 12 noon on
Saturdays. The youth are divided into
groups, each with its own counselor
who provides direction and leadership.
The program has received rave com-
pliments from parents, law enforce-
ment and school personnel, and state
government, which has funded the
program so that it can be taken into
areas as far as Seattle and San Diego.
Perhaps the A.M.E. Church can
present such a model to American so-
ciety at large. Further information on
Lock-in can be obtained by con-
tacting:
FIRST A.M.E. CHURCH (FAME)
2270 S. Harvard Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90018
(213) 735-1251
The Youth Lock-In concept is one of
thirty task forces designed as part of
FAME’s BEYOND THE WALLS
programming.
The west coast fellowship greets you
all!
Please turn to page 5
S00 Eee _o—or—
===== DSC05709.JPG =====
January 23 9
. , 198 The AME Christian Recorder
Continued from page 4
FAME’s Urban Youth Lock-In: Gang and D Dp, BS te Mert
RAP SESSION FELLOWSHIP AND FREE-TIME
aa ar < Finer enenscineieme neinisimENE NS | a sa eS
FAME A.LD.’s PROJECT Commitment forms are signed by each person for his/her total commitment for the uplift-
ing of God’s Kingdom.
The Lock-in concept is such a terrific experience, but we feel it should be shared
throughout African Methodism and the world.
The A.M.E. > Sy) School Union
Has Everything For Your
NDA Y SCHOOL
A.M.E.C. SUNDA Y SCHOOL UNION
500 Eighth Avenue, South
Nashville, Tennessee 37203-4181
615/256-5882
===== DSC05710.JPG =====
The AME Christian Recorder
January 23, 1989
Coretta Scott King
Honored by Sara Lee
Corp. and Chicago United
Coretta Scott King presents John H. Bryan, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of
Sara Lee Corporation, with a commemorative plaque of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s
famous speech ‘“‘I HAVE A DREAM”’
Chicago, IL—Sara Lee Corporation
and Chicago United, a consortium of
business executives committed to im-
proving social, racial and economic
conditions in Chicago, co-hosted a
luncheon recently, honoring civil
rights leader Coretta Scott King at the
Sara Lee Corporation headquarters
building.
John H. Bryan, Jr., chairman and
chief executive officer of Sara Lee
Corporation, introduced King to
Chicago’s corporate and community
leaders who attended the luncheon.
King, who was in town for the annual
Chicago Leadership Prayer Breakfast,
gave guests an overview of the Martin
Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonvio-
lent Social Change in Atlanta, of
which King is founder and president.
“Tt was, indeed, a privilege to intro-
duce my business associates and com-
munity colleagues to Mrs. King and to
acquaint them with the work she is do-
ing through the King Center,’’ Bryan
said.
Among the fifty-five luncheon at-
tendees were talk show host Oprah
Winfrey, Robert J. Brown of B&C
Associates, Thomas J. Burrell of Bur-
rell Advertising, Weston R. Christo-
pherson, chairman and chief executive
officer of The Northern Trust Com-
pany, John H. Johnson of Johnson
Publishing Company, John J. Nevin,
chairman and chief executive officer
of Firestone, and Barry F. Sullivan,
chairman of the board of The First
National Bank of Chicago and co-
chairman of Chicago United.
Prior to the luncheon, King pre-
sented Bryan with a commemorative
plaque of Dr. King’s famous speech,
“T HAVE A DREAM.”
Sara Lee Corporation is an interna-
tional food and consumer products
company with annual sales of more
than $10 billion.
ITC TO HOST CONFERENCE
ON THE MINISTRY
Responding to the call of the minis-
try can sometimes be a perplexing
situation with questions that can only
be answered by one who has answered
the call or by first-hand experience.
To assist those who desire a first-hand
experience, the Interdenominational
Theologial Center is sponsoring its
Annual Conference on the Ministry,
January 26-28, 1989. The conference
will answer questions and clarify other
concerns by allowing one to meet
faculty and students; attend classes
and worship services; live on campus;
receive information on the cur-
riculum, degree programs, financial
assistance, and admission procedures;
as well as to enjoy the fellowship of
the ITC family.
Traditionally, the conference has at-
tracted persons from as far away as
California with many returning to ma-
triculate in the fall. Each year has
brought a more diverse group includ-
ing college students as well as those
considering a career change.
If you are considering responding to
the call of the ministry, contact The
Reverend Oliver Haney, coordinator
of the conference, ai 527-7775 for fur-
ther information. Registration will be-
gin in the student lounge of the jy AS
Thursday, January 26 at 9:00 a.m.
The conference will adjourn at 12:30
p.m. Saturday, January 28.
The Interdenominational Theologi-
cal Center is a consortium of six con-
stituent seminaries: Charles H. Mason
Seminary (Church of God in Christ),
Morehouse School of Religion (Bap-
tist), Phillips School of Theology
(Christian Methodist Episcopal),
Gammon Theological Seminary
(Methodist Episcopal), Turner Theo-
logical Seminary (African Methodist
Episcopal), and Johnson C. Smith
Seminary (Presbyterian U.S.A.).
(An Optimist Goes |
to the Window
Every Morning
6
and Says, ‘‘Good
: ”
Morning God.
The Pessimist
Goes to the
Window and Says,
“Good God,
Morning!”’
ce em em em ee es ae ae =
em eee ee ee ae
/
/
!
!
i
;
'
'
!
JOE ECGS OA ACOSO aR I aC Ia as I
Be Properly Informed!
BECOMING A MINISTER
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JOHN HURST ADAMS, Presiding Bishop
Second Episcopal District Board of Examiners
Walter Hildebrand, Chairman — Maurice Wilson, Editor
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===== DSC05711.JPG =====
January 23, 1989
The AME Christian Recorder
LETTER FROM WEAD & AULTMAN
TO BISHOP FREDERICK C, JAMES __
ROBERT H. WEAD
PHILIP AULTMAN
RICHARD A WEAD
ALAN G ANDERSON
MARK J. DONATELL!
Bishop F.C. James
Bishop Seventh District
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Allen University
Landmark East
Suite 402
3700 Forest Park Drive
P.0. Box 4837
Columbia, South Carolina 29204
Re: Georgia Teal Ransom Estate
Dear Bishop James:
Please find enclosed a check in the amount of $100,000.00 from the estate
of Georgia Teal Ransom,which represents the specific bequest set forth in Item
XV of her Last Will and Testament.
District of the A.M.E. Church.
Allen University.
‘Never let yesterday
use up too much
of today”’
Continued from page 1
Bishop P. R. Cousin Appointed
to Special Committee
plaguing the ecumenical organization
and many of its thirty-two member
communions. At that meeting the
Governing Board approved office clo-
sures and staff cuts deemed necessary
in order for the Council to balance its
1989 budget.
Bishop Melvin G. Talbert, secretary
of the United Methodist Council of
Bishops, was named chairperson of
the Committee of fifteen. Talbert
heads the San Francisco Area of the
United Methodist Church.
Continued from page 1
WEAD & AULTMAN
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
ALLEN BUILDING
POST OFFICE BOX H
XENIA, OHIO 45385-0697
: The specific bequest provides that the funds are to be ysed by Allen
University for such purposes as shall be approved by the Bishop of the Seventh
This amount is the full amount of the bequest of Georgia Teal Ransom to
Very truly yours,
XENIA 3724436
DAYTON 426-6586
AREA CODE 513
‘A Friend Is
Someone Who
Understands Your
Past, Believes In
Your Future, And
Accepts You
Today Just The
Way You Are.”’
NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FIGHTS BIRTH DEFECTS
adequate prenatal care is the key to re-
ducing low birth weight which can lead
to birth defects and infant mortality.
The March of Dimes suggests the fol-
lowing general advice for pregnant wo-
men:
e See a doctor early and often dur-
ing pregnancy.
e Don’t drink or smoke during
your pregnancy.
e Don’t take any unprescribed
drugs.
e Eat a balanced diet.
e Exercise moderately.
To coincide with the Mothers
March effort, four thousand five hun-
dred Kentucky Fried Chicken restau-
rants nationwide will conduct a simul-
taneous fund-raising drive. Restau-
rants will encourage the public to par-
ticipate in the campaign via window
displays and canisters for customer
contributions. Kentucky Fried Chick-
en will also distribute public service
announcements about the March of
Dimes campaign to radio and televi-
sion stations, as well as stage fund-
raising events with local Mothers
March chapters.
‘
number one child health problem,”’
said Don Solomon, chairman of the
Kentucky Fried Chicken National Co-
operative Advertising Program, Inc.
“The Kentucky Fried Chicken family
contributes enthusiastically to the
March of Dimes in the memory of
Colonel Harland Sanders, whose per-
sonal dream was that every child have
a healthy start in life.’”’
Since 1979, the Colonel Sanders
Memorial March of Dimes campaign
has raised more than $7 million for the
March of Dimes. Nearly $2.7 million
has gone to the Colonel Sanders Me-
morial Endowment Fund to provide a
perpetual source of funds for ongoing
research grants to scientists battling
birth defects.
The March of Dimes—formed in
1938 to fight the polio epidemic—is
the only organization which has con-
quered the disease it set out to elimi-
nate. In 1958, the March of Dimes re-
directed its focus to preventing birth
defects. Today, the March of Dimes
supports prenatal care programs, ge-
netic counseling and research into the
causes of birth defects.
Continued from page |
ALLEN UNIVERSITY RECEIVES $100,000 GIFT ——
July 1984 to July 1987 that she felt
compelled to take part, As a result,
Mrs. Ransom began sending $900.00 a
month to support Allen University in
its push for excellence, She was able to
send four such checks before the Lord
called her home.
This in itself indicated Mrs, Ran-
som’s love for her native State, and
for the school that afforded her a high
school education, but the story goes
on,
On October 26, 1988, Bishop James
received a letter from the Xenia, Ohio,
Law Firm of Wead and Aultman, ad-
ministrators of Mrs. Ransom’s estate.
That letter was accompanied by a
check for $100,000, set aside for Allen
University in Mrs. Ransom’s last Will
and Testament! That check arrived
just in time to purchase property on
Taylor Street in Columbia, which will
contain Allen University’s projected
Physical Education Complex.
This article is accompanied by the
full text of the letter from Wead and
Aultman, as well as Bishop James’
reply to Mr. Louis Ransom, Sr.
This act of selfless generosity on
Mrs. Ransom’s part also reflects the
level of responsibility and commit-
ment of Bishop James, who initiated
the contact with Mrs. Ransom. It also
shows the high degree of confidence
Mrs. Ransom placed in Bishop James
at Allen University as she directed that
the gift ‘‘. . . be used for Allen Uni-
Dr. Collie Coleman
versity for such purposes as shall be
approved by the Bishop of the Seventh
Episcopal District.’’
We thank God, and thank the Epis-
copal Committee of the 43rd General
Conference, for seeing that, for four
more years, the Right Reverend Frede-
rick Calhoun James is the presiding
bishop of the Seventh Episcopal Dis-
trict.
Let it be known to the General
Church that the church in South Caro-
lina and Allen University are reaching
new heights, experiencing unprece-
dented growth, and are quite content
and pleased that Frederick Calhoun
James is the presiding bishop of the
Seventh Episcopal District.
Rev. Joseph A. Darby
Director of Public Relations
Seventh Episcopal District
LETTER FROM BISHOP FREDERICK
C. JAMES TO MR. LOUIS RANSOM, SR.
EPISCOPAL DISTRICT OFFICE:
Landmark East
Suite 402
Columbia, South Carolina 29204
(803) 738-9395
Mr. Louis Ransom, Sr.
321 East 2nd Street
Xenia, Ohio 45385
Dear Mr. Ransom:
effort successful.
Sincerely,
depart.”’
“Birth defects are this country’s
African Methodist Episcopal Church
SEVENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
FREDERICK C. JAMES, PRESIDING BISHOP
It is with a deep sense of gratitude, accompanied by a like degree
of responsibility that I, as Bishop of The Seventh Episcopal District of
the AME Church in South Carolina, accept the role of approving the
administration of this specific bequest.
Since Mid-1984, when I became Chairman of The Trustee Board, and
Dr. Collie Coleman became President of Allen University, we have worked
in close harmony to re-build Allen University to a level of great
efficiency, productivity and service.
has necessitated the launching of unprecedented fund-raising. The
present gift, and the former gifts, of Mrs. Georgia Teal Ransom make this
Bishop F. \C/ James
“Tf all our misfortunes were ?
heap, whence everyone must take an equal portion,
most people would be content to take their own and
EPISCOPAL RESIDENCE:
2522 Barhamville Road
Columbia, South Carolina 29204
(803) 256-8756
(803) 256-8503
On behalf of The Allen University Board of Trustees, The Allen
University Faculty, Staff and Student Body, and The African Methodist
Episcopal Church in South Carolina, we acknowledge with profound
appreciation, the gift check in the amount of $100,000.00 to Allen
University from The Estate of Mrs. Georgia Teal Ransom.
The pursuit of this objective
Mrs. Georgia Teal Ransom is a great Allenite whose devotion to Allen
University is now immortalized by her love for others yet to come.
laid in one common
—Socrates
===== DSC05712.JPG =====
The AME Christian Recorder
January 23, 1989
A.M.E. Church and Christian
Science Church in Joint Venture
>
David L. Degler, Member
Christian Science Lectureship Board
Stuart, FL—St. Paul’s A.M.E.
Church hosted a community meeting
on how the teachings of Christianity
can heal alcohol and drug use. The
meeting was a joint effort of St. Paul,
a community group fighting drug
abuse and trafficking, called ‘*Con-
cerned Citizens and Friends of East
Stuart,’’ and the Christian Science
Church in Stuart.
The Rev. G. M. Champion, pastor
of St. Paul, introduced the speaker,
David L. Degler, of Nashville, Ten-
nessee, and a member of the Christian
Science Board of Lectureship. This
occasion marked the first time that the
A.M.E. Church and the Christian Sci-
ence Church had worked together in
focusing attention on finding solutions
for the problems of drugs and alcohol.
The speaker commented on the fact
that the A.M.E. Church and the Chris-
tian Science Church were each one of
only a few Christian denominations
founded by Americans. Many attend-
ing the meeting were unfamiliar with
the history of the A.M.E. Church, and
the Christian Science speaker told
something of the history of the Rever-
end Richard Allen and his life and how
he came to establish the A.M.E. de-
nomination in the last quarter of the
18th century.
The speaker also told something of
the founding of the Christian Science
Church by a woman, Mary Baker
Eddy, in the last quarter of the 19th
century.
In a lecture entitled ‘‘Christianity
and Responsible Healing for Children
and Adults,’? Mr, Degler said that
what is written in the Bible is a body of
knowledge of God and man which
anyone can apply to his or her life to
heal physical illness, alcohol and drug
use or other problems. He said that
Jesus taught that God is Love, and
that He loves everyone in the commu-
nity. He said that if an individual
prays, accepting the fact as real and
true for each individual, it can have a
significant impact on healing the prob-
lems of alcohol and drug use. Chris-
tian healing, he said, is characterized
by Christian renewal or regeneration.
He told of physical healings that have
come about through prayer alone.
Mr. Degler also told of an indi-
vidual who had used marijuana for a
long time, and who had been addicted
to cocaine for two years. That person,
he said, was completely healed by
reading the book Science and Health
with key to the Scriptures. The book is
about the Bible and Christian healing
by Christian Science Church Founder
Mary Baker Eddy.
Participants in the meeting’s agenda
included Alfreda Campbell, an
A.M.E. church organist, who played a
prelude, and another member of an
A.M.E. church, Alberta McGahae,
who sang a solo.
A representative of ‘‘Concerned Ci-
tizens and Friends of East Stuart’’ told
of the efforts of that organization in
fighting drug abuse and drug traffic-
king. Mrs. June Bols, who conducts
services at the Christian Science
Church, served as chairperson for the
meeting.
(Editor’s Note: David Degler’s back-
ground research on the A.M.E. Church
came from Irony of Afro-American
History: An Overview of A.M.E.
History and Related Developments,
by Robert Henry Reid, Jr., AMEC
Publishing House.)
REV. JOHN G. RAGIN WEDS
BERNICE TILLMAN MCDANIELS ___
by Monic Hargrove
Newark, NJ—The Rev. John G. Ra-
gin, pastor of St. Luke A.M.E.
Church, married Bernice Tillman Mc-
Daniels on December 17, 1988, in a
morning ceremony. Bishop Frank
Curtis Cummings was the officiating
minister.
The church was filled to capacity
with family, friends, and guests eager-
ly awaiting the processional of the
bridal party. Although the wait was
short, the guests were entertained with
pre-nuptial music by Michael Jenkins,
who sang ‘‘Endless Love.’’ Through-
out the ceremony, selections were also
performed by Kenneth Rayborn, Mi-
chelle Sconier, Christine Smith and
Howard Lawson.
The wedding party consisted of four
bride’s maids, Cynthia Avant, Clara
Goyins, Shirley Saunders and Ernes-
tine Druid; two flower girls, Satidra
M. Barnes and Ebony Robinson; and
the maid of honor, Delphine Isaac.
The groom’s men were Rufus Ragin,
Rev. Carl Hunter, Cornell Dixon and
Elizah Lawson. Ringbearer was Thel-
ton Tucker, and the Rev. Theodore R.
Goyins was best man.
Following the ceremony, the guests
were ushered into the church’s dining
—————
room, where, after the bridal party’s
recessional, they received a delicious
meal.
The bride and groom then proceed-
ed to engage in the traditional wedding
rituals of throwing the bridal bouquet
and the garter. The single women ex-
citedly gathered around as Mrs. Ragin
waited to throw her bouquet. On the
count of three, it was tossed into the
air. Brenda Holmes, an active mem-
ber of St. Luke had the privilege of
catching the beautiful bouquet.
When the excitement had passed,
Rev. Ragin kneeled and removed the
garter from the leg of his bride. The
single men were then called onto the
floor to continue the tradition. The
garter was caught by one of the guests.
Continuing with tradition the catcher
of the garter placed the garter on the
leg of the catcher of the bouquet, after
which the two posed for pictures with
Rev. and Mrs. Ragin.
The happy bridal couple then pro-
ceeded to cut their cake and take more
pictures, as they continued to enjoy
the first day of their married life to-
gether.
Warm wishes, much happiness and
congratulations are extended to Rev.
and Mrs. Ragin.
The 16th Episcopal District Reports _____
Evangelist Rev. Ann Freeland
Rt. Rev. V. R. Byrd
Presiding Prelate 16th District
Evangelist Wessie L. Spearman
GREAT REVIVAL
IN PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI
The people of Haiti were blessed
through the ministry of Rev. Ann
Freeland and Rev. Wessie Spearman
of the New Jersey Conference of the
First Episcopal District. They jour-
neyed to the island during the month
of August with every intention of lift-
ing up the Name of Jesus! Preaching,
prayer, praise and healing services
were held every night. The revivalists
traveled by foot to remote villages
sharing the good news of God through
Jesus Christ, with the help of the Holy
Spirit. Many bodies were healed; faith
in God was accepted; those who
already believed were strengthened.
Praise God for the miracles that were
wrought!
In an effort to minister to the whole
man/woman, Rey. Freeland and Rey.
Spearman also provided money for the
people of St. Paul Church (the mother
church) in Port-au-Prince. They spoke
to the blighted situations they saw,
empty clinics because people cannot
afford to pay the $2.00 per visit fee.
Rev. Freeland spoke of one heart-
rending experience: ‘‘After walking
over three miles on dusty, rocky roads
and paths, we came to a village where
adults were cooking in the open yard
and children were playing while goats,
cows, and pigs walked around them.
At one time, I had three children
holding to my fingers. After praying
for the sick and sharing the Good
News with them, it was time for us to
return to the Rosetta Lee Mission in
Dumarnay. All the children let go of
my fingers except one little boy about
eighteen months old. As I looked at
his over-sized head, enlarged stomach,
and huge eyes with tears, his face
seemed to say what he could not ar-
ticulate: Please don’t go! You have
brought us hope! My heart grieved
and I wept. I promised them that I
would return soon, and, with God’s
help, I will!’
This trip and gifts for the people of
Haiti were made possible in part by
donations from the churches in the
New Brunswick District of the New
Jersey Annual Conference. The revi-
valists ‘‘grew up in Christ’’ as they
walked the dusty roads of the island
for eight days. God be praised that
people are concerned about the less
fortunate and are willing to sacrifice
time and talent to bring hope and help
to people who would otherwise be neg-
lected.
“Inasmuch as you’ve done it to the
least of these, you’ve done it to me.””
LELLHHSSSHLLSLDELLEDLDSLSHSS
ITC Receives Scholarship in
Honor of Dr. Martin Luther
King, Sr.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
President of the Interdenomina-
tional Theological Center, Dr. James
H. Costen, is pleased to announce re-
ceipt of a check for $12,000 which
establishes the Dr. Martin Luther
King, Sr. Endowed Scholarship. The
check was presented by Mrs. Christine
King Farris on behalf of the Farris and
King Families on Monday, December
19, which would have been the 89th
birthday of the late Dr. King, Sr. The
—————————
award is to be given to a student at the
Morehouse School of Religion of the
ITC who demonstrates their interest
and concern for the Parish ministry.
Regarding the gift President Costen
stated, ‘‘This gift will be one of the
significant scholarship funds at the
ITC in times to come. It will be an in-
centive to recipients to emulate him
and give of their time and money as
did Dr. King.’ Acting dean of the
Morehouse School of Religion, Dr.
Edward Davie, also added that this
gift represents a “tremendous invest-
ment in the training of our ministers.”’
Dr. Joseph Roberts, pastor of the
Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr.
King, Sr. served more than forty-
four years, stated that, ‘“We will find
ways to increase the scholarship and
continue the legacy Dr. King created.”
Dr. King, Sr. was very much involv-
ed in the founding and creation of the
ITC. He served on the Board of Trust-
ees of both the ITC and the More-
house School of Religion.
OE ___—_ _——}.
===== DSC05713.JPG =====
January 23, 1989
The AME Christian Recorder
News and Views of the
Connectional Debutante-Master
Dedication Commission
Dr. Julma B. Crawford, Administrator
by L. E. Bryan
Chicago, IL—Our young people dis-
played many talents during their parti-
cipation in the General Conference
Debutante-Master Dedication Cere-
mony.
The requirement of submitting an
essay highlighted the creative writing
ability of each one and every partici-
pant—debutantes, masters, sub-debu-
tantes and sub-masters—a total of
forty-four, met this qualification. A
panel of three judges, representing dif-
ferent episcopal districts, rated each
essay on (1) neatness; (2) length con-
formity; and (3) sincerity. The first
and second best essays were selected
from each of the four divisions.
Receiving the highest ratings were:
Debutantes and Masters: Ist Place,
Belinda Robinson, Arnett Chapel
A.M.E. Church, Chicago, IL; 2nd
Place, Melvin L. Nays, Jr., Baker
Chapel A.M.E. Church, Ft. Worth,
TX; Sub-debutantes and Sub-masters:
lst Place, Emmitt Wooten, Jr., Wes-
ley Chapel A.M.E. Church, Houston,
TX; and 2nd Place, Stacy Blue, Bethel
A.M.E. Church, Milwaukee, WI.
A copy of The DMC’s Bicentennial
Tribute To African Methodism, Past
And Present, 1787-1987, is being
awarded to each of the above winners.
Here printed is Belinda Robinson’s
essay on the topic:
My Christian Stewardship
in the A.M.E, Church
Praise ye the Lord, a new song, for he
has done marvelous things! Make a joy-
ful noise unto the Lord, all the earth
sing his praises. . .
One of the ways in which I exercise
my Christian stewardship is through
the ministry of music, by playing,
teaching and singing.
I grew up in a very musical, Chris-
tian family, and the opened door of
music has always been available to
me. I started taking piano lessons and
choral voice training at the age of
four. I chose gospel music because I
received a special calling from God to
continue my gift of music for his min-
istry. I strongly believe that God has
sent me here to teach others and sing
with others His gospel.
I am currently playing for the Hyde
Park A.M.E. Church youth choir, the
Chicago Conference South Area youth
choir, and the Fourth District Y.P.D.
youth choir, where I also serve as
Worship Director.
I have many goals in life. I want to
continue my Christian stewardship for
God in the African Methodist Episco-
pal Church as a musician. I want to
excel in my gospel music skills and be-
come more polished in my music. I
also want to do some gospel music
writing and producing, write and pro-
duce gospel musicals, and one day
soon go into the Ministry, but my
main goal in life is to overemphasize
the gospel of Jesus Christ and get it
across to the people of the world as
well as in the church. I want to let the
world know that God’s grace is suffi-
cient and he, through Jesus Christ, is a
friend that will never forsake you if
you only believe in him!
“7 will praise thee, Oh Lord with my
whole heart; I will shew forth all thy
marvelous works. I will be glad and re-
joice in thee. I will sing praise and play
music to thy name, oh thou most high!”
Psalm 9:1,2
ISRAELI EMBASSY TRIBUTE TO
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ___
Congressman Floyd Flake
Washington, DC—The Embassy of Is-
rael in Washington, in cooperation
with the Jewish National Fund of
America, hosted their Fourth Annual
Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr., on January 9, 1989. This year’s
program and reception commemo-
rated the 60th birthday of Dr. King.
The ceremony included a presenta-
tion by the Jewish National Fund of
the 1989 Civil Rights Award to two in-
dividuals whose distinguished service
to the Black community deserved spe-
cial recognition: Althea Simmons,
Director of the Washington, DC, of-
fice of the National Association for
the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP), and William Taylor, civil
rights attorney and counsel for the
Leadership Conference on Civil
Rights.
Congressman Floyd Flake (D-NY,
6th District), a member of the Bank-
ing Finance and Urban Affairs Com-
mittee and the House Select Com-
mittee on Hunger, and a recipient of
many awards, including the 1986
Ebony magazine Black American
Achievement Award in Religion, ad-
dressed the gathering with Israel’s
Ambassador Moshe Arad presiding
over the ceremony.
A spiritual and gospel performance
was given by the Metroaires of the
Metropolitan African Methodist Epis-
copal (A.M.E.) Church of the Rever-
end William P. DeVeaux, under the
direction of Daniel Hodge.
Dr. King was, throughout his brief
life, a strong friend of the State of Is-
rael. The Martin Luther King, Jr.
Forest, the Jewish State’s living
memorial to Dr. King now numbers
over ten thousand trees. It is our sin-
cere hope that our ceremony, now in
its fourth year, will not only com-
memorate Dr. King’s life and his lega-
cy to future generations, but, also,
serve as a celebration of the goodwill
and unity of people the world over.
FIRST EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
AME CHURCH
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
BISHOP FRANK C, CUMMINGS
BERMUDA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
March 9-12, 1989
WMS Annual Day
March 8, 1989
Heard Chapel A.M.E. Church
Glebe Road ”
Pembroke East, Bermuda
Church Telephone (809) 292-3949
Pastor’s Telephone (809) 292-3949
The Rev. Reginald McRae, Host Pastor
The Rev. Conway Simmons, Host P.E.
NEW JERSEY
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
April 5-9, 1989
WMS Annual Day
April 4, 1989
Bethel A.M.E. Church
512 N. Church Street
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Church Telephone: (609) 235-3152
Pastor’s Telephone: (609) 234-7624
The Rey. Vernal Simms, Host Pastor
The Rev. John H. Johnson Jr., Host P.E.
DELAWARE
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
April 13-16, 1989
WMS Annual Day
April 12, 1989
Dickerson Chapel A.M.E. Church
South Dupont Highway
Millsboro, DE 19966
Church Telephone: (302) 934-6360
Pastor’s Telephone: (302) 398-4437
The Rev. Joseph Brame, Host Pastor
The Rev. Joseph D. Tull, Host P.E.
NEW YORK
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
April 26-30, 1989
WMS Annual Day
April 25, 1989
Emmanuel A.M.E. Church
37-41 West 119th Street
New York City, NY 10026
Church Phone: (212) 722-3969
Pastor’s Phone: (914) 636-6334
The Rey. Millard D. Birt, Host Pastor
The Rev. W. Lee Freeman, Host P.E.
NEW ENGLAND
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
May 18-21, 1989
WMS Annual Day
May 17, 1989
Bethel A.M.E. Church
110 Grove Street
Bridgeport, CT 06606
Church Telephone: (203) 384-9200
Pastor’s Telephone: (203) 371-0214
The Rey. Ellis B. Louden, Host Pastor
The Rev. Herbert L. Eddy, Host P.E.
PHILADELPHIA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
May 24-28, 1989
WMS Annual Day
May 23, 1989
Trinity A.M.E. Church
27th and Cumberland Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19132
Church Telephone: (215) 229-1652
Pastor’s Telephone: (215) 276-1360
The Rev. E. W. Saunders, Host Pastor
The Rey. Harry J. White, Host P.E.
THE FIRST DISTRICT
PLANNING MEETING
June 8-9, 1989
Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church
Corner of New and Neilson Streets
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Church Phone: (201) 749-8476
Pastor’s Phone: (201) 545-3638)
The Rev. H. A. Hildebrand, Host Pastor
The Rey. C. E. Martin, Host P.E.
Attend Your
i rs ee es es ee
ANNUAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Annual Conference
SIXTEENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
AME CHURCH
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
BISHOP V. R. BYRD
JAMAICA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
April 12-16, 1989
Chapel of Christ Redeemer Church
15 Swallowfield Road
Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies
Church Phone: 92-93824
The Rey. S. Lawrence, Host Pastor
The Rev. J. E. Micklejohn, Host P.E.
GUYANA-SURINAME
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
April 20-23, 1989
Bethel A.M.E. Church
Kaiser Straat 140
Paramaribo, Surinam
The Rev. Pearline E. Chaser, Host Pastor
The Rev. Dr. H. E. Hinds, Sr., Host P.E.
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
April 27-30, 1989
Bethel A.M.E. Church
12th & Queen Street
U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix
Church Phone: 1-809-773-6892
Pastor’s Phone: 1-809-778-9403
The Rev. V. H. A. Gordon, Host Pastor
The Rey. Louis C. Davis, Host P.E.
HAITI ANNUAL CONFERENCE
May 4-7, 1989
A.M.E. Church
Rue de Centre #320
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
The Rev. Saul Louis, Host Pastor
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
June 21-25, 1989
Bethel A.M.E. Church
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
The Rev. J. Green, Host Pastor & P.E.
TRINIDAD—GRENADA—
BARBADOS
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
July 19-24, 1989
Nazareth A.M.E. Church
Sunshine Avenue
San Juan, Trinidad
The Rev. Anderson Burkett, Host Pastor
The Rev. Dr. Fleming Joseph, Host P.E.
LONDON ENGLAND
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church
Bay 624 Malton Road
North Kensington
London W. 10 6110
The Rev. B. K. Tweed, Host Pastor
*Date and Place to be announced
SCHEDULES
EXECUTIVE
BOARD
MEETING
The Women’s Missionary Soci-
ety of the A.M.E. Church will
hold its Annual Executive Board
Meeting and Leadership Training
session for 1989, on February 2, 3
and 4, at the Camelot Hotel in
Little Rock, AR.
Mrs. Delores L. Kennedy Williams
President
Telephone: (202) 371-8886
or (317) 283-2511
Bishop F. M. Reid, Jr. Chairman
Commission on Missions
Bishop H. A. Belin, Jr., Prelate
12th Episcopal District
Mrs. Lucinda Crawford Belin
Episcopal Supervisor
12th Episcopal District
===== DSC05714.JPG =====
10
The AME Christian Recorder
January 23, 1989
Bishop Mayo Not Removing Texas Landmarks; Buttresses ‘OLD POSTS’
Bishop J. Haskell Mayo, Prelate
Tenth Episcopal District
by Dr. J. W. Yancy, II
Waiting at the front door of Tyree
Chapel, at the close of the West Texas
Conference, was Rev. H. H. Jones,
pastor of St. Joseph A.M.E. Church,
where the Texas Southwest Con-
ference would be held the following
week. Rev. Jones and his San Antonio
pastors had come to Bay City on
Friday—closing day of the confer-
ence—to invite Bishop and Mrs. Mayo
to the Alamo City to enjoy a round of
weekend courtesies, including some
appearances by Bishop Mayo
(preaching at fashionable Emanuel
A.M.E. Church, pastored by Rev.
Mike Gibson), prior to the opening of
the Southwest Texas Conference the
following Wednesday.
Among the scheduled activities of
the latter conference were a closed
luncheon at Bethel A.M.E. Church,
where the Rev. A. R. Nelson is pastor;
a subsequent open-house luncheon at
Bethel, and a sight-seeing tour of
historic San Antonio. The Rev, O. W.
Hodges was host presiding elder of the
Southwest Texas Conference and the
Rev. Lloyd Chenault the associate
presiding elder.
The Southwest Texas Conference
always stages a religious fiesta, this
section being the headquarters of Ca-
tholicism in Texas and heir to the
Spanish customs and traditions. The
Annual Sermon was preached by the
Rev. L. E. Ausbie and, here again,
five young ministers volunteered to
preach five-minute sermons each for
the Hour of Power.
The Missionary Meeting, staged as a
Spanish garden scene, proved to be an
effective session with Mrs. Theodora
H. Mayo supervising. Their ‘‘Night in
White’’ was as fantastic as the
business meeting was effective. At
Mrs. Mayo’s suggestion, the Mis-
sionaries sought out institutions to
which a group, headed by Mrs. Mayo,
took much-needed items for the in-
mates,
The Southwest Texas Conference
personnel do not constitute an area
easily presided over (ask Bishop
Joseph Gomez); nevertheless, Bishop
Mayo, with his dexterity of command
and compendium of A.M.E, funda-
mentalism, proved himself ‘‘monarch
of all he surveyed’’ in the Texas
Southwest. Here, ‘‘he came; he saw;
and he conquered.”’
Leaving San Antonio, Bishop and
Mrs. Mayo and their ministerial cara-
van sped across the vast State of Texas
to Beaumont, where Rev. O. W.
Johnson, host pastor at St, Paul and
the Rev. X. L. Williams, host pre-
siding elder, were READY for the in-
vasion of the Texas Conference, While
in Texas, Bishop John Hurst Adams
computed that ‘‘the greatest number
of ministers and laymen reside within
the boundaries of the Texas Confer-
ence.”’ The Reverends O. L. Dawson
and L, W. Jenkins were associate pre-
siding elders.
Rev. M. J. Leonard preached the
Annual Sermon, leaving ministerial
critics admitting that they ‘‘never
heard such a sermon coming from
Rev. Leonard.’’ For the Hour of
Power, five young preachers volun-
teered and preached five-minute ser-
mons, each one cutting off at the five-
minute deadline.
The City of Beaumont is one of
Texas’ most sophisticated cities, and
the constituency of St. Paul is an
epitome of this rare sophistication.
Have you ever witnessed Bishop Mayo
giving an interview to agnostic White
newspaper reporters? Well, notice
him, if you get the rare opportunity.
In his devasting interview, he appears
to reach up into the sky, grabbing a
handful of stars and pitching them
over the interviewers, blinding them
and subjugating them with phenome-
nal oratory adeptness. So, whatever
the sprawling Texas Conference in-
dividuality set before Bishop Mayo, he
handled it just like ‘‘taking candy
from a baby.’’ The Missionaries, led
by Mrs. Mayo, took gifts to the needy
in several places in Beaumont.
The unyielding, yet productive,
Texas Conference Missionaries
brought much to the Missionary meet-
ing and placed it there for fruition.
Mrs. Mayo presided in her supervisory
position with all ease and gracious-
ness. The ‘‘Night in White’’ was so
huge that the men were put outdoors
because of the great numbers present.
(Yes, they came back into the sanctu-
ary of the church for collection time!)
One of the conference highlights
was the recognition of a State Histori-
cal Marker recently accorded St. Paul
A.M.E. Church, Mother A.M.E.
Church in Houston, by the Texas His-
torical Commission. The affable Rev.
J. W. Ford is the pastor of St. Paul.
marr eet nea aE
State Historical Marker of
St. Paul, Houston, Texas
The Texas Conference can boast of
having within its personnel the best
trained security for the overall facili-
tating and moving of the conference,
He is the Rev. W. L. Smith, jubiliant
pastor of Smith Chapel, Rosenberg,
Texas. His many areas of church ser-
vice in this respect have given him
unique experience. Fierce in his
responsibility for protecting his
bishop, Rev. Smith is ready for im-
mediate security action. It is said that
“Security Smith’? pistol-whipped an
unyielding person at a General Confer-
ence for invading his bishop’s environs
without permission.
The Sunday
School Union Has
All Of The
Christian
Resources Your
Church Needs
ESESLESSLESES LESSEE SLL GO SES
Rev. Williard Lee Smith
Texas Senior Security
It is said that Dr. L. H. McCloney,
pastor of St. Luke, Waco, made a
special trip to Dallas to confer with
Bishop Mayo on items for making
him, as host to the Central Texas Con-
ference, come up to the expectations
of Bishop Mayo for entertaining the
Central Texas Conference. If Dr. Mc-
Cloney did make the trip, it all came
out in the superb entertainment given
the Central Texas Conference by Dr.
McCloney and his valiant members of
St. Luke.
The Annual Sermon was preached
by Rev. M. C. Cooper, who threw the
conference into a spiritual fervor by
the rendition of his torrid message.
Rev. C. C. Johnson was host presiding
elder and Rev. D. Harris was associ-
ate. Again, five young ministers
volunteered to preach five-minute ser-
mons for the Hour of Power, and no
one was set down for going overtime.
The Missionary Meeting was an ex-
perience in completeness and direc-
tion. Mrs. Edna Grovey Walker, Epis-
copal District President, always has
compliments for this Missionary So-
ciety for its completeness and effi-
ciency of reports and records. Mrs.
Theodora H. Mayo gave directions in
the meeting. The ‘‘Night in White”’
was well planned, adequately rendered
and staged. Three ‘‘first Ladies’’ were
given a ‘‘barrage’’ of corsages in
recognition of their positions in
Texas: Mrs. Mayo for ‘‘First Lady of
Texas’’; Mrs. DeJoyce Morgan (wife
of President Warren Morgan) for be-
ing ‘First Lady of A.M.E. Higher
Education in Texas’’; and Mrs. L. H.
McCloney for being ‘‘First Lady of St.
Luke.””
In his promulgation of a ‘‘confer-
ence being a learning experience,”
Bishop Mayo’s admonitions always
bring deep thought and meditation
from the ministers. Below is the
epitome of ‘‘deep meditation’’ by
Rev. L. R. Emanuel during one of
Bishop Mayo’s deliberations,
Rev. = R. Emanuel, pastor
Wayman Chapel, Temple, Texas
Texans, SEARCH THE RECORD!
A.M.E. connectionists come [to
Texas! You'll find that during his first
series of seven conferences, Bishop
Mayo has not removed ONE TEXAS
LANDMARK he found existing in the
A.M.E. Church in Texas. From per-
sonal observation by Texas Public
Relations, I can attest to the fact that
Bishop Mayo has not removed ONE
TEXAS LANDMARK.
In further observations by Texas
Public Relations, Bishop Mayo has
resorted to a method which an Old
Farmer related to me that he used in
strengthening his enclosure of his farm
area. This method is hereby related
below.
The successful long-time Old
Farmer related that, in looking over
his need for strengthening his fence
row for land enclosure, he never
removed an old post that had given
long service to the fence, but which
old post was showing signs of
deterioration.
Here is what he would do. He
would place a younger post right
beside the old, decaying post for
strength to the old post
—allowing the old post to serve out its
time of existence in the fence row.
This method, the Old Farmer said,
was ‘‘BUTTRESSING AN OLD
POST:;”
In observing Bishop Mayo’s
episcopal supervision and operation in
Texas, the relating of the Old
Farmer’s method of ‘‘buttressing an
old post’’ comes to the mind of Texas
Public Relations, over and over.
Dr. J. W. Yancy, I
»
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January 23, 1989
The AME Christian Recorder
11
Sharpesville Six Get Stay of Execution
SOCIAL ACTION CORNER
To God be the glory for answering
our prayers!! Amen!!
The South African Government’s
stay of execution of the ‘‘Sharpesville
Six;’’ the release to house arrest of
Nelson Mandella; and the restricted
release of the publisher of one of
South Africa’s civil rights newspapers
came as very welcome news.
The Olive Branch for peace that was
brought to this country by Soviet
Russia’s President Mikhail Gorbachev
was a most welcome happenstance,
the negative response from many in
this country now withstanding.
Our hearts, however, were saddened
by the tremendous loss of lives due to
the earthquake back in Russia that ne-
cessitated the return home of presi-
dent Gorbachev, following that his-
toric speech that he made to the
United Nations and to the world, but
our hearts were gladdened by the im-
mediate response of aid by this coun-
try and many others of the world, in-
cluding Israel.
Thank you, A.M.E. Church, for
your response to the Hurricane Gil-
bert victims throughout our connec-
tion; and I know more aid is forth-
coming. My own bishop, Bishop S. S.
Morris, has challenged and led the
Fourth District in a positive response.
I am encouraged by the number of
Black adoptions that are being
reported in our Zion. My own church,
Bethel A.M.E. of Madison, Illinois,
has moved to eight (8) adoptions and
six (6) foster children. God Be Prais-
ed!!! It is my prayer that every leader
in African Methodism will encourage,
support and foster this program.
Bishop John R. Bryant
Commission Chairman
Rev. John Q. Owens, Jr.
Director
Please don’t forget the homeless,
not only for the Holiday Season, but
the entire year.
Bishop S. S. Morris called the
Fourth District together in support of
the church that was burned in Alton,
Illinois. The response was magnifi-
cent, including that of the Fifth
Episcopal District and persons of
many different denominations.
Our Senior Bishop, Bishop John H.
Adams will be one of the keynote
speakers for a dialogue between the
religious and labor communities on
social and ethical concerns in a chang-
ing economy, held at the Washington
Hilton, Washington, DC, on January
25-27, 1989. I have been invited to
register and attend—and I plan to do
so. This invitation is open to others of
like mind. Registration is $50.00,
which includes all materials, recep-
tion, one lunch and one dinner. Please
write to: Michael Szpak, AFL-CIO,
815-16th St., N.W., Washington, DC
20006, or call (202) 637-5132. I
recommend it.
ST. MARK BREAKS GROUND FOR $2
MILLION HOUSING COMPLEX
L-R: Rev. D. C. Coleman, Rev. W. D. Davis, Bishop S. S. Morris, Rev. Lovell Johnson,
special official, and the Honorable Mayor John Norquist
Milwaukee, WI—The Ground Break-
ing Ceremony for ‘‘St. Mark Place,’”’
50 units of housing for the elderly and
disabled, at a cost of $2,000,000, and
located at N. 14th and Lloyd Streets in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was held on a
recent Sunday. The housing complex
is sponsored by St. Mark A.M.E.
Church Anvil Housing Corporation,
the Rev. Lovell Johnson, pastor.
The historic event was a day-long
celebration, with the Rt. Rev. Samuel
Solomon Morris, Presiding Bishop of
the 4th Episcopal District, preaching
in the morning worship service, and
presiding over the groundbreaking,
which was held in the church sanctuary
due to inclement weather. Assisting
Bishop Morris was Rev. William D.
Davis, Host Presiding Elder; Rev.
David C. Coleman, Presiding Elder of
the South District of the Chicago Con-
ference; and the Mayor of Milwaukee,
the Honorable John Norquist. Also
present were other representatives
from City and County government.
Officers of the sponsoring group,
the Anvil Housing Corporation, are:
president, Fred Carr; vice president,
Arthur Lee; secretary, Jim Otey;
assistant secretary, Earl Coleman;
treasurer, Snow Mitchell, Jr.; legal
counsel, and Lovell Johnson, Jr.
Members of the corporation are: Ben-
ny Ross, Hazel Howard, Willie Fells,
Gilbert Jones, Verda Sayles, and Ted
Osbourne.
The housing component is one of
twelve Outreach Programs designed to
serve the Milwaukee community spon-
sored by St. Mark A.M.E. Church.
St. Mark Commission
on Public Relations
Bishop Vinton R. Anderson
BOVE VE BO IC IO IO FE BO IE BO IO BE BE BO BO IO BO BO VE BO
— Announcing —
BISHOP’S RETREAT
Bishop Henry Belin and many of the
good people of the Twelfth Episcopal
District, in conjunction with the Okla-
homa Conference of Churches, of
which Brother Gibson, one of five
A.M.E. Laymen, is President. They
are planning a ‘‘March On The Capi-
tol’’ in Oklahoma City, January 24,
1989, in support of legislation that will
impact positively on the welfare of
many of the citizens of Oklahoma. I
stand in support of this effort and plan
to be a part of it.
Bishop Vinton R. Anderson dedi-
cated a masterpiece of an idea that was
brought to fruition by Pastor George
Reid and the forward-looking mem-
bers of Bethel A.M.E., Kansas City,
Missouri. The dedication took place
on Sunday, December 11, 1988. The
building is an addition to the church
that has a drug addiction rehabilita-
tion center, a tutoring section, and a
food distribution center. I was most
elated to have been escorted through
the facility. It’s a credit to African
Methodism.
Please don’t forget to pray for and
seek the stay of execution of ‘‘Paula
Cooper’’!!!
I am receiving word of a crisis in
our public schools and in many of the
parochial schools due to tax cuts and
falling enrollment, asbestos poisoning
and the cost of repairs and I am a bit
afraid that we might be getting close to
the time that education—at least a
part of it—may have to go back to the
churches, where I received some of my
grade school education during the de-
pression years in Inola, Oklahoma.
Mrs. Owens joins me in praying to
the Lord for a Happy and Joyous
Holiday to All.
God Bless,
John Q. Owens
January 30 thru February 1, 1989 ;
| OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
HOLIDAY INN — BRILEY PARKWAY
2200 Elm Hill Pike
Nashville, TN 37210
Phone 615/883-9770
BISHOP C. E. THOMAS, HOST
Every True A.M.E. should have the Book of
Worship to accompany your Bible, Hymnal Book,
and a Sunday School Quarterly
Reduced
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CY
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Methodist
Episcopal
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BOOK
OF
WORSHIP
Reduced
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The Book of Worship is a new book with a new name, offered in the hope that it will serve a
new age in our church. The change within is symbolic of the attempt to help Christians and those
who may become Christians to hear God's word, and worship Him, in the language of their needs
and aspirations today.
BOW-815
PLEASE INCLUDE 13% POSTAGE AND HANDLING $5.00
Send to: A.M.E.C. Sunday School Union, 500 8th Avenue, South, Nashville, TN 37203-4181
===== DSC05716.JPG =====
12
The AME Christian Recorder
January 23, 1989
2,500 Attend Brookins
Mini Revival
From Left: Rev. Frank M. Reid, III, Rev. T. Larry Kirkland, Sr., and Rev. Kelvin T.
Calloway
Los Angeles—More than 2,500 people
filled the pews of Brookins Commu-
nity A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles
during its Mini-Advent Revival. Aim-
ed at emphasizing the spiritual side of
Christmas, the four-day revival defied
tradition by featuring double sermons
during two services.
Two dynamic evangelists attracted
believers from throughout Southern
California, Rallying the crowd with in-
spired messages were the Rev. Dr.
Frank Madison Reid, pastor of Bethel
A.M.E. Church in Baltimore, MD;
and the Rev. Dr. Kelvin Tipton Callo-
way, pastor of Prince Chapel A.M.E.
Church in LaJolla, CA. In addition,
Bishop H. H. Brookins of the Second
Episcopal District spoke at one of the
services.
Both Dr. Reid and Dr. Calloway ex-
pounded and proclaimed the purpose
behind the Christian celebration of
Christmas and the positive response to
their sermons was reflected by the
overflowing audiences, said Brookins
pastor, the Rev. Dr. T. Larry Kirk-
land,
‘At least seven hundred people at-
tended our revival each night and, be-
lieve me, we had a good time,”’ said
Rev. Kirkland. ‘‘I was especially
pleased because many people were
skeptical about presenting a revival
during the height of Christmas, but I
believe that it’s imperative that be-
lievers and non-believers alike be re-
minded that Jesus is the reason for the
season. Christmas is not about giving
gifts. Instead, it is a joyous, spiritual
occasion honoring the birth of our
Savior and Lord. Christians must un-
derstand what this means in our walk
with Christ,’’ Rev. Kirkland said.
Echoing similar thoughts, Rev.
Reid used Luke 1:37-38 to explain that
the birth of Christ is not only the
fulfillment of God’s Word, but also
that Christ enables believers to be
victorious over staggering odds.
“Christ came that we might over-
come the impossible. If you want to
be successful, get on God’s side,”” said
Rev, Reid. ‘‘God will protect you and
provide for you, no matter how bad
things get.’’
In a different sermon, Rev. Reid
cited Matthew 1:23 to illustrate
another underlying meaning of Christ-
mas. ‘‘The world is full of lonely peo-
ple, but the message of Christmas is
that you don’t have to be lonely—
you can be liberated,’’ asserted the
evangelist. ‘‘When Jesus was born, it
was God with us. God is with you in
good times and in bad times, when
darkness is all around.’’
Rev. Calloway expanded on the
meaning of Christmas as well. Preach-
ing from Genesis 17:15-19, the minis-
ter spoke about ‘‘birth to the barren,”’
using Sarah’s pregnancy as an example
of ‘‘God making a way out of no
way.”’
‘*Today, many of us are barren. We
lack self-esteem because we are saddl-
ed with a slave mentality. But,
Christmas is a season of expectancy,”’
exhorted Rev. Calloway. ‘‘In the
midst of barreness, the gift of God is
given. Sarah’s story shows that God is
in the business of birth to the barren.
If you keep on believing, God will
search and seek you out.”’
Rev. Calloway also addressed ‘‘The
Second Coming’’ and its relationship
with Christmas, taking his text from
Revelations 1:9-18. ‘‘This season tells
us that God is with us, He has not
abandoned us. He lifts up bowed
heads. God revives our soul,”’ said the
minister. ‘‘Hold on to your faith be-
cause the kingdom is near—and if
there is anything to prevent you from
getting into the kingdom, get rid of it!
“If we knew tomorrow was our last
day, we wouldn’t have so much fool-
ishness,”"’ Rev. Calloway declared.
“Time is valuable, so hold on to your
faith. Jesus is worthy of your faith,
your trust and your belief.””
Please with the outcome of the un-
conventional revival, Rev. Kirkland
told the audience, ‘‘I’m thankful to
God for this outstanding reception.
Before you were saved, | bet you
wouldn’t have thought you would sit
through two sermons on a weekday,
but I know you're glad you came,
aren’t you?’”
Responding with thunderous ap-
plause, the crowd rose to their feet in
appreciation of the revival. Rev. Kirk-
land said Brookins will hold similar
revivals during 1989.
Cora Jackson-F ossett, Director,
Reporter
Public Relations Commission
Brookins Community A.M.E. Church
We are clever individuals, practiced at the
art of self-deception when it is too painful
to face or own inner truths.
4, Lee Henderson
Bishop P. R. Cousin to Preach
Dedicatorial Sermon
Bishop Philip R. Cousin
Tallahassee, FL—Yes, it’s about to
happen! After more than sixty-four
months of laboring, a mighty goal has
been reached. The members of Ander-
son Chapel A.M.E. Church will march
into a new temple.
By the grace of Almighty God,
plans have been made to celebrate this
blessed event February 7-12, 1989. Be-
ginning on Tuesday night, Presiding
Elder D. H. Jamison will be the
speaker, with other Tallahassee Dis-
trict ministers participating on the
program. Activities throughout the
week will also include presiding elders
from other districts. All services will
begin at 7:00 EST.
The Bishop of the 11th Episcopal
District, the Rt. Rev. Philip R. Cousin
will deliver the keynote sermon for the
dedication service on Founder’s Day
Sunday afternoon, February 12, 1989,
at 3:00 p.m. This special service will
be the culmination of the week’s acti-
vities.
The Rev. Isaiah Cole is the pastor
of Anderson Chapel.
A.M.E. Clergymen Ask Forensic
Building Be Named For Former
Black Prisoner
Rey. R. E, Keesee
Chattanooga, TN—A group of Black
ministers asked the Hamilton County
Commission to name the county’s new
forensic building in honor of Waddie
Suttles, whose death in 1983 at the city
jail created a controversy that has con-
tinued since.
The Rev. Robert Keesee, pastor of
St. Paul A.M.E. Church, was spokes-
man for the ministers.
“In light of this incident, the com-
munity has been polarized,’’ Keesee
said. ‘I come as a representative of a
broad-based group of people concern-
ed about it.’’
Keesee said the request is supported
by the Unity Group, Ministerial
Union, and PUSH. He said naming
the building in honor of Suttles might
“ease the pain and trauma’’ and help
stabilize community relations.
Suttle died of head injuries while he
was a prisoner in the city jail.
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Members of his family say that foul
play was involved, although none has
been proved, and that unanswered
questions remain.
The text of Rev. Keesee’s speech
follows:
“Chairman Paul A. McDaniel,
County Executive Dalton Roberts,
and Members of the Commission,
Thanks for allowing me this privilege
to speak to you this morning. I am
deeply appreciative and grateful.
It is my understanding that you have
established, or are establishing, a
much-needed forensic building in your
community. You are aware of the tra-
gic death of Mr. Waddie Suttles
(allegedly killed in December a few
years ago, in the Chattanooga City
jail). In light of this incident that has
caused a great deal of controversy
that, in some degree, has caused dis-
trust and bad feelings, especially in the
Black community,
I come before you this morning as a
representative of a broad base that is
concerned about what has happened in
our community. We feel that it may
ease some of the emotional trauma,
pain and psychological stress and bring
some sense of stability to our commu-
nity if you would dedicate, in the
memory of Waddie Suttle, the new
Forensic Science Building.
Thanks, Mr. Chairman, County Ex-
ecutive Roberts, and Commissioners
for your time. It is my sincere prayer
that you will honor our request.
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Date
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1989-1-23
