Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer will conclude four decades as senior pastor and teacher of Faithful Central Bible Church on Sunday, February 19. In recognition of his transformative ministry, the congregation will host a series of “Legacy of Champion” events, which will culminate in a tribute concert.
The celebration began on Feb. 5 with the installation of the new senior pastor, the Rev. John-Paul C. Foster. The rejoicing continues on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 9 a.m., with Ulmer leading the worship in The Tabernacle, 321 N. Eucalyptus Avenue in Inglewood. The service will also highlight the Music and Arts Reunion. Ladies Night honoring First Lady Togetta Ulmer takes place on Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. in The Tabernacle.
On Sunday, Feb. 19, at 9 a.m., Bishop Ulmer will preach his final message as the senior pastor. At 5 p.m., the citywide tribute concert will be held at West Angeles Cathedral, 3600 S. Crenshaw Blvd., in Los Angeles. The program will be preceded by a red carpet press session.
According to a spokesperson, “The concert will feature gospel artists who have touched Bishop’s life personally, and have been part of his 40 year journey. Each of these artists have spoken into his life and helped bring him through the difficult, challenging and sometimes loneliest parts of this journey.”
Pastor John-Paul C. Foster will deliver his inaugural sermon as senior pastor of Faithful Central Bible Church on Sunday, Feb. 26, at 9 a.m.
A respected global Christian leader, Ulmer is known for his dynamic, life-changing sermons and his courage in blazing new trails for the cause of Christ. For instance, he led Faithful Central in owning the Fabulous Forum, which the church ultimately sold at a considerable profit.
In 2016, the bishop launched The Ulmer Institute, a nonprofit that treats, researches and trains professional and community leaders to deal with urban psychological trauma such as shootings, stabbings and murders commonplace in many South Los Angeles neighborhoods. The project is a partnership between centers of faith, the Israeli psychological community, the Jewish community, Los Angeles-based clinics, hospitals and research universities.
In 2018, Ulmer partnered with the Union Rescue Mission to open The Family of Champions DTLA Campus at URM. The sanctuary on Skid Row ministers to the spiritual needs of URM residents, their families and the surrounding community. Artist Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) brought his Sunday Service series to fellowship at the Family of Champions DTLA Campus.
Local furloughed federal workers impacted by the weeks-long U.S. Government shutdown in 2019 were cheered and relieved when Ulmer responded by giving spiritual and tangible assistance to congregants facing immediate hardship. He dedicated special prayer to those directly impacted and distributed $100 Ralph’s gift cards to them as well.
When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit in March 2020, Ulmer immediately responded by joining with Freddie Figgers, an entrepreneur based on Florida, to provide 750,000 masks and 250,000 PPEs Centinela and Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospitals as well as Inglewood City Hall.
A prolific author of several books, Bishop Ulmer is the past president and founding board member of The King’s University, and serves as dean of The King’s annual summer session at Oxford University. He also served as a trustee and adjunct professor at Biola University and was appointed senior advisor to the university president in 2022.
To learn more about the Legacy of a Champion events, visit faithfulcentral.com.
