The Rev. John E. Cager III, pastor of Ward AME Church in Los Angeles, has been promoted to presiding elder of the denomination’s Midwest North District comprised of 22 churches in Kansas and Nebraska.
The Rev. G. Mansfield Collins made a huge footprint during his nearly 102 years of life. His impact was clearly apparent as hundreds filled the sanctuary of Bryant Temple AME Church to salute Collins’ legacy. During an uplifting memorial service on Oct. 10, Collins’ enduring love for God, family and community was celebrated through music, reflections and presentations.
Elected officials, African leaders, commentators, civil rights leaders, public figures, and mass media personalities have spoken out against the racist treatment of people of color and racist coverage of the war in the media.
The COVID-19 winter surge has impacted different age groups in different ways, as caretakers struggle to take care of the elderly during this pandemic and parents remain wary of their children returning to in-person classes.
For the past several decades, I have been an active pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, serving fourteen congregations across Los Angeles County. It is impossible to overstate the importance of Black-owned businesses in these communities. They are the lifeblood of local commerce, but more than that, they are a means to local organization and empowerment. I have seen firsthand the struggles of these business owners to succeed—to meet their payrolls, to support their families, to always be there for their customers. It’s not always easy, especially in the wake of a year-long pandemic, and every dollar matters. That’s
The California Black Women’s Collective united with faith leaders throughout the state to recognize the achievements of U.S. Congresswomen Karen Bass and Barbara Lee. More than 200 people logged-in on International Women’s Day, March 8, to pay tribute to the political trailblazers. The virtual event, billed as “A Conversation with Black Clergy and Faith Leaders,” was co-sponsored by the Baptist Ministers Conference of L.A. and Southern California (BMC), Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California (SCLC-SC), the AME Church and Allen Temple Baptist Church. The program also focused on strategies to secure the former senatorial seat of U.S. Vice President
Trailblazing preacher broke social barriers for Black women in the 1800s The Rev. Jarena Lee was a Black history trailblazer, who was the first woman to be authorized to preach by Richard Allen, the founder of the AME Church, and the first Black woman to have an autobiography published in the United States. Jarena was born in 1783 to free, but poor, Black parents. She was sent to work as a live-in servant at the age of 7 and was later exposed to Christian teachings. Jarena came to Philadelphia as a teenager and was changed after hearing a passionate sermon delivered
Group wants changes in the midst of gang database corruption scandal
On this day, July 13, 2016, The Right Rev. Clement W. Fugh was named bishop of the 5th Episcopal District of the AME Church (Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean). Brought to you by the Black365 Calendar. Find out more at www.Black365.US.
It’s been nearly three years since the Right Rev. T. Larry Kirkland, Sr. retired as an AME bishop after 55 years of ministry, but his schedule remains as busy as ever. A powerful preacher and insightful teacher, Kirkland is frequently invited to deliver sermons at churches throughout Southern California as well as in other parts of the country. His next local engagement takes place at Agape Church of Los Angeles. The ministry, led by Bishop Craig A. Worsham, will welcome Kirkland to deliver the sermon on Resurrection Day, April 21, at the 8 a.m. service in the worship center
Minister Jarena Lee was the first authorized female preacher in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. Lee, whose family or maiden name is unknown, was born to a poor but free black family on February 11, 1783, in Cape May, New Jersey. In 1790 at the age of seven, Lee was sent to work as a live-in servant for a white family named Sharp. Lee moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as a teenager and continued to work as a domestic servant. One afternoon, Lee attended a worship service at Bethel Church where Bishop Richard Allen, founder of the AME Church, was scheduled to preach. After hearing the powerful sermon delivered by
Like many pastors, the Rev. Nicolette Birdsong Wilson wants her St. James AME Church congregation to grow spiritually and numerically. But, numbers play a lesser role than relationship building. Her focus is on developing better and new relationships with God’s people, both inside and outside of the walls of the church. “Evangelism was never about just inviting someone to church,” said Wilson, who was appointed in October 2018. “It was and is about building loving and Christ-like relationships with each other.” This approach is not new for Wilson, who employed a similar strategy while serving as spiritual leader of Johnson
The Los Angeles faith community extended a fond farewell to Mrs. Geraldine Stiles Murph, who passed away on Oct. 15, at the age of 100-years-old. Long admired for her intelligence, humility and grace, Geraldine made a lasting impression as a first lady, missionary, and AME Episcopal Supervisor as the wife of the late Bishop Henry W. Murph, Sr. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, Oct. 27, at 11 a.m., at New Vision Ministries, 2400 Southwest Drive in Los Angeles. Her son, the Rev. Dr. Frederick O. Murph, will officiate and deliver the eulogy. A repast
God has abundantly blessed the ministry of the Rev. Dr. Rosalynn Kyle Brookins since she answered His call to preach 14 years ago. The wife of the late Bishop H.H. Brookins, she became the first retired AME episcopal supervisor to be appointed as a pastor in 2011 and in May 2018, she was the first female to earn a Doctor of Ministry degree from Payne Theological Seminary. The members of Walker Temple AME Church in Los Angeles responded to dedicated spiritual leadership by hosting the seventh pastoral appreciation for Brookins on Oct. 21, where scores of people expressed gratitude for
AME SoCal Lay Organization event to feature state and county candidates for office Propositions and candidates in the upcoming mid-term election will be vetted and explained at the Community Education Town Hall on Friday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. The forum will be held on Lay Witness Night during the AME Church’s Southern California Annual Conference, which runs from Oct. 17, through Oct. 21, at the LAX Hilton Hotel, 5711 W Century Blvd., in Los Angeles. Bishop Clement W. Fugh will preside over the conference and Pastor Dwaine A. Jackson of Bryant Temple AME Church will host the session. Town