Honor and Celebration Weekend at West Angeles Church of God in Christ featured tributes to the legacy of Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr. and Lady Mae Blake. The services also included a joyous welcome to the new spiritual leaders, Pastor Charles Blake II and Lady DeAndra Blake.
Most people will agree that Presiding Bishop Emeritus Charles E. Blake, Sr. is the epitome of a faith leader. That description is highly accurate. As the senior pastor of West Angeles Church of God in Christ, Blake has shepherded tens of thousands of members for more than five decades. Not only has he ministered to the spiritual growth of his congregation, but he also addressed the physical needs of his community by implementing scores of social-economic programs to aid residents with home ownership, affordable housing, business development, financial counseling, and many other enterprises. Also, under the leadership of Bishop Blake,
With a loud shout of “Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord,” Elder Darin McAllister, along with a dedicated team of volunteers, ministers, and student leaders; boldly spoke words of life over the intersection of San Pedro and 5th Street in the heart of Skid Row
City of Refuge, Faithful Central Bible Church and West Angeles Church of God in Christ will all resume in-person worship services on Sunday, July 4.
In the world of CDCs, Lula Bailey Ballton is considered a brilliant innovator and some even regard her as the “dynamic queen of nonprofits.” Ballton’s reputation stems from her role as the CEO emeritus, co-founder and former president of West Angeles Community Development Corporation (WACDC). In 1993, Bishop Charles E. Blake, pastor of West Angeles Church of God in Christ, selected Ballton as the first executive director of WACDC and charged her with fulfilling the organization’s mission “to increase social and economic justice, demonstrate compassion ad alleviate poverty as tangible expression of the Kingdom of God.” To Ballton that meant,
Although the California Department of Public Health announced the statewide reopening of places of worship on May 25, L.A.-area faith leaders are not rushing to resume religious services on Sunday, May 31.
Many congregants received pastoral letters outlining worship etiquette in light of the increase in coronavirus or COVID-19 cases across the nation. The messages reiterate the guidelines that medical professionals have recommended to protect public health. The recommendations include frequent hand washing, using hand sanitizers, remaining home if sick and consulting your doctor if experiencing flu-like symptoms. “We are prayerfully providing the guidelines for consideration as a church family. We believe these guidelines will allow us to collectively and individually prepare appropriately,” wrote Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr. in an email to the West Angeles Church of God in Christ membership.
Jubilation filled the air as Bishop Charles and First Lady Mae Blake simultaneously celebrated their 51st pastoral anniversary and burned the $65 million mortgage on the West Angeles Cathedral. The joyous observance, attended by thousands of members of West Angeles Church of God in Christ along with several special guests, was held on Jan. 12, during the 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. worship services. Bishop Joe Ealy, presiding prelate of the denomination’s Southern California First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, delivered uplifting sermons at the morning services and the Grammy-winning artist Kurt Carr performed with the Kurt Carr Singers at all
Several ministries and individuals headlined the news in the faith community during 2019. The following highlights some of the most popular stories in the L.A. Sentinel Religion section. Tulloss Heads Baptist Ministers Conference – The Baptist Ministers Conference (BMC) of Los Angeles and Southern California elected the Rev. K.W. Tulloss as president on Jan. 14. The pastor of Weller Street Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, Tulloss most recently served as a vice president of the 100-year-old organization. “The conference will continue to serve as a preparation institute that will focus on building the capacity of pastors and ministers. We
Magic Johnson might actually miss the Los Angeles Lakers if he wasn’t always checking up on them. Johnson quit as the team’s president of basketball operations at the end of the last season, leaving him out of a gym, but not out of the loop, as Los Angeles opened training camp. “I’m working like I’m still there, anyway,” Johnson said, laughing. “I talk to them all the time. It’s crazy how I’m still with them without being there physically.” Without the daily grind of management to restrain him, Johnson has spent the months without basketball traveling with his family, tending
West Angeles Church of God in Christ in the Crenshaw District announced Oct. 2, that it has sold some of its property so it can be used to beautify and revitalize the area, while ensuring “nuisance businesses” will be prohibited on the land. According to the church, it sold off property including its administrative offices, church annex and theater. Financial details were not released, but church officials said the sale will enable it to build a Family Life Center, while also paying off the mortgage on its cathedral, with enough left over to establish a financial reserve. “Paying off the
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science and West Angeles collaborate to provide preferred admission, financial aid workshops and more to congregation and surrounding community Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with West Angeles Church of God in Christ (COGIC) on September 11, as part of the university’s continuing efforts to increase enrollment, especially through local community pipelines. The MOU will solidify the mutual commitment between CDU and West Angeles COGIC to work together to create more pathways to health professions education in medically under-resourced neighborhoods throughout South Los Angeles.
New community initiative aims to positively impact men and their families
Bishop Charles E. Blake, pastor of West Angeles Church of God in Christ (COGIC), one of the largest congregations in America, was awarded yet another victory in his fight against the defamatory acts of Minister Earl Carter, a former preacher within the COGIC denomination. At a March 8 hearing in Orlando, Florida, Carter was held in Contempt of Court, remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal and sent to jail. The case began on December 11, 2015, when Blake filed a defamation lawsuit alleging that Carter created Youtube videos with the intent to, among other things, damage his
A look back in photos at President Obama’s relationship with the U.S. faith community.