Pastor Mark E. Whitlock

Shegog-Whitlock Helps COR Church to be a ‘Community Changer’

Cora Jackson-Fossett, Religion EditorMay 2, 2018

What is your name and what is your ministry? I am the Rev. Hermia Shegog-Whitlock, ordained Itinerant Deacon in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church; serving in ministry as associate minister and employed as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Christ Our Redeemer AME Church (COR) and its affiliated non-profit, COR Community Development Corporation. How long have you been in this ministry? Before entering the five-year formal ministerial training in the AME Church in 2008, I served with my spouse, the Rev. Mark E. Whitlock, Jr., upon his assignment to COR in 1998. In addition to being the first lady, I was the

Religion

Faith Community Unites to Help Hurricane Harvey Victims

Cora Jackson-Fossett, Religion EditorSeptember 6, 2017

The historic flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey galvanized the Los Angeles faith community into action with multiple efforts underway to assist hundreds of thousands in Houston, Texas and surrounding areas. The various donation drives, conducted by denominational and independent ministries, urge L.A. residents to contribute bottled water, toiletries, cleaning supplies and other items to help victims rebound from the wide-ranging destruction. Agape Church of Los Angeles Calling their effort “Houston: We Are Standing With You,” Agape L.A. will accept donations on Friday, Sept. 8, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the corporate office located at 4602 Crenshaw Blvd.,

Religion

Price Chapel AME Holds Steward’s Annual Day

Cora Jackson-Fossett, Religion EditorAugust 9, 2017

The Steward Board of Price Chapel AME Church will hold their Annual Day service on Sunday, August 20, at 4 p.m., in the edifice located at 4000 West Slauson Ave., in Los Angeles. “We invite the community to join us on this special occasion as we salute the dedication and contributions of our Stewards,” said Pastor Benjamin Hollins. “In addition, you will be enlightened and uplifted by our guest preacher, Pastor Mark E. Whitlock of Christ Our Redeemer AME Church in Irvine.” Whitlock is the spiritual leader of the largest predominantly African-American church in Orange County. Under his leadership, the

Religion

Financial Resources for Churches – Online Giving Works!

Rev. Mark E. Whitlock, Jr., Contributing WriterJune 21, 2017

Online giving is one of the fastest-growing methods of giving to churches. Online giving is a way of donating money via the internet and cell phone. Online giving is a safe, secure, easy, and a swift method of tithing and giving offerings to God’s church. Online giving works! Many church members are addicted to writing checks, touching cash, lifting coins and filling out donation envelopes. The church may consider starting a 12-step program for people afraid of giving online. Some persons truly enjoy placing money in the offering tray, but they don’t give to the church unless they are physically

Religion

A New Pitch for God’s Resources

Rev. Mark E. Whitlock, Jr., Contributing WriterJune 14, 2017

Church Stewardship is raising, expending, and managing God’s funds and property. This is the fundamental principle of biblical stewardship. Too many church leaders use the same pitch for money every week, but expect better results. Church leaders must keep up with the times by perfecting a new pitch for raising resources: The Pitch The pitch is the primary method of connecting with a donor. The pitch is informational and emotional. Donors connect with persons making the pitch. If a pitch is just informational, it lacks passion. If a pitch is just emotional, it lacks content. The pitch must have a

Religion

Christ Our Redeemer Sponsors Christian Sports Camp

Cora Jackson-Fossett, Religion EditorJune 7, 2017

Christ Our Redeemer AME Church in Irvine offers children and youth a unique experience at its Christian Sports Camp. The two-day event starts Friday, July 14, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., through Saturday, July 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The camp will be held at Mater Dei High School, 1201 West Idinger Ave., in Santa Ana. “God gave us a vision to have a Christian Sports Camp, which is the first black faith-based sports camp in the history of Orange County,” said Pastor Mark E. Whitlock, Jr. “We have 30 open spots and invite girls and boys

Religion

AME Women in Ministry Plans Prayer Breakfast

Cora Jackson-Fossett, Religion EditorMarch 22, 2017

The AME Southern California Conference Women In Ministry (SCC WIM) will hold the Rev. Jarena Lee Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, April 8, at 9:30 a.m., at the Carson Community Center, 801 E Carson St., in Carson. Bishop Clement W. Fugh, presiding prelate of the 5th Episcopal District of the AME Church, will be the guest speaker and recipient of the Rev. Jarena Lee Award for the Support of Women Preachers. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Fugh was elected as the 131st bishop in 2012 and assigned to the current position in 2016. Previously, he led several churches in Tennessee, Kentucky and

Religion

Words of the Week – Empowering Poor People

Rev. Mark E. Whitlock, Jr., Contributing WriterJanuary 26, 2017

The church has a dark hidden secret. It has been a secret for centuries. The secret is churches have a number of the same people regularly asking for financial assistance, treating the church like a bank rather than a place of worship. The church pays their rent, utilities, car notes, telephone service, and groceries on a monthly basis. These are not seniors on fixed income, but these are young and middle aged adults. Some of them are unemployed, living on the streets, but a large number of them go to work every day. The church may consider changing the “benevolence”

Religion

Christ Our Redeemer Hosts AME SoCal Annual Conference

Cora Jackson-Fossett, Religion EditorOctober 13, 2016

African Methodists throughout Southern California and the western U.S. will gather October 21 to November 1 for the 92nd Session of the Southern California Annual Conference of the AME Church and the Fifth District Planning Meeting. Bishop Clement W. Fugh, presiding prelate, and Supervisor Alexia Butler Fugh, will oversee the both events as the new spiritual leaders of the Fifth Episcopal District. Pastor Mark E. Whitlock, Jr., the Rev. Dr. Mia Whitlock, first lady, and the members of Christ Our Redeemer AME Church (COR) are the conference hosts. “We’re excited about Christ Our Redeemer, the seed of Orange County,

Religion

Black and Latino Churches Call for Unity

Sentinel News ServiceJuly 21, 2016

Church Leaders meet with law enforcement and Irvine leadership to combat hate, racism, and violence Christ Our Redeemer AME (COR) Church in Irvine hosted the “Tied Together” community forum on July in response to the deaths of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, and the police officers in Dallas, TX. The event featured an hour of collaboration and community standing against division, hate, and injustice. Pastors Mark Whitlock of COR and Jason Aguilar of The Cloud Church joined with Irvine pastors and leaders to voice their love for the city, law enforcement, and neighbors. A “thread ceremony” was conducted to symbolize the

Religion

Local Faith Leaders Respond to Orlando Tragedy

Cora Jackson-Fossett, Religion EditorJune 23, 2016

The mass murders of 49 people in Orlando, Florida on June 12 prompted a strong response from faith leaders throughout the nation. In the greater Los Angeles area, clergy of all faiths shared the following comments. Bishop Theodore Larry Kirkland, presiding prelate of the Fifth Episcopal District of the AME Church: “I extend my prayers and condolences to the victims and loved ones of this senseless tragedy. Clearly, we need a spiritual revival in this country because it is all a part of a dearth that we have spiritually. We trust that people will have this revival and can be renewed.

Religion

COR Church Hosts Mother’s Day ‘Hattitude’

Sentinel News ServiceMay 5, 2016

Christ Our Redeemer AME (COR) Church will honor all women at their annual “Hattitude” event on Sunday, May 8. The celebration is set for the 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. worship services in the edifice located at 45 Tesla in Irvine. “We invite all women in Los Angeles and Orange to worship with us on Mother’s Day and wear their best hat,” said Pastor Mark E. Whitlock, Jr. “For many centuries, African-American women have dressed from head-to-toe when attending church, matching their dress, shoes, purse, gloves and hat. “This was one of the few opportunities to remove the domestic aprons

Religion

COR CDC and Cottonwood Church feed more than 500 families

Brittany K. Jackson (Contributing Writer)December 23, 2015

COR Community Development Corporation (CDC) and Avanath Capital Management partnered with Cottonwood Church on December 19 to provide hundreds of residents living in the Northpointe Apartments in Long Beach with exclusive toy giveaways, books, a catered breakfast and a special reason to give thanks for their fully-equipped living quarters, now complete with a newly constructed basketball court. Spearheaded by the Rev. Mark Whitlock, COR CDC president/CEO and senior minister of Christ Our Redeemer African Methodist Episcopal Church in Irvine, the dynamic event joined several community members, city officials, law enforcement and partners in Long Beach for some holiday cheer. The

Religion

Bishop Vann to preach at Christ Our Redeemer AME

Sentinel News ServiceAugust 26, 2015

Bishop Kevin W. Vann of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange will be the guest preacher on Sunday, August 30, at 10:30 a.m., at Christ Our Redeemer African Methodist Episcopal Church (COR), 45 Tesla in Irvine. Pastor Mark E. Whitlock, Jr., said, “This is the first time in California AME Church history that a Roman Catholic Bishop will be preaching at an AME Church. We invite the greater Southern California community to join us for this momentous worship service. “With events happening like Ferguson, Missouri, and the larger event in Charleston, South Carolina, religious leaders are reaching out to reduce