Standing before a multi-ethnic group of supporters, Mayor-elect Karen Bass declared her intentions to tackle the city’s most pressing issues on day one of her tenure. Bass expressed that commitment at her first press conference since being recognized as the winner of Los Angeles mayoral race on Wednesday, Nov. 16.
I had just announced our church’s plans to resume in-person worship when someone called and told me they had contracted COVID-19. Immediately, I second-guessed the decision to reopen our worship building for services.
Local Pastors, community leaders and clergy announce their film picks from this year’s Faith-based Film Festival. The Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center (BHERC) extended the 2nd Annual BHERC Faith-Based & Inspirational Film Festival (FBIFF) through Sunday, October 3, to allow additional access and viewing of the films. Curated from 1,000+ entries from across the globe, the selection committee programmed 34 films for this year’s festival. Initially scheduled to be a hybrid event, the rise in the Delta variant of the COVID – 19 virus led to the festival being held online and currently streaming 24/7 on www.BHERC.TV. To obtain festival tickets,
Los Angeles faith leaders stood up for U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters after a few conservatives, including elected officials and media, attacked her last week for advising to protesters to “get confrontational” if needed.
A day before the guilty verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial, four Los Angeles-area pastors united to lead a rally for peace and justice, not matter what the outcome. Their timely actions not only reinforced their ties to the pulse of the public, but some people commented that the rally helped community members to prepare to remain calm. Fortunately, Chauvin was found guilty on April 20, of three counts of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd, an African American man who was murdered on May 25, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Floyd died as a result of Chauvin pressing
Father’s Day in the Black community is often met with understandable tension from many sides. We are always grieving the profoundly missing element of men/fathers that make our families and communities whole. With all the technological advancements of the day, we have yet to resolve the tension and fully heal; and the glaring statistics are always glaring back at us as we seek and fight for change. Nevertheless, we still have so much to be thankful for and I wanted to share this “Open Thank You Letter” for this coming Father’s Day. To all the men who show-up unapologetically, courageously,
Rev. Dr. Najuma Smith-Pollard shares her response to her son’s death by violence Surviving the death of a loved one is rarely easy. When that loved one is killed by the hands of another, the burden can be nearly unbearable. The Rev. Dr. D. Najuma Smith-Pollard, pastor of Word of Encouragement Community Church in Los Angeles, experienced that agonizing pain in October 2019 when her son Daniel, was shot down in Las Vegas. In the following edited interview with the Sentinel, she recalls the tragedy and shares how her faith continues to help her deal with life as a wife,
The excitement is building as the New Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church congregation prepares to mark their 55th anniversary. The observance will be held on Sunday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m., and recognition of new members at 10:45 a.m. At 3:30 p.m., the grand celebration features preaching by Pastor Larry Weaver of Atherton Baptist Church. Also, Pastor J. Benjamin Hardwick of Praises of Zion Baptist Church, Pastor Marcus Murchinson of Tree of Life Baptist Church, and Pastor David E. Cross of Greater Page Temple Church of God in Christ will participate. “We invite greater Los Angeles to celebrate with us
Liturgical performers, singers, poets and dramatists will convene at the Dancer in Me Sacred Arts and Music Training Institute opening Friday, March 23, and continuing through Sunday, March 25. The theme is “Cover the Earth” based on Habakkuk 2:14. Sponsored by the nonprofit Long Beach Unity Festival, the gathering offers technical instruction in several disciplines such as dance, flags/pageantry, theater/mime and music/worship. Sessions will also focus on media, leadership and prophetic ministry. The agenda kicks-off on Friday at 11 a.m., at Cabrillo High School, 2001 Santa Fe Ave., in Long Beach and includes a concert at 7 p.m. Saturday’s activities
The members of New Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church will recognize both the 5th anniversary and birthday of their pastor, the Rev. Dr. Sonja R. Dawson. The dual celebration takes place on Sunday, January 24, during three worship services in the edifice located at 402 E. El Segundo Blvd., in Los Angeles. At the 7:30 a.m. worship, Pastor Geremy Dixon of First Church of God Inglewood will preach. Pastor Najuma Smith-Pollard of Word of Encouragement Community Church will deliver the sermon at the 10:45 a.m. service. The Grand Anniversary and Birthday Celebration kicks-off at 3 p.m. The guests are Pastor