Word of Encouragement Community Church

In Honor of Father’s Day, An Open Thank You Letter!

June 12, 2019

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. ... read more »

Pastor Najuma Smith Pollard on Maintaining Faith in the Midst of Grief

April 24, 2019

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, ... read more »

Word of Encouragement Marks 4th Year of Ministry

April 11, 2018

Founding Pastor Najuma Smith-Pollard and WOE congregation plan breakfast celebration In 2014, after four years of much prayer and preparation, the Rev. Dr. D. Najuma Smith-Pollard founded Word of Encouragement Community Church (WOECC) in Los Angeles. ... read more »

Religion and homelessness intersect at USC Roundtable

November 1, 2017

Religion and homelessness intersected on October 18 at a high-level roundtable hosted by the University of Southern California. More than 50 religious and civic leaders, ... read more »

The Voice of Our Fathers!

June 17, 2015

Proverbs 4:1 – “Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.” When I was a child, I was a bonified ‘Daddy’s Girl.’ Even though I did not grow up with my father in the home, ... read more »