Ward African Methodist Episcopal Church will observe the 30-year journey of ministry of Pastor John E. Cager III with services on Saturday, March 14, at 3 p.m., and Sunday, March 15, at 10 a.m.
Both events will take place in Ward’s sanctuary, located at 1177 W. 25th St., in Los Angeles. The Rev. Darryl E. Walker, pastor of New Philadelphia AME Church in Long Beach, will be the guest preacher on Sunday.
Cager has headed several churches since his ordination as an itinerant elder in 1994. He was the youth minister at First AME – L.A. before receiving pastoral assignments to Bethel AME – Fontana and to St. Stephens AME and Second AME, both in Los Angeles. He also served as interim pastor at First AME – Santa Monica and visiting pastor at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Baldwin Hills before his current appointment.
In the area of civic engagement, Cager is a board member of Progressive Christians Uniting, the Greater Capacity Consortium and the First To Serve Treatment Centers and volunteers on the American Cancer Society’s Prostate Cancer Awareness Team.
His involvement in the ecumenical arena includes president of the Los Angeles Council of Religious Leaders, interim president of the Los Angeles Council of Churches and president of the AME Ministerial Alliance of Southern California.
“Please come and join in celebrating Rev. Cager’s pastorate, his community service, his contributions to the ecumenical, academic and political Communities; and his dedication to the uplifting of the lives of the underserved,” said a spokesperson.
For more information, call Ward AME Church at (213) 747-1367.
