When Bishop Frank Madison Reid III preaches at on December 25, at 10 a.m., on Christmas Day at Ward AME Church, he will join both his predecessor and his successor in saluting the congregation’s long history of outreach to the community.
Prior to Reid’s appointment in 1980, the Rev. C. Garnett Henning, now a retired AME bishop, served eight years as pastor where he established several ministries to help others including the Ward Area Redevelopment Department, Inc. (W.A.R.D.), an umbrella corporation for many programs, including the William Grant Still Community Music School.
Under the current leadership of Pastor John E. Cager III, the church continues to aid the underserved, especially through its Winter Shelter Program that provides food and beds for the homeless and its community engagement efforts that position Ward as a ongoing sponsor of town halls, health fairs and voter registration campaigns.
“God had used Ward to help and provide for others. Earlier this year, we joined Congresswoman Karen Bass in hosting a free health fair that attracted more than 400 people,” said Cager. “They enjoyed a catered meal, children received back-to-school supplies and other reading materials, the farmer’s market distributed groceries, and others obtained health screenings.”
The church also partners with a local nonprofit to assist people who are formerly incarcerated or recovering substance abusers, said Cager, who added, “The participants in this program not only attend worship, but members and ministries have sponsored programs to assist their re-integration into the community.”
Ward’s legacy of outreach will be reaffirmed as the three pastors participate in the Christmas Day service at the church, located at 1177 W. 25th Street in Los Angeles.
To learn more, call Ward AME at (213) 747-1367.
