25 City Blocks = 40 Acres
Union General William T. Sherman issued Field Order 15 on January 16, 1865. It took a strip of coastland extending approximately thirty miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean, stretching from Charleston, South Carolina, to Jacksonville, Florida. The 400,000 acres were to be divided among newly …
Revivals and Fall Festivals
Growing up in the South, one becomes accustomed to fall festivals and revivals. Typically, these events coincide with the harvesting of crops, especially cotton. After a good season, farmers celebrate with elaborate festivals and revival services. The revival services were held because many farmers and …
Preparing for the Unexpected
It’s difficult to prepare for the unexpected. Although we now know there were warning signs of a terrorist threat on 9/11, we were not prepared for the events of that day. Two planes flew into the Twin Towers. Another plane flew into the Pentagon. Passengers …
Radical Seeds
The Civil Rights District welcomed a commissioned mural. The mural is on the wall of the Citizens Express Pharmacy on 5th Avenue North. The pharmacy was originally owned by A.G. Gaston. Delmous Vance, Jr. purchased the pharmacy from Dr. Gaston in 1970. When Vance, Jr. …
Sustaining Grace
The Lord has sustained our ministry for 137 years. Like a seesaw, there have been times when we were facing days of highs and lows, ups and downs, turbulence and smooth sailing, comfortableness and uncomfortableness. Whatever the days presented, because we are still actively engaged …
What We Do in Jesus’ Name!
In the heart of the “slave” castle at Elmina, Ghana, a building became a church, a place of worship. It might be hard to conceive that Christians, initially the Portuguese and later the Dutch, were worshiping God while enslaving our ancestors. They were worshiping God …
Only One Day to Live, What Would You Do
“After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” John 13.5 (NIV) Have you ever thought about that question? What would you do if you knew you had one …
He himself bore our sins
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2.24 (ESV) When I moved to Birmingham, Janet Hall, now a retired anchor from WBRC, …
Who Do You Remember? Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants
You may find it hard to believe, but I was a nerdy kid. I have always been the kid who went to the library after school instead of playing outside. I always preferred reading a book instead of throwing a football. That did change, but …
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants-Psalm 116-15
Two of my beloved brothers served as pastors of wonderful congregations in Birmingham. Gary was assigned to Thirgood CME Church, located across the street from Tabernacle. Ron pastored Bethel AME Church in Ensley but also was on staff at Greater Birmingham Ministries. I was honored …