The Old Black Church

Church last Friday, there were reports coming out of Michigan on the death of elder Freddie Brown Jr. Well on yesterday -- his son tragically died also. A father and son, now both gone due to COVID-19. A news organization spoke to Pastor Chris Martin, who knew Freddie Brown the lll,  since he was a baby and talked about what a huge loss it was for the city and those who knew him.  "He was the kind of person when he walked in the room you noticed him because of his stature, but you also loved him because of his smile, and because of his kindness. He served his church well, they both did," said Cathedral of Faith Pastor Chris Martin. Brown, just 20 years old, played football for Grand Blanc High School. He seemed to be doing better, but then suddenly took a turn for the worse and passed away. "Pastor Jones, Fred Brown and his son are all part of one family, so that family, which is a great family, has lost three family members in three days," Martin commented

Church a hardline conservative power broker and three Harris County pastors filed a petition with the Texas Supreme Court yesterday arguing that Judge Lina Hidalgo’s stay-at-home order violates the Constitution by ordering the closure of churches and failing to define gun shops as an “essential” business. The emergency petition for a writ of mandamus, filed by anti-LGBTQ Republican activist Steven Hotze and pastors Juan Bustamante, George Garcia and David Valdez, contends that Hidalgo’s order undercuts the First Amendment by limiting religious and worship services to video or teleconference calls. Pastors also may minister to congregants individually.

Church a Chicago CBS, local news is reporting that the police had to break up a funeral, where 40 to 60 people were attending the services this weekend, at a northside church in Chicago, amid the stay at home order that’s in place. And while I empathize with the family and loved ones that have to experience this, I will say this. Some people really think they are immune to catching this virus. Get somewhere and sit yo tail down, until we’ve gotten a handle on this. There will be parties, graduations, trips, marriages, etc in the foreseeable future. But until then, there’s nothing written that you WILL NOT, catch this virus. And not only that. You might catch it, (and survive it), but could bring it home to someone whose immune system is not as strong as yours, and the end result for them could be death.

Church Communion (the Lord’s Supper) is an ordinance given to all believers by Jesus to remember his sacrifice for us and to symbolize the new covenant. Pastors Toure and Sarah Roberts were asking God how to respond to COVID-19, he says the Lord put Communion on their heart. He says people still get healed when they take Communion today, in remembrance of Jesus' body dying in our place. "I believe that Communion is going to be another way that we fight back against this pandemic," Roberts says. "... I believe, based on what God has shown me, that there's going to be healing that takes place as we commune together. "We're going to do all that we can base on the recommendations of the medical professionals, but we as people of faith believe that there's a God who sits high on a throne and has placed some things in our grasp that will allow us to fight back spiritually."

Church everybody is entitled to their own opinion, but how can you the pastor tell your people to respect the law and you sit there and break the law. This should be a cautionary tale for other pastors who openly defy the laws that were implemented to save lives. Also, it is for us pew-sitters to make sure we are under the right leadership with sound teaching, which also encourages us not to blindly follow them but to also seek God for ourselves.

This Pastor in Louisiana (where cases are spiking) held church yesterday for over 500. He’s not worried about his parishioners getting the virus because he believes the virus is “politically motivated.” The Pastor from the Tampa church, I guess in an attempt to cover himself in case anyone gets sick, commented that if any of his parishioners get sick, it wouldn’t be from attending church. That they would have gotten it “at some other place.” Again: Where is Law Enforcement? Why have rules if they are not enforced. I heard of a guy in Maryland getting arrested for having a large party at his house (90 people.) So close down these mega services. Let them do it remotely like other churches!!

Church the President of Liberty University, Jerry Falwell Jr., decided to partly reopen the school last week. The physician who runs the school's health service says nearly a dozen students are sick with COVID19 symptoms. This is more than negligence. This is criminal and Jerry Falwell should be held accountable. As President of the University, HE is totally responsible for the consequences of his decision.

Trump-loving wingnut pastor Rodney Howard-Browne a Florida based pastor has said he and his congregation will not follow government orders to halt mass gatherings, saying 'The only time the church will close is when the Rapture is taking place'. Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne, a South African-born evangelical Christian, runs the Tampa-based Revival Ministries International. During a sermon on Sunday at River Tampa Church, Howard-Browne told his followers he doesn’t believe in social distancing and claims his church can cure coronavirus the same way he did with Zika.

Church I am so dang tired of church “leaders” lying, covering and spinning to protect themselves and their image all at the expense of the very ones they are supposed to be protecting and shepherding. It’s rampant in churches everywhere no matter the size, denomination or church planting network. The sin of pride has a very deep and dangerous root.  It's being alleged that the lead pastor of Calvary Church of Naperville—a megachurch in the Chicago suburbs with attendance around 6,000— this week told his staff to keep secret news that an assistant pastor had tested positive for COVID-19. Calvary Lead Pastor Martyn Sloan also instructed his staff not to tell anyone that the assistant pastor’s wife and son, who’s also a pastor at the church, were having symptoms. Also, despite knowing that staff and volunteers had been exposed to the sick pastor and family members who live with him, Pastor Sloan continued to record online services with multiple staff, the sick pastor’s family mem

Church I was truly blessed by this post. Thank you Pastor Smokie Norful for this...it took me back to a time when my grandparents would be down on their knees praying in that old Baptist church in Alabama. Thank you Lord for allowing us to remember just how good you have been to us, and showing us how to worship and praise your Holy Name like we use to through all situations in our lives. Let us not forget that you are always with us, and never leave us. Praising your Holy Name. Thank you, Jesus.

At least three separate pastors, Isaac Graham of New York, Landon Spradlin of Virginia, and Ronnie Hampton of Louisiana have died in recent days after testing positive for the new coronavirus. Two of these pastors raised concern that the virus was being used as a tool of the devil to manipulate the masses or silence Christians. One thought God would use His infection to spread the Gospel or give him “a little rest.”

Dr. Joseph Lowery, a pioneer of the Civil Rights movement and recipient of the Medal of Honor under President Barack Obama, passed away on March 27, 2020, as reported by CBS 46. He was 98. A cause of death was not immediately given. He was married to wife Evelyn Gibson Lowery from 1950 until her death in 2013. Together they had three daughters, Yvonne Kennedy, Karen Lowery, and Cheryl Lowery-Osborne.

Church I like Bishop T.D. Jakes preaching style. On last Sunday the bishop preached like he was in a storefront church back in South Charleston West Virginia. Not to say he doesn't always preach hard but this a different anointing. The sermon title was ‘He Bled Out’ he preached with just a handful of people in the audience of his massive church and he preached just the same as he always does, powerful.

Church it's so important to exercise wisdom and knowledge in a time like this. Let us keep the COGIC church family in our prayer as they are experiencing multiple losses due to COVID-19. The men's picture above are leaders from the same COGIC jurisdiction that has transitioned. According to Larry Reid, about a dozen more were infected with COVID-19 while attending a funeral the other week. 

Churches have closed physical doors but spiritual doors are still wide open. If you cannot preach to an empty room, you cannot preach to a full room. Bishop T.D. Jakes response to the question would he fill the church with people on Easter. He was interviewed on CNN today. “If you want to make God laugh, just tell him what you had planned.” Bishop T.D. Jakes, a Texas pastor, says a live Easter celebration is unlikely due to the spread of coronavirus. https://t.co/5EfW5TYNYR pic.twitter.com/o2xMDfcXXk — New Day (@NewDay) March 26, 2020

Church COGIC Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr, and General Board members have summoned the saints for global fasting and prayer, this Friday, March 27, 2020. It looks like a number of their board members and leaders have been affected by the COVID-19 virus. Let us keep them in our prayers.

Church what yall think? I think yall president is mentally unstable. His malignant narcissism and sociopathy are running the country now. All he cares about is getting re-elected. The economy has to be good for that to happen. So, he wants people to go back to work and church, etc. by Easter which is in about two weeks, or so. He is not intelligent or caring enough, to understand that we are not in the middle of an economic crisis but rather a severe health crisis. The U.S. is about 10 days behind Italy with the pandemic.

In a Mass that was live-streamed on March 20, Pope Francis said that Catholics who are unable to make an individual confession to a priest because of the global pandemic can instead confess sins directly to God without an intermediary. “Do what the Catechism (of the Catholic Church) says,” said Francis, according to online newspaper Crux. “It is very clear: If you cannot find a priest to confess to, speak directly with God, your father, and tell him the truth. Say, ‘Lord, I did this, this, this. Forgive me,’ and ask for pardon with all your heart.”

Church Carl Lentz the leading pastor of the Hillsong church group's New York branch has tested positive for coronavirus. The 41-year-old father-of-three announced he had COVID-19 in an Instagram Live video Monday night when he talked about the deadly outbreak with Seattle and LA pastor Judah Smith. Lentz is based in New York where the outbreak has been the worst in the country and there were 25,666 cases as of Tuesday afternoon.

This article is a little ridiculous in my opinion. When black people go about living their lives as humanly normal as everyone else, there’s the uninformed attempt to make us appear unusual. Black churches, and I know many, are not facing any more of a challenge culturally or financially, that other churches are facing. Nor are they choosing to defiantly keep their churches open to meet those needs. And it’s true. Our faith in God and our obedience to assemble together has been a source of community and strength throughout our history. 

Church I'm sending prayers up for the Sheards family. In an effort to be transparent, and to ensure the health and well being of their church family the Sheards are sharing the news that Bishop & Mrs. John H. Sheard have both received positive test results for the presence of COVID-19 Virus. They were admitted to a local medical facility for observation, rest and rejuvenation as they recover from the COVID-19 Virus. They are encouraging any person(s) that have been in physical contact with them to take every preventative measure to guarantee your health and safety.

Church here's a message from President Jerry Young President of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Incorporated, to the local church body about their response to the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Church the owner of the arts and crafts giant Hobby Lobby is worth over 6 billion dollars, it's alleged that most of his wealth is from selling products made by children in sweatshops in China where there are no labor laws. Hobby Lobby owner David Green has come under fire online from telling store managers to stay open despite the pandemic because his wife had a vision from god. He also warns they'll all have to "tighten their belts" soon, hourly employees don't get paid sick leave.    

Church really how stupid can a person be to get on a bus with others at this time. I do believe that God can protect us, but this is insane. Ignoring the guidelines that are set in place for not just your safety, but the safety of others is ridiculous. As much as worshiping alongside your church family is amazing, you can still worship at home and honor God.

Church this is somewhat of an interesting article. It's is so disappointing that this weekend some churches still decided to have church despite the LAW. That’s selfish of a church to not listen to the protocol to protect its members. Especially when they don’t have to pay property taxes. And when most of their members are elderly with compromising immune systems. I don’t want to hear anything from the churches that disagree with the laws that the government passed. Especially when they didn’t follow instructions from the government.

Church tomorrow night they say it's going down online. With Pastor Jamal Bryant, Rudolph McKissick Jr, Pastor Antonio Matthews, Pastor William Murphy lll and Bishop Marvin Sapp in there very first quarantine online crusade. 

Church The Vision Cathedral of Atlanta, GA, Bishop Oliver Clyde III Allen has been admitted to the isolation unit in the hospital with presumed Coronavirus. His vitals are all stable and good. However, he will not be allowed any visitors under any circumstances. The rest of the first family is doing well. However, they are quarantined for 14 days.

Let me make this clear, the idiot in the white house did not create the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), but through his failure to act adequately and his downplaying, is the main reason we're in this predicament today. In my humble opinion, he's  responsible for the current and near-future deaths of thousands of Americans because of his failing to act early and constantly dis-informing the public on purpose.  Now we have almost every community in the country spreading the virus.

Church who's at fault if you contract the deadly coronavirus why attending a church service? Kentucky governor Andy Beshear urged last week for church services to be canceled statewide amid the coronavirus pandemic. A church in Murray went against the suggestion, and a visitor at Sunday’s service has now tested positive for COVID-19.

Church as congregations are no longer able to meet in person for large gatherings to limit the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. I've seen a lot of churches trying to make this move and hold service in the parking lot. Just say “Drive by and drop your tithes and offerings off” and be done. Anytime between 9:30 and 10:30 isn’t enough time to do anything but collect money. 

Church my condolences to Country Music Legend Kenny Rogers family, and somewhere in the darkness, the gambler has broken even. Rest in peace Kenny. You were the soundtrack of my youth and you will be missed! So sad to lose such a legend. RIP and thank you for your beautiful self and your music that made this world a more beautiful place.

A Metro Atlanta megachurch pastor is changing things up. On Sunday Dr. Jamal Bryant held services at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church with social distancing guidelines. But in light of the new CDC recommendations, he's now telling thousands of church members not to come to church. “It'll be me and a camera, it'll be under 50 people, I think under ten," Bryant said. Also Tuesday morning in an Instagram video, Bryant greeted needy drivers with church volunteers placing bags filled with groceries into car trunks. “Ordinarily, we give groceries to 300 families a month, and to show you how dire the times are, we did that in just today," said Bryant. So, with empty shelves, he’s putting out a plea for donations.

Church Christian rapper Marcus Gray, known as Flame, was awarded $2.7 million in damages last year by a federal court jury who deemed Katy Perry’s song 'Dark Horse' lifted a musical passage from the rapper’s earlier song 'Joyful Noise.' Capitol Records was ordered to pay the largest chunk of the damages — $1.2 million — but Perry was ordered by the jury to pay $550,200 to Gray. Well, on Tuesday a federal judge in Los Angeles overrule that jury's verdict and gave the victory to Katy Perry.  U.S. District Judge Christina A. Snyder said in her decision that the disputed section of the rap song, “Joyful Noise" by rapper Marcus Gray was not distinctive enough to be protected by copyright as the jury found.

Church your service or revival is not worth one life being lost. I am very concerned when we can preach the bible and not follow the orders of our government officials. STOP THE SPREAD STAY AT HOME UNTIL IT IS STOPPED! A person at a Richmond, VA citywide revival service tests positive for Coronavirus.  The Health Department sent out a notice to alert all pastors in attendance that attendees could have been exposed! This is an example of why these churches refusing to close despite the warnings are irresponsible!

Church Paula White, the evangelical pastor and spiritual adviser to the idiot in the white house says her ministry is like a hospital and is asking people to send her money for it. Except it’s not a real hospital.

Church here's a Louisiana pastor who cares nothing in the world about the well being of the at-risk saints in his congregation. This church, leader defied government orders by welcoming hundreds of people into his church service Tuesday evening (March 17).  The gathering directly defied an order by Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards that bans groups larger than 50 from gathering at any one time, including in churches. Donald Trump has recommended no groups larger than 10. The pastor, Rev. Tony Spell, says police showed up at the church after the service telling him the National Guard would break up any future gatherings that exceed 50 people.  However, Louisiana National Guard Colonel Ed Bush said Wednesday that is not accurate. “The National Guard has not been tasked with enforcing any of the curfew, social distancing or meeting requirements as set by the governor,” Colonel Bush said. “Our focus right now is complete with helping state agencies with preparedness and medic

Church the coronavirus is forcing black churches to make tough choices. This is a great read..... over spiritualizing this serious situation will lead some church folks to their graves. It was said yesterday that “The COVID-19" health restrictions on gathering together force our church to do some things, like e-giving, streaming, etc that we should have been doing already. This article expresses this same sentiment. What responsibilities do pastors owe to their congregants to keep them safe?

Church this is horrible, horrible advice, I pray his congregation has more common sense than he does. This is not about him and his ego.  The main victims of this deadly virus are elderly and those who are compromised, which is half the black church. Bishop cancelling service is a precautionary step that shows that you as the shepherd of your flock care about the safety and health of your congregants. I can't believe Bishop Morton doesn't understand this.

Church I would like to take this time to salute pastors/preachers/teachers all over the country who faced the tough decision this weekend. Whether to have service or stream it live, I salute you. Most pastors lost in public opinion. If you had a service you didn’t want to miss the income. If you cancel service you don’t trust God. You did what was best. I salute you all. God bless you Men and Women of God! It's looking like the church is in for a long haul. Anyhow,  if you get a chance check out the live that Mount Zion Senior Pastor Bishop Walker shared with followers last night about what is happening in this season of the church.  It was powerful. Bishop Walker has been informed that something big will be announced in the next 24 to 72 hours related to the Coronavirus. He advises that we make sure we have enough food to last us up to 2 weeks. In the meantime, we will be having church virtually🙏🏼🙏🏼

Church the black community must follow CDC guidelines please read. This issue is not about faith. This is about safety. The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI), a faith-based coalition of 34,000 churches comprised of 37 denominations and 26.7 million African Americans with an additional 116,000 sister churches, is urging all of our church leaders to respect the science regarding COVID-19 and allow and encourage all of its members who are at least 60 years old and have underlying conditions to forgo church for the foreseeable future.

Church I love Pastor RC Blake's Ministry, last week Bishop Blake posted the following to his Facebook page encouraging other pastors and preachers to use some common sense when liking women pics that are dang near-naked, check out what he had to say below:  "Preachers, PASTORS, it is a very bad look for you to be liking videos and pics of women who are revealing too much. These women are nearly naked and there’s your name on every post. There are people that follow me that I can’t afford to follow. It would misrepresent my position. In my mind, the only reason you’re liking every HALF NAKED PIC is that you’re trying to get their attention. It doesn’t represent leadership and it’s just DUMB!!!"

Church join the women of color in ministry for their monthly national conference call, this Fri.3/20/20 at 8 p.m. EST. Guest Speaker will be Dr. Wil Gafney. Learn from this extraordinary exegete. Dial 404-891-6338. The Conference ID is 678910.

Chruch I swear you can't make this foolishness up even if you wanted to.  Pastor Perry Stone, a prominent conservative Christian preacher, claims that “coronavirus is a Satanic attempt to kill older Christians so socialism can take over in the U.S.”

Church Kirk Franklin and Dr. Tony Evans share some of their experiences with systemic racism and discuss racial reconciliation and a way forward on TBN. I watch TBN(Trinity Broadcasting Network) with Matt Crouch, Robert Morris, Kirk Franklin, and Dr. Tony Evans.  The subject was racial tension, racism in the church. Racism in the White House. Racism can not be just a conversation. This is not noise, this is a cry from those that don't have a seat at the table. From the White House to the Church House... Black lives matter. We respond with your works. Faith without works is dead. This is 2020 and there is still segregation in the workplace, communities, and the church.

Church on Sunday, March 15, at 8 pm ET, the NAACP will host an Emergency Tele Town Hall about Coronavirus: COVID-19 and its potential impact on communities of color. As a civil rights organization and stewards of human rights, the NAACP is working to ensure that the policies and practices that are born out of this pandemic justly address the health, economic and social needs of all people. Source Here

Church controversial televangelist Kenneth Copeland has come under fire for attempting to heal people of coronavirus through the television screen. Copeland was broadcasting a program on his “Victory” channel titled "Standing Against Coronavirus,” when he issued a lengthy prayer for any of his viewers who might be suffering from the illness. “Put your hand on that television set,” the preacher said as he reached out to the screen, his hands coated with oil.

Church, I am really disappointed, I love and supported him full stop. I would have hoped he made better decisions. Understanding we're not perfect, but this just blew me away. At first reporting it looked like a smear campaign... cops find drugs.. arrests no one... Andrew was not accused or arrested for anything but is the focus of the incident. The heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked. Generally, people don’t have to set us up to fail. Time and opportunity tend to reveal who and what we are. Andrew Gillum, who in 2018 came within 34,000 votes of becoming Florida’s governor, was discovered by police at a South Beach hotel early Friday morning in a room with bags of possible crystal meth and in the company of a man who appeared to have overdosed on drugs, according to a Miami Beach police report. Police say they were called to the Mondrian South Beach early Friday morning and found paramedics treating Travis Dyson, a 30-year-old Miami man, for an apparent heart attac

Church what about those who insist on prayer groups in public schools or the insistence of intelligent design be taught alongside evolution or even instead of? Evangelicals only seem to want to keep religion out of school if it's not their religion. Not that yoga is really religious. Evangelicals are scared of anything that isn’t their flavor of Christianity, including other Christian flavors. It’s ridiculous to ban a gentle form of exercise out of irrational fears that it is “demonic”.

Church the below controversial video has gone viral....some online saints have criticized the video and called it brainwashing and child abuse. The person who uploaded the video had this to said about the upload  "folks can believe that kids the same ages as the ones in the video can decide whether they want to have sex changes or if they want to be gay, and many of them are okay with videos of kids twerking, fighting, cursing, and using drugs. But suddenly kids can’t decide they want more of God! THE DEVIL IS A LIAR!" What yall think?