Category: Features

Ten years ago, at the bicentennial gathering of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the now Dr. John Thomas III stepped into the role of the 21st editor of The Christian Recorder as the youngest general officer to hold this office and on the bench, and the publication has not been the same since. Over the next several days, TCR will celebrate this milestone with videos and testimonials from those who have walked alongside him in media and in the life of the AME Church. Before those stories begin to roll out, it is worth remembering who John is, what he ran on, and what he has stood for across this decade of leadership.

There are moments in the life of a nation—and in the journey of faith—when we are called not merely to move forward, but to look back with intention. At the Faith & Politics Institute (FPI), there is a sacred understanding that progress is most meaningful when it is rooted in remembrance, shared values, and a collective commitment to truth. Scripture reminds us, “Remember the days of old; consider the years long past; ask your father, and he will inform you, your elders, and they will tell you.” (Deuteronomy 32:7). It is in this spirit that FPI continues the transformative work of congressional pilgrimages.

One of the very important tasks and responsibilities that the Lord entrusts to every Christian parent is to pray consistently for their children. This responsibility is so much more important than probably any of us as parents really understand. Praying for our children daily needs to be a high priority.

The psalmist’s call to praise is just as relevant today as it was when these words were first penned. While life in our present time is often difficult and filled with problems, we are still called to acknowledge God with praise and worship. When we do, our hearts are lifted and redirected toward the one who is truly worthy, for the Lord is greatly to be praised, and his greatness is indeed unsearchable.

The 135th Session of the Liberia Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church has successfully concluded following several days of worship, reflection, and strategic deliberations that reaffirmed the Church’s mission and future direction in Liberia and beyond.

Every so often, we discover something extraordinary where we least expect it. A hidden treasure. An unknown gem. A secret masterpiece quietly resting in plain sight while the world rushes past. History is full of these discoveries—paintings found in dusty attics that later prove to be priceless works of art, quiet neighborhoods that hold architectural wonders, or overlooked voices that eventually reshape entire movements. But what if one of those hidden treasures was not a painting or a monument? What if it were a church?

I want to help us be honest with ourselves as believers and as leaders. The reality of life is that we can have a pleasant situation, but the water (the lifeline) is bitter, and nothing around us seems to be growing. We all know somebody, or perhaps we are the person whom everyone thinks our life is perfect. However, we are managing aging parents, the marriage is wearing thin, and it seems the kids are getting more and more out of control.

In the wake of political turmoil and growing injustices, Black Christians from all over the country gathered in Chicago during Black History Month to take part in the Samuel Dewitt Proctor Conference. Founded in 2003 by the Reverend Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Jr., Dr. Iva Carruthers, Reverend Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III, this annual sacred gathering was held to equip clergy, laypersons, and seminarians to address the injustices of our times through community organizing, collaboration, and ministry development.

A couple months ago, on March 9th, 14 AMEs met on the campus of Epworth by the Sea in St. Simons Island, Georgia, to participate in the induction ceremony of Order of the F.L.A.M.E. (Faithful Leaders As Mission Evangelists), “a covenant community dedicated to equipping, nurturing, and encouraging young clergy and their spouses in evangelism and mission.” Four of them served in an official capacity with World Methodist Evangelism, while the remaining 10 were inductees. Over the course of their 5-day stay, they attended early morning communion services, each Methodist denomination facilitating a service; morning and afternoon teaching sessions; and communal events to establish connections, forge relationships, and deepen our understanding of the work we do as Methodists.