Category: Features

Along with the Lord’s Supper, baptism is one of two sacraments that we celebrate in the AME Church. The word “sacrament” derives from a Latin word which means “mystery.” It is a mystery because we cannot fully comprehend or articulate what God does in the waters of baptism. Baptism focuses on God’s action, not ours. It is the grace of God that invites us to the waters of baptism, and we receive God’s gifts of regeneration and incorporation into God’s family.

On Sunday, March 1, the pastor, the Rev. Eric Murphy, along with the officers and members of St. Matthew African Methodist Episcopal Church in Shreveport, Louisiana, culminated its annual Founder’s Day in a spirit of gratitude, heritage, and victory. This year’s celebration was especially significant, as the church added a historic Note Burning Ceremony to mark the joyous occasion of becoming debt-free.

What do we do when we’re done talking? After we’ve said all that we can say, after we type the long post on Facebook, after we hit send, then what? What happens when we put the phones down? We often attribute activism and protest to a “back in the day” kind of thing. We say we aren’t our ancestors, no longer putting our bodies on the front lines to face the challenges of living in the United States. But has that translated to no fight at all?

Faith that endures is not faith that gets easier with time. In many ways, it becomes more demanding. Scripture tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. That means faith requires us to believe in the best of what we hope for, even when there is no visible proof standing before us.

This year provides new opportunities to acknowledge Black history—and herstory—as well as a growing Pan-African spirit. The Black History Centennial, the 250th anniversary of the United States, and the G20 convening in the United States all offer unique opportunities for engagement. Our commitment to ending hunger means that we should advocate with the U.S. Congress, the African Union, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Congressional Black Caucus, and the United Nations (UN). The UN has eight mechanisms that address issues affecting People of African Descent, as well as the African Group, which represents 54 countries on global issues. 

It is not every day that one can claim to have personally known a Civil Rights Icon – not just recognizing their name, but having the distinct honor of sharing meals, engaging in incredible conversations about the harrowing tales of the infamous “Bloody Sunday,” singing Freedom songs together, hearing live testimony about the ordeal on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, attending church side by side, and assisting with book signings. In my collection of memoirs, I treasure the friendship and sisterhood of perhaps my most famous Civil Rights activist, apart from Dr. Bernard Lafayette, who was also one of Lynda’s mentors. Listening to film clips of Dr. Lowery reveals the courage that resonated in her voice and delivery.