MOSES Reaches Out to African American Churches
By Saundra Brown and Pam Gates
One of President Saundra Brown’s goals for MOSES is deeper involvement by local African American churches. To that end, she has been setting up visits by small MOSES groups to different African American churches. Four visits have already happened. Each visiting MOSES group is accompanied by Saundra and/or James Morgan, our organizer.
On April 21, the MOSES executive committee attended service at St. Paul AME Church with both Saundra and James, who made an impressive presentation about MOSES. We felt welcomed into their community by the Rev. Greg Armstrong and his congregation, and after the service we chatted with church members about MOSES. St. Paul is already a MOSES member; the goal of this visit was to encourage their greater participation.
On June 23, the Racial Equity Team attended the Sunday service at Sherman Avenue United Methodist Church, where the lead pastor is the Rev. David Hart. President Saundra gave the MOSES presentation. The congregation was very interested in MOSES, and Saundra has been in continuing contact with them as they consider whether to join, though they have not yet become members.
On July 21, several MOSES members attended services at S.S. Morris Community AME Church with Saundra, who spoke on behalf of MOSES, sharing our mission statement, our advocacy work, and her own personal rationale for inviting S.S. Morris to join us. After the presentation, Pastor Karla Garcia said, “We got you!”
After the service, we shared MOSES yearbooks, newsletters, etc., with members, as well as a sign-up sheet. At least 10 members completed feedback forms. Their contact information has been entered into our database, so that they can stay informed and in contact.
On Aug. 18, MOSES members, including the Communications Team, attended the service at Second Baptist Church. The Rev. Anthony Wade and his congregation gave the service, and, again, MOSES members felt very welcome. Saundra and James made moving presentations, and Rev. Wade stated, before the service was even over, that Second Baptist was joining us! There seemed to be general enthusiasm for this decision as we mingled after the service, sharing yearbooks, newsletters, and fellowship.
Upcoming visits that have already been arranged include Mt. Zion Baptist in September and Fountain of Life in October, both on the third Sunday. If you would like to participate in any of these visits, please feel free to do so. They are not limited to the group that has agreed to come. Contact President Saundra Brown at president.moses.madison@gmail.com for more information.