Washington Informer

According to a detailed analysis conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life, African Americans are significantly more religious than the rest of the American population. Included in the study’s findings are data which show Blacks are more likely to be affiliated with a particular religion, attend religious services regularly, pray frequently and say that religion is important in their lives.

Specifically, the survey found that 79 percent of African Americans say religion is “very important” in their lives. This contrasts with just 56 percent of adults in the general population who say the same. The most religious segment of the Black population is African American women. Approximately 84 percent of them told the pollsters religion is very important in their lives and 59 percent said they attend church at least once a week.

In 1983, Pastor Grainger Browing was appointed to pastor the 17-member Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church in Fort Washington. Little did he know or anticipate he and his wife, Rev. Dr. Jo Ann, would still be pastoring the Prince George’s County church 25 years later.

“Normally in the AME Church, one is appointed each year by the Bishop. So normally if the church begins to grow, the Bishop will give you a promotion to another church. Very seldom, at the time we started, would persons stay in churches 25 years, but that has changed,” Pastor Browning said.
In appreciation for their 25 years of service to the church, Ebenezer members and friends held a gala celebration at the Gaylord Hotel at National Harbor on Fri., Jan. 2.

Serving as master of ceremonies for the evening was gospel recording artist Smokie Norful, who shared in providing musical praise during the evening. Other artists ministering praise and worship were Byron Cage, worship leader at Ebenezer, and Pastor Donnie McClurkin.

In September 2008, Hurricanes Gustav and Ike caused tremendous devastation in the Galveston area of Texas. The hurricanes caused millions of dollars worth of damage and left thousands of families homeless, without employment, food, or the necessities of life. Three months later, the area remains unchanged and many families are still homeless and without resources.

When Hurricane Gustav struck, the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. (NBCA) was having a convention in the area. Before Hurricane Ike could make landfall, however, the organization had already made the decision to provide as much relief as possible to the families and churches affected by the storms.

“The Texas area was affected by Ike and Gustav similar to how Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast,” said Rev. Dr. Stephen Thurston, president of NBCA. “We knew something needed to be done, so I called on the membership of the organization and they responded.”

The membership began raising money to provide relief to those families affected by the storms. Since that time, NBCA churches and members have responded by raising over $200,000 to establish Resurrection Center, which will help displaced residents rise from the devastation they have experienced.

“The center will have counselors, social workers, and workers to provide direction to the families. They need to know where to go and who to go to for help,” Rev. Thurston said.

“In addition to raising funds for the center, members are also providing resources so we can subsidize salaries of those pastors whose churches were totally devastated by the storms.”

The fifth anniversary of Pastor J. Michael Little at Friendship Baptist Church in Southwest took place on Fri., March 6. Rev. James Moore, from New Jersey, presented the closing sermon. Photo by Robert Ridley

The World Day of Prayer was held on Fri., March 6 at Vermont Avenue Baptist Church in Northwest with Rev. Imagene B. Steward (left) as the speaker of the hour. Prayers were read from around the world and participants included Nadine Winters (right). Photo by Robert Ridley