Monday, February 15, 2016

Dr. Joy J. Moore to Speak at Altadena Baptist for Black History Celebration

Inset: Dr. Joy J. Moore of Fuller Theological Seminary

The 32nd Annual Black History Celebration will be held at Altadena Baptist Church [ABC] in Altadena at 5:00 p.m. on February 21, 2016. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Prominent speakers join local artists and dignitaries for this celebration every February: last year nationally-known author Brenda Salter-McNeil spoke to a standing-room-only crowd. This year, Dr. Joy J. Moore of Fuller Theological Seminary will be the featured speaker. Director of Fuller’s Pannell Center for African American Church Studies, Moore has focused on cross-racial ministry in urban, rural, and suburban congregations. As a pastor, she has called local congregations to recognize their vocation of glorifying God as a peaceable community—practicing hope, hospitality, and honesty. Dr. Moore will speak on “The Harvest: From Roots to Fruit.”

“This is one of the ways we give back to the community every year,” said ABC’s co-pastor George Van Alstine. “With everything happening on the national stage, the Black History Celebration takes on new meaning: it is the Church’s responsibility to recognize the roots of the Christian faith in the black community, and how those roots enrich our city and our church.”

The 32nd Annual Black History Celebration is an Altadena institution. For over 30 years, Altadena Baptist has been a voice for justice for the black community and reconciliation in Altadena’s schools and neighborhoods. For the first forty years of its existence, it was a typical Caucasian congregation, but since 1974 African-Americans have comprised a major part of its membership. It is now one of the most thoroughly-integrated congregations in the Pasadena/Altadena area. Recognizing that its early history was dominated by Caucasian-American cultural and religious values, the church decided that its African-American roots need to be intentionally celebrated through this annual event. A dedicated committee under the leadership of Paula DeVaughn has been planning the event, supported by the church’s co-pastors Connie DeVaughn and George Van Alstine.

The Celebration will be followed by a free soul-food dinner, provided by the congregation for all those attending.

For more information contact Altadena Baptist at (626) 797-8970.
Event Facebook page at http://bit.ly/altadenablackhistory2016
Altadena Baptist web: http://www.altadenabaptist.org