Civil Rights Activists to be Honored During Black History Month
By M. Patterson, Director; FBC Communications & PR Ministry | February 25, 2018
Fairview Missionary Baptist Church will have its “John A. Reed, Jr. Spirit of the Community Award” presentation on February 25, ending the church’s Black History Month Celebrations. The award presentations will be made during the 10:00 a.m. worship hour.
The Spirit of the Community Award was created in 2011 by Dr. John A. Reed, Jr., Senior Pastor of Fairview, to show recognition to citizens who have gone above the call of duty by volunteering their time and resources for the betterment of the community.
2018 honorees are: Richard Brown, Lynzetta Jones Carter, Elmer Edwards, Sharon Fisher, Betty Germany, Claudette Goss, Joyce Henderson, Marilyn Hildreth, Elton Horton, Sr., Joyce Jackson, Dr. Barbara Posey Jones, Eugene Jones, Calvin Luper, Lois Lyday Mosley, Gwendolyn Mukes, Ayanna Najuma, Linda Pogue, Ruth Rolfe, Areda Tolliver, and Portwood Williams, Jr.
This year’s recipients include members of the original 13 Katz Drug Store sit-in participants. Their action on August 19, 1958, led by the late Clara Luper, local NAACP Youth Council leader, is recorded as the first sit-in protest of the civil rights movement.
The preacher for the 10:00 a.m. Worship Service will be Rev. Dr. Rodney A. Goss, Senior Pastor of Morning Star Baptist Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dr. Goss is described as a consummate student of the Bible. He has been a preacher and teacher of God's Word for 25 years and has pastored for over 20 years. Pastor Goss has conducted numerous pastor and leadership conferences and seminars and brought the keynote address at several national, regional and local Baptist Conventions.
Dr. Goss has also shown himself to be an advocate for justice and equality. After learning a white supremacist had shot and killed nine people at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina, he organized a city-wide prayer service at Morning Star that drew hundreds of people - black and white, Christians and non-Christians. He maintained visible and vocal presence throughout the Terence Crutcher case.
Rev. Goss earned his Doctorate and Master of Theology degrees from Andersonville Theological Seminary in Camilla, GA, graduating Magna Cum Laude in both degrees. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Christian Education from Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel, MS, with highest honors. His affiliations include: member of the Association for Biblical Higher Education Delta Epsilon Chi Honor Society; serves as the Vice-Chairman for the Hattiesburg, MS Chapter of the NAACP's Religious Affairs Committee; board member of Langston Hughes Academy.
The community is invited to come and celebrate the lives and work of the honorees. Fairview is located at 1700 N. E. 7th Street in Oklahoma City. Sister Teresa Hill is Black History Chairperson. For more information, visit Fairview’s website, www.fairviewokc.com, or contact the church office at (405) 232-1621.
