Fairview Celebrate Black History Month

Local Leaders Honored

By M. Patterson |  February 6, 2012

 
Fairview Missionary Baptist Church will have its “Spirit of the Community Award” presentation on February 26 as a part of the church’s month-long Black History Celebration.  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, as a way to recognize citizens who have gone above the call of duty by volunteering their time and resources for the betterment of the community.

This year’s recipients were selected through community-wide nominations of individuals who are dedicated servants of the community with a proven track record of continued service through community activism, education, political activities, professional service, or religious service.   The recipients are:  Christine Harris Byrd, Community Activist; Dr. Willard Dallas, Sr., Religious; Shirley Dillard, Community Activist; Senator Judy Eason McIntyre, Political; Dr. Gloria Griffin, Education; Marilyn Hildreth, Community Activist;  Myrtle Holloway, Religious; Dr. Teressa Hunter, Professional; Lois Felder-Jones, Community  Activist;  Dr.W. B. Parker, Religious; Dr. Patricia Reed, Religious; Dr. Mendell L. Simmons (Posthumous), Education. 

The church will be engaged in other events throughout the month that the community is invited to attend.  Most will be held in conjunction with the regular worship period and are designed to exemplify the theme, “Being the Church Today: Remembering Our Past, Committed to Our Future.”
 
The schedule was headlined by Senior Pastor Reed’s profound sermon on February 5, preaching on “The Church: The People of God.”  The message was an appeal to Christians regarding the need for the Black Church to take its rightful place in being who God would have her to be as laid out in I Peter 2:9.  The church’s Young Adult Ministry presented the first of what will be weekly enactments entitled “Who Am I,” a portrayal of Black leaders. The Nurse/Healthcare Ministry provided free blood pressure screenings and health literature and will provide the service again on February 19.

Anita Blanton, Morning Anchor for KOCO TV-5, will be the featured speaker for 10:00 Morning Worship on Sunday, February 12. Anita, a member of Fairview, joined KOCO TV-5 news team as Co-Anchor of Eyewitness News Five in the Morning in October of 2008.  Also ministering during the second Sunday’s worship will be Miss Sheray Franklin, Miss Black Oklahoma City University, 2010-2011 and Miss Black Oklahoma USA, 2011.

On February 19, the Black History Ministry will present “A Moment in History” during the 10:00 a.m. worship period.  The morning message will be preached by Senior Pastor Reed, continuing his series on “Being the Church Today.”

The Sunday School Drama Ministry will present its Black History Program on February 26 at 9:00 a.m.  Pastor Ray Owens and the members of Metropolitan Baptist Church will be special guests for the 10:00 service.  Dr. Owens will bring the message and the Metropolitan choir will sing. 

In addition to his pastoral duties, Rev. Owens has taught religious studies courses at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa and Texas Christian University. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor at Phillips Theological Seminary. Prior to coming to Metropolitan, Rev. Owens served as the Affiliate Assistant Professor of Ethics and Black Church Studies at Phillips Theological Seminary.  He has extensive experience in the field of education and in financial and economic development.   

The month’s events will end on Wednesday night, February 29, at 7:00 p.m. with the production, “Sitting in with Clara,” presented by Rhythmically Speaking.  . 

Fairview is located at 1700 N. E. 7th Street in Oklahoma City.   Brother Erick Harris is Director of the Black History Ministry.  For more information on the various events, visit Fairview’s website, www.fairviewokc.com, email Erick at  blackhistory@fairviewokc.com or contact the church office at (405) 232-1621.

 

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