THE EPISTLE · 2018-11-09 · The Epistle February 2011 3 Committee Formed to Honor Jerry A. Moore, Jr. By Deacon Reginald Elliott and Rev. I. Benni Singleton A commemorative committee

THE EPISTLE Newsletter of the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church

“You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men…” 2 Corinthians 3:2

Volume 34 No. 1 February 2011

Building and Blessing Capital Campaign Will Need Your SupportNineteenth Street will embark on a two-year Building and Blessing Capital Campaign in the spring of this year. The campaign motto is Protecting Our Heritage, Ensuring Our Future. The campaign mission is to maintain and enhance Nineteenth Street Baptist Church through caring acts of stewardship reflective of our love for God, one another, our community, country and the world.

The campaign focus is not on raising money, but on meeting Kingdom needs through the proper stewardship of our time, talents and treasures.

Why a Capital Campaign?In January 1975, Nineteenth Street Baptist Church moved from its historic site at 19th & Eye Streets NW to its current 16th Street location, which was previously the B’Nai Israel Jewish Synagogue. The sanctuary had to be renovated before it was dedicated for use in October 1975. Renovations included the addition of a pulpit, baptismal pool, communion table, organ pit and choir station. The three crosses were hung in the chancel end of the sanctuary.

During the past 36 years, we have been good stewards. We have undertaken a number of capital campaigns to fund major projects. In 2002, we raised $109,000 for the purchase of a replace-ment organ. From 2004 to 2007, the Church embarked on the Capital Improvement Campaign which succeeded in raising $534,000 to replace and enhance components of the HVAC system throughout the sanctuary, fellowship hall and classrooms in the education wing. In 2009, over $58,000 was raised by the Deacons to install new

carpeting in the sanctuary. In addition to these planned expenditures, we have had to make emer-gency repairs, such as for roof leaks and basement flooding.

The Trustee Board has identified high priority capital projects that must be undertaken soon to protect and enhance the physical assets that God has entrusted to us. These include:

• Replacement of the church roof• Repair and cleaning of the church exterior

façade• Repair and renovation of the Jones-Handy

House (a property on Crittenden Street the church owns)

• Funding a capital reserve for future needs

Trustees are receiving estimates for the work that must be done. Once all final estimates are received and reviewed by the Trustee Board, it will deter-mine the fundraising goal for the Building and Blessing Campaign.

How Can You Help?A capital campaign committee has been meeting to develop plans for the campaign. The committee welcomes additional members who can help achieve the faith-raising and fundraising goals of the campaign. There will also be many opportu-nities for volunteers to assist during the two-year campaign. If you would like to help, please contact Trustee Board Chairman Charles Hall.

Watch for more information about the Building and Blessing Campaign in the future! ✜

2 February 2011 The Epistle

The Pastor’s CornerThe Best Is Yet to ComeBy Rev. Dr. Derrick Harkins

Phot

o by

Glo

ria T

isda

le

A popular Sinatra tune of the fifties contained the upbeat refrain “the best is yet to come.” That senti-ment lets us know we can go a lot farther and accomplish much more if we know we are heading toward even better things in life.

As wonderful as a good Sinatra tune can be, we as followers of Christ have an even greater promise.

Beloved, we are God’s children now, it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2.

When we let God lead us into our future we have the promise of seeing His purpose and blessings for

us come into being. That simply is what a “vision” is all about, in other words letting God’s direction be our own. As we reintroduce our vision state-ment (read it in full on our website) let it remind you that we must continue to grow in our commit-ment to worship, discipleship, ministry, stewardship, and fellowship. All of these are essential as we become more and more like Jesus in following Him, and that is what the Bible calls each of us to do. Is it always easy to grow in these dimensions of our faith? No, but we keep moving forward to make the vision real because we are encouraged and promised that “the best is yet to come.” ✜

Brother Crawford Starts Preaching MinistryBy Deaconess Gloria Tisdale

Brother Christopher Crawford gave his initial sermon at the Covenant meeting prayer service on Thursday, February 3, 2011 in answer to his calling to preach the Gospel. His theme was “Believe in Change,” taken from Acts 9 where Saul encountered Jesus who changed his life forever. In giving his personal testi-mony and scriptures, Brother Crawford shared that God will use various circumstances to change our hearts and lives.

Along with Brother Crawford, Nineteenth Street has been blessed with two other aspiring ministers who are scheduled to give their initial sermons soon, Deacon Cheryl Hall and youth minister Lorise White Wolfe. ✜

Pastor Harkins, Brother Crawford, Reverend Crosson and Deacon Gerald Young after the Covenant meeting sermon.

The Epistle February 2011 3

Committee Formed to Honor Jerry A. Moore, Jr.By Deacon Reginald Elliott and Rev. I. Benni Singleton

A commemorative committee has been established to recommend and plan appropriate activities to recognize the services and contributions of Pastor Emeritus Rev. Dr. Jerry A. Moore, Jr. to the church, the public and the community of the District of Columbia.

Rev. Moore was pastor of Nineteenth Street Baptist Church from 1946 to 1997. He has been very active in the District of Columbia in leadership roles including:

• 15 years as Council Member at Large on the District of Columbia Council

• President of the Metropolitan Council of Governments

• Chairman of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

• President, DC Chapter of PUSH

• President, Baptist Convention of DC and Vicinity

• Corresponding Secretary Home Mission Board, National Baptist USA

• Chaplain, DC Detention Center

In addition, Dr. Moore belongs to and, in many cases, helped found about thirty organizations and services.

At the January Business Meeting, church members voted on Phase One of the commemorative activi-ties: naming “The Jerry A. Moore, Jr. Ministerial and Administrative Suites.” These suites include the pastor’s and assistant pastor’s offices, church offices and the new conference room.

Members of the commemorative committee include: Pastor, Derrick Harkins, Honorary Chair; Deacon Reginald Elliott, Chair; Deaconess June Jackson, Vice Chair; Deaconess Jean Jordan, Exec-utive Secretary; Trustee Elmer Brooks, Treasurer; Sister Rosemary Massey, Public Relations; Trustee Carolyn Wilson, Public Relations; Sister Wilma Bonner, Historian; Deaconess Gloria Tisdale, Liaison, Deaconess Board; Deacon Joe Sudduth, Liaison, Deacon Board; Deacon Billy Gay; Trustee Thomas Montague; Rev. I. Benni Singleton; and Deaconess Ettyce H. Moore, Consultant.

The activities of the Jerry A. Moore Commemora-tive Committee will culminate during the celebra-tion of Nineteenth Street’s 175th Anniversary in 2014. ✜

Congratulations to Rev. Dr. Jerry A. Moore, Jr. and his bride, Dr. Ettyce H. Moore, on the celebration of their 65th Wedding Anniversary. Shown on their wedding day, January 14, 1946 and more recently.

Memorial Fund to Help Church’s SeniorsBy Carole W. Singleton, Chair

The Katherine and Benjamin F. Thomas Perpetual Memorial Fund Committee will launch its “Circle of Giving” in February 2011. The Fund was origi-nally established by the late Deaconess Katherine F. Thomas to honor her late husband’s memory. Now, instead of receiving further donations and to honor the wishes and legacy of both Kath-erine and Benjamin, the Fund will be utilized to provide small basic services for senior members of the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church. Watch the Church Bulletin for further information. ✜

4 February 2011 The Epistle

Congratulations …to Church Officers elected or re-elected at the January

Business Meeting:

Deacons

Larry Holland

Louise Richardson

Howard Smith

Terrence Thompson, Sr.

Trustees

Cheryl Johnson

Charlie Sprow

Hallem Williams

Randy Woolridge

Mildeen Worrell

Director of Board of Christian Education

Deacon Johnnieque Love

Church School Superintendent

Deaconess Margie Thomas

Church Clerk

Deaconess Sageta Jackson

Assistant Church Clerk

Sharon Miller

Deacon Burtell Jefferson HonoredBy Tom Black

Nineteenth Street’s own Deacon Burtell M. Jefferson was honored at the annual Metropol-itan Police Department Fourth District Citizens Advisory Council Awards Banquet on January 21, 2011. I was there along with other individuals with whom I have worked over the years in Ward 4, including MPDC Chief Cathy Lanier, Assistant Chief Diane Groomes and 4-D Commando Kimberly Missouri.

The banquet paid tribute to the first African-American police chief of the District of Columbia, Burtell M. Jefferson. The Master of Ceremonies WRC-TV-4 News

Anchor Jim Vance reflected on the earlier period in the city when he experienced first hand the negative racial atti-tudes of MPD officers. Vance was followed by Judge Robert Rigsby who spoke of the time when Chief Jefferson joined the police force. It was a time when Black officers were not on a level playing field as other officers. It was a time that Black officers had to be better and endure more challenges to become successful. Chief Jefferson’s vision was to make the MPD one of the best in the country. His vision was to provide growth opportunities previously denied African Americans and other minorities, including women. During his tenure, for the first time ever, he fostered an orga-nizational culture of complete integration, promotional oppor-tunities and professionalism of all personnel.

Today as we look at the Metro-politan Police Department, we see a force that represents all people—regardless of race, gender, religion, or sexual pref-erence.

Thank you, Chief Burtell M. Jefferson, for your service, vision, and dedication to our city and to our nation. ✜

Congratulations …to Avé Cannady, 2nd Vice President responsible for Young Adults, who was honored on Usher’s Day for her ever-present dedication to the Usher Board and the young adults of Nineteenth Street. ✜

The Epistle February 2011 5

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6 February 2011 The Epistle

New MeMber’s suNday, septeMber 2010

CHrIstMas 2010

The Epistle February 2011 7

youtH suNday sCHool

usHer’s dayJaNuary 2011

Photos by Gwen Harris-Gale, Deborah Crain Kemp and Gloria Tisdale

8 February 2011 The Epistle

From College Graduate to Federal Worker in the ThirtiesBy Lillian Secundy Lynch

It was 1936, a year of the great depression. There were no jobs and no money in my hometown of Brooklyn, New York.

I took a Civil Service exami-nation that offered a clerical position that promised $1,620 a year for college graduates. My husband said, “Take it.” It was an indefinite appointment. I passed the test and went to Washington, DC. At the YWCA I met Helen Chisholm, a new friend, whose father obtained rooming accommodations for us at kind friends, the Scurlocks.

The government was not so receptive. We passed the exam but we were Black. So we were separated from all the young people, many of whom I had known in high school and college. We were ordered to work on a floor, isolated from them, with our own supervisor

and a time schedule different from all others (3:30–11:30 PM).

This situation continued for about a year during which we corrected the files, a make-work job. When the year was up, all employees were evaluated. The other girls were sent to the Bureau of Loans and Currency where they had clerical posi-tions. Helen and I had excel-lent evaluations, but were sent to a factory job in the Bureau of Printing and Engraving. At the Bureau, everything was divided by colors: Black and white toilets, restaurants, jobs and workers.

Helen Chisholm, whose family owned a pharmacy in Saybrook, Connecticut, went home. She would not accept a factory position. When I couldn’t find another job, I accepted this factory one for $1,440 a year. My first job, I worked on the printing press where I picked up the sheets of dollar bills that the printer sent me and placed them through the rollers for examina-tion by another worker.

After two or three years, I was transferred to another job in a long narrow room. At the opposite end of the entrance door was a door that opened into numerous toilet cubicles that were for whites only. Blacks had to use the basement; even though we were the only employees in the room.

Being from Brooklyn, NY, I had never been subjected to this type of segregation. I used the toilet

for whites only. I was called upstairs to receive a reprimand. The talk was largely foolish: “Why do you want to use our toilets? I wouldn’t use your toothbrush,” said the supervisor.

When I returned, I waited for about a half hour and then walked slowly down the aisle to the white toilets. The workers on both sides of the room rose up, shouted, clapped and remained standing until I entered the white toilets. Their reaction has remained a great moment for me in my memory.

Soon my action was imitated by a few workers but, as a whole, the older workers did not want to create what they called

“trouble.” They belonged to a Black union that did not suggest action. The movement, however, was continued by a Black and white union.

The old workers said that the culture belonged to the white people. I said that a new born baby has no culture and it can be trained to be anything you want it to be. Furthermore, I said that they were going to be freed, whether they wanted to be free or not.

About this time, a large number of Black college graduates were hired. They supported the movement. In the restaurants the trays were carried from the back to the front where the workers now ate and the room toilets were used instead of the basement toilets.

The Epistle February 2011 9

Change was in the air. Blacks were assigned to sections where they had never worked before. In time, the young men wanted to become printers, because these where the higher paying jobs. I don’t know the order in which change happened at the Bureau. I had to leave during World War II because my babysitter left for a factory job in Detroit and I had to take care of a baby and a 3-year old by myself. It is now a completely different picture at the Bureau, so I’ve been told.

I want to thank the good Lord for permitting me to live till my old age with a memory that enables me to recall the days of my youth. ✜

A 1934 graduate of Brooklyn College, Mrs. Lynch later earned a Masters of Social Work at Catholic University and a Masters in Public Health at Johns Hopkins University in the early sixties. At 97 years of age, Lillian Secundy Lynch is an eyewitness to history and one of Nineteenth Street’s treasures.

Fitness, Fellowship and Faith: Nineteenth Street’s 171st Anniversary 5K Walk-a-thon a Success!

By First Lady Juli Harkins

On a bright, pleasantly cool, Saturday morning, members and friends of Nineteenth Street Baptist Church participated in the 171st Anniversary 5K Walkathon on October 9, 2010. All ages, from tiny infants in strollers to our more “seasoned saints,” walked, ran and rode through beautiful Rock Creek Park. It was a wondrous sight to behold over 70 walkers and runners, adorned in their walkathon T-shirts, exercising and glorifying God at the same time! Just before starting the walkathon, we were led in a spirited warm-up and stretching by Fiona Dow-Cobb, followed by a prayer from Reverend James Crosson. Everyone had a blessed time in the Lord! After completing the walkathon, participants were treated to delicious, healthy snacks, fruit and bottled water and juices.

As a body of believers, we walked and ran with the words of 1 Corin-thians 6:19-20 in our hearts: What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. The walk-athon allowed us to focus attention on healthy living in the African American and Latino communities as we continue to take steps to increase health awareness. Proceeds generated from the walkathon went to support the homeless here in the District of Columbia and an orphans and vulnerable children’s home in Burkina Faso, Africa.

Come join us in October 2011 for our next anniversary walkathon! ✜

Welcome New MembersSeptember - December 2010

Raymond Bonhomme

Derrick Collins

Dorean Collins

Deron Davis

Brandy Edmunds

Frances Jones

Lamar Ramos-Peterson

Alexis Smith

Erica Thompson

Lisa Watkins

Phot

o by

Deb

orah

Cra

in K

emp

10 February 2011 The Epistle

Why I’ve Started A Youth Book ClubBy Jaleya Leonard

It wasn’t until about two years ago that I fully accepted the path God had for me. And soon after I accepted my calling, I began to walk into my season and followed my passion of teaching, writing and reading to help people. Now I know people hear all the time that “they want to help people,” but I cannot think of any other way to put it.

God is using me as a vessel to give back to my community in a way I would have never imagined.

Our youth are at risk, especially between the ages of eight and nineteen. There are no statis-tics needed when every day on the news we hear depressing information of our youth being killed. The generation gap is getting smaller and smaller. The village that it takes to raise our children is no more. And as a result of this, our children are acting out because they are getting overlooked and passed along. It seems as though no one cares anymore.

As the mother of a seventeen month old son and the sister of a fourteen year old, I know all too well the challenges of being a caregiver, as well as an employee and full time student; but these should not be used as excuses to overlook the obvious.

Our youth need support, love, guidance, and disci-pline, and I have come to a point in my life where I can no longer sit around and do nothing about these young people who are silently crying out for help. I cannot do it all (though I try), but I am allowing God to use me to touch and inspire someone else’s life.

So I started a book club at Church because my grandmother used to tell me that in the olden days, Church was a community resource for many Blacks. I took that and enlisted the help of my spiritual mentors who helped guide me in the right direction to start the Hannah’s Praise Book Club for adolescent females. I want to give hope to

those who feel as though they’re hopeless, to give courage to those who feel helpless. I see that many young females are silently crying out for help and through various mechanisms, like reading, I will be able to reach out to them to help them have a voice and let them know that there are people who care about their success and well-being. The books aid in providing inspiration and courage from a spiritual aspect and will also give these young women a chance to speak freely without feeling they’re being judged.

Currently, I am a senior at Trinity Washington University in Washington, DC, majoring in Human Relations/Psychology. Once I have obtained a Bachelor’s degree, I plan on pursuing a Master’s of Social Work with an emphasis on family and child welfare. Later, I will obtain a Doctorate degree as well. I am often reminded that if hard work pays off, then easy work is worthless. It will motivate and allow me to accomplish my professional/career goal of teaching at the college level and starting a non profit mentoring program for adolescent ladies (and eventually males, too). My previous studies in Psychology and African American Studies exposed me to a variety of subjects that relate to seeking and living my dreams. My future path of study will give me more insight into young indi-viduals and will allow me to create curricula that will best suit their needs.

It is my personal belief that individuals younger than I have been overlooked for way too long. They are silently crying out for help. My faith in God and my passion, along with my professional and educational goals, will allow me to use my gifts to give these youth help, hope, guidance, encourage-ment, and, most importantly, love. ✜

The next meeting of Hannah’s Praise Book Club will be Sunday, February 27 following the worship service in the Sisterhood Room. The book is What a Sista Should Do by Tiffany L. Warren. Hannah’s Praise usually meets the third Sunday of every month. For more information, talk to Jaleya or email her at [email protected].

The Epistle February 2011 11

THE EPISTLEis an official publication of the

Nineteenth Street Baptist Church.

Phone: 202-829-2773Fax: 202-291-6877

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.everyblessing.org

PastorReverend Dr. Derrick Harkins

EditorKaren E. Williamson

Assistant EditorReverend Dr. I. Benni Singleton

Epistle StaffDeacon Cheryl Coleman Hall

Gwen Harris-GaleDeaconess Sageta Jackson

Deborah Crain KempVirginia Lee

Deacon Fred Leftrict Jaleya Leonard

Lillian Secundy LynchRosemary Massey

Odessa PhillipsGloria Spann

Deaconess Gloria TisdaleThe Epistle is seeking new volunteers to help with writing, editing, photography, and distribution. If you are interested in helping with The Epistle, please contact Karen Williamson at [email protected].

Sponsors & AdvertisementsThe Epistle is seeking sponsors who are willing to make a donation to support the newsletter and/or advertisers who wish to promote their businesses or services to the Nineteennth Street Baptist Church family. Reasonable rates.

Full Page $ 200 Half Page $100 Quarter Page $ 50 Business Card $ 30

The next issue of The Epistle will be published in May 2011.

Please submit articles, announcements and photographs at anytime to the

Church Office or email to [email protected].

For more information, contact Karen Williamson at 202-829-5973.

A color version of this issue of The Epistle is available on the church website.

Visit www.everyblessing.org today!

Calendar of Events

February 2 – May 1Tavis Smiley presents America I AM: The African-American ImprintNational Geographic Museum17th & M Street NW

Sunday, February 27Jubilee & Global Missions Sunday

Tuesday, March 8Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper Fellowship Hall5:30 PM

Wednesdays, March 9 – April 13Lenten Season Services with LunchSee schedule of speakers12:00 PM

Sunday, April 10Women’s Day

Saturday, April 16Progressive Adults Theater OutingJohnny MathisStrathmore’s Annual GalaStrathmore Hall9:00 PM

Sunday, April 17Palm Sunday

Thursday, April 21Maundy Thursday Supper & Communion Fellowship Hall7:00 PM

Sunday, April 24 Easter SundayChurch School Program8:30 AM

Sunday, May 15Trustee Rally Day

Saturday, May 21Ushers’ Fancy Hat Tea 12:00 PM

Saturday, June 4Progressive Adults Theater OutingRuinedby Lynn NotageArena Stage2:00 PM

Sunday, June 12Youth Sunday

Saturday, June 18Fatherhood Luncheon12:00 PM

Lenten Speakers

March 9 Dr. Derrick Harkins Nineteenth Street Baptist Church

March 16 Dr. Lucius M. Dalton Mt. Moriah Baptist Church

March 23 Pastor Renata Eustis Christ Lutheran Church

March 30 Rev. Kip Bernard Banks, Sr. East Washington Heights Baptist Church

April 6 Rev. James A. Crosson, Jr. Nineteenth Street Baptist Church

April 13 Rev. Marvin J. Owens, Jr. Michigan Park Christian Church