An

Interview with Dr. Boise Kimber, President

The National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc

It is evident that a great paradigm shift has taken place in our country especially in regards to leadership. There are groundbreaking models that are rising up and look nothing like what we are accustomed to seeing.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Rev. Dr. Boise Kimber, the newly elected President of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc, the largest Black Protestant Denomination in the United States. The convention has an estimated membership of over 3.5 million.

Since his installment in January he is already making historical moves within the Convention; such as revitalizing old and outdated standards, embracing a new generation with new ideas, as well as addressing the current social injustices that are affecting our African American Communities. These are just a few questions I was able to ask and Dr. Kimber was gracious enough to respond.

GI - Dr Kimber, what is the Mission and Vision of the NBCUSA under your leadership?

Kimber - My vision is to carry out Mission, Evangelism, Christian Education, and Social Justice. That's what our Forefathers and Mothers built this Convention on.

GI - How will the NBCUSA play a pivotal role for Civil Rights and Social Justice in the 21st Century, with this current climate of bigotry in our nation?

Kimber - I have been a Community Activist. I did my Doctor of Ministry on Social Justice Conscious in my local congregation. I've had all of the Civil Rights Leaders except Dr. Martin Luther King to speak at my church, and so I bring that experience to the NBCUSA. You do know that there was a split in the NBCUSA when Dr. Joseph Jackson was President, and it was because under his leadership NBC did not want to take a stand on the issue of Social Justice in 1960's Dr Gardner Taylor and Dr Martin L King took a stand on what was happening in our country, and they left the NBC.

I have initiated a Social Justice Commission for the NBCUSA, I’ve put Christopher Bullock out of New Caanan, Delaware as the Chairperson over it. We've set up five regional areas, each with a director and team that will take oversight and address issues of injustices toward our people I've been dealing with D E I (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) We named Dr Willie Wilson out of Chicago the Director of Economic Development and Corporate Sponsorship. We've had meetings with Walmart, McDonald's, American Airlines, and GMAC to talk about why they chose to stop DEI. There are other groups we will be talking to. They have agreed to get together with their people and our people where we come to the table first and see what kind of terms we can work out before straight to boycotting and marching.

GI - How do you see women moving in the areas of leadership in the NBCUSA that are usually dominated by men?

Kimber - Women are breaking the glass ceiling at NBCUSA. Under my leadership there have been a lot of historical appointments where women have been concerned. This is the first time in NBCUSA where a woman has been appointed Assistant General Secretary , a woman appointed to the Executive Board, six women now sit on the of Board of Directors , women have been named to the Ministers Division, there are women Moderators now, and there is a new Division called the Young Prophets where women are included lead by Frank Harris out in Detroit, MI. I will ensure that women are represented in all areas of NBCUSA. I did a Thesis at Yale Divinity School entitled "A Critical Analysis of Black Women In Ministry In The Black Church We're moving in a new direction when it comes to women We need them I'm glad that the lord has led me to appoint these women in the NBCUSA

GI - Finally why should a local church consider becoming a part of the NBCUSA?

Kimber - when I ran for President of NBCUSA it was to bring a greater cohesiveness to the local black church I want the Convention to meet the needs of the local church, and one way is through Christian Education We need training. Being connected to NBCUSA allows you to connect, network, get strengthened and blessed. It's a new season, there's is room for all, the young and the old. The door is open. Come to the table, it's too big for just one or two.

April 2025

Dr Susie Jones

Senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago is a preacher, poet, activist, author and filmmaker with an eye toward justice and equality, as evidenced through the gospel of Jesus Christ. He founded The Unashamed Media Group, a justice centered, faith-based agency committed to producing and curating stories to inspire the heart and challenge the mind His most recent book is Blue Note Preaching in a Post-Soul World: Finding Hope in an Age of Despair (2015). In October 2020, Dr. Moss created Otis’ Dream, a short film about his grandfather's unsuccessful attempt to vote in 1946.

Dr. Moss preaches a theology of liberation rooted in a Black Spirituality of love and justice. His passion for African American culture and history combined with a deep appreciation for jazz and hip hop, have culminated in a unique message of hope and healing through a jazz narrative on American democracy. Most recently his messages have been featured on the Meditative Stories Podcast as well as On Being with Krista Tippett. The COVID 19 pandemic provided a new opportunity to convey scriptural messages through a cinematic and sermonic lens. The Unashamed Media Group has produced 5 short films/sermons using cinematic liturgy in 2020. Dr Moss is ordained in the Progressive National Baptist Convention and the United Church of Christ Dr Moss was identified by the Baylor University George W Truett Theological Seminary as one of the 12 most effective preachers in the English language in 2018. He is married to Monica Brown Moss and they are the grateful parents of the amazing team of MK and Eli.

Dancing in the Darkness

Spiritual Lessons for Thriving in Turbulent Times

By Otis Moss, III

Foreword by Michael Eric Dyson With Greg Lichtenberg

Simon & Schuster brings you a “deeply spiritual and socially radical” (Dr. Obery Hendricks, PhD) guide to uplift our spirits as we work for justice in these politically turbulent times - from the Reverend Dr Otis Moss, III, Senior Pastor at Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ Once again, as Dr Martin Luther King, Jr first observed in the 1960s, it is midnight in America a dark time of division and anxiety, with threats of violence looming in the shadows. In 2008, the Trinity United Church in Chicago received threats when one of its parishioners, Senator Barack Obama, ran for President of the United States. “We’re going to kill you” rang in Reverend Otis Moss’s ears when he suddenly heard a noise in the middle of the night. He grabbed a baseball bat to confront the intruder in his home When he opened the door to his daughter’s room, he found that the source of the noise was his own little girl, dancing. She was simply practicing for her ballet recital.

At that moment, Pastor Moss saw that the real intruder was within him. Caught in a cycle of worry and anger, he had allowed the darkness inside. But seeing his daughter evoked Pslam 30: “You have turned my mourning into dancing.” He set out to write the sermon that became this inspiring and transformative book Dancing in the Darkness is a “life-affirming” (Dr. Teresa L. Fry Brown) guide to the practical, political, and spiritual challenges of our day. Drawing on the teachings of Dr. King, Howard Thurman, sacred scripture, southern wisdom, global spiritual traditions, Black culture, and his own personal experiences, Dr. Moss instructs you on how to practice spiritual resistance by combining justice and love This collection helps us tap into the spiritual reserves we all possess but too often overlook, so we can slay our personal demons, confront our civic challenges, and reach our highest goals.

“Dancing in the Darkness ” is available now from Simon & Schuster.

Dr. Steven Harris hails from Cleveland, Ohio. He is affectionately known as Bro. Steve to the entertainment world and is now celebrating over 35 years in the entertainment and broadcast industry

Steve knows what it means to deal with challenges He spent the early days of his life in an isolette; a clear plastic enclosed crib that maintains a warm environment for a new baby and isolates him or her from germs. He was known as a blue baby; he had breathing problems and seizures, he spent half his life in a wheelchair, he had speech and speaking issues, but while lying in his hospital bed as a child God gave Steve the “Gift of Gab” and creativity for media. After graduating as the top African American from Kent State University in the School of Broadcasting on his graduation day Steve later moved to Hollywood, California where he resides now working as a television producer, radio personality and media professional and consultant.

His work has also been seen on the big screen for the movie industry on Fox, Disney, CBS, ABC, NBC and various cable networks as well. Steve has authored 5 books and has created and produced over 7,352 radio, tv, and multi-media projects He is a 2-time Gospel Announcer of the Year Award Winner and a member of the Broadcasters Hall of Fame as the youngest inductee in history. He co-created AIM TV, AIM Radio, AIM Live and several programs and events throughout the Church of God in Christ. The Church Family Channel can be seen online at https://americanfamily.mykajabi.com/church-family-channel

In 2011 Steve received a doctorate degree in religious science and multimedia from the Sacramento School of Theology His warm and crazy personality on the air and off the air draws people everywhere he goes He spends every day doing something to make someone laugh or helping to serve someone in need.

Most of all he loves the Lord in all that he says and does and focuses his time on his charity work each week feeding needy family in his community. Steve is also the founder and creator of The Church Family Television Channel which can be seen all over the world on television, online and on your mobile app

He is a faithful 32-year member of West Angeles Church of God in Christ where he loves to worship and serve. He is married to his life’s heart desire Lady Shamelle Harris. They are the parents of a daughter, Yvonne Marie.

April 2025