L.A. Focus February 2023 Issue

VOLUME XXVIII • ISSUE 1 •Februar y 2023 > > W W W. L A F O C U S N E W S PA P E R . C O M

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CHURCH NEWS Crenshaw Christian Center Celebrates 50th Anniversary

SEE PAGE 12

Hlollywood Buzz Angela Bassett Makes History with Oscar Nod

Up Front

Report Reveals Police Issued 71 Conflicting Commands and Impossible Orders to Tyre Nichols in 13 Minutes GAME CHANGER Sydney Kamlager Goes to Washginton

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contents

October 2022 February 2023

L.A. Focus Publications

(Left): AIDS Health Foundation participated in the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade (Middle): Nia Long, Lauren London, Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David Duchovny and Kenya Barris pose on the red carpet for the premiere of Netflix’s “You People” in Los Angeles; (Right): Councilmember Curren Price, Mark Ridley-Thomas and Kbla Radiohost Tavis Smiley attended the 31st Annual Empowerment Congress Summit.

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Eye On Gospel

From The Editor

Erica Campbell Kicks off 2023 With A New Single; All for The Kingdom; Mali Music Hosts Black History Honors; Todd Dulaney Teams with Hezeklah Walker

“On Assignment from God”

Commentary “Exalting Black Achievement & Succes Stories

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UpFront Report Reveals Police Issued 71 Conflicting Commands;Keenan Anderson Death BringsLAPD Taser Policy Into Question;Macy’s Baldwin Hills to close in March

Head 2 Head

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“Stop the Hate” Pastors Recall Experiences with Racism for California’s “Stop the Hate” Campaign

19 Money Matters Calling out Crypto Currency

Police Reform in the Wake of Tyre Nichols

Biz News Briefs

Headlines From Africa

KeKe Palmer Introduces KeyTv; City National to Pay $31 Million to Impacted L.A. County Communities of Color

24 Pastor Profile John-Paul Foster

27 From The Pulpit 29 In Good Taste “A Season of Miracles”

Jacky Clark-Chisholm

30 Saving Grae Angela Lewis

On the Money

Cover Story Celebrating A True Champion Of Faith Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer Retires As Senior Pastor of Faithful Central After Four Decades of Leadership

Hollywood Buzz Angela Bassett Makes History with Oscar Nod;

Viola Davis is Snubbed

Footnotes ShemarMoore

17 Red Carpet Style 2023 Golden Globe Awards

Not Chasing Millions Anymore

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Game Changer Sydney Kamlager Goes to Washington

22 Church News

Crenshaw Christian Center Launches Yearlong Jubilee Celebration; L.A. Episcopal DioceseMakes Huge Commitment on Homelessness;

23 First Lady Files

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (Pictured here) and Patrick Mahomes will face off in the Superbowl on February 12, marking the first time in NFL history that two Black quarterbacks will start in the championship game

Teresa Campbell - The Secret Place

honorary advisors

staff Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Staff Writers Photographer Advertising

Lisa Collins Gerald Bell, Quita Bride Chez’Ney Hadley Ian Foxx Kisha Smith

advisory board Napoleon Brandford Apostle Beverly Crawford Lem Daniels Bob Blake

#LAFOCUS

@Lafocusnews

@L.A.Focus

Bishop Charles Blake Bishop Noel Jones Pastor Michael J.T. Fisher Rev. Xavier L. Thompson Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer Pastor Emeritus Melvin Wade Pastor K.W. Tulloss Bishop Robert T. Douglas Sr.

Siebert, Brandford, Shank & Co. Bible Enrichment Fellowship Int’l Morgan Stanley Bob Blake & Associates

Cover Design: UpScale Media Group

L.A. Focus/February 2023

Address all correspondence to: L.A. Focus, 333 W. Florence Ave., Suite C333 Inglewood, CA 90301 • (310) 677-6011 Subscription rates $25.00 per year. www.lafocusnewspaper.com

West Angeles C.O.G.I.C. City of Refuge Greater Zion Church Family Southern Saint Paul Church Faithful Central Bible Church Mt. Moriah Baptist Church Baptist Minister’s Conference Inglewood Minister’s Assoc.

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Commentary

ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS Guest Columnist

“Exalting Black Achievement and Success Stories”

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he time is overdue to turn the page on the backward-looking 1619 Project. Has it caused a single black person to better themselves and set a standard to which the wise and honest may repair?

The path forward is to exalt, celebrate and salute black achievement and success stories to inspire the living and those yet to be born to strive for excellence and courage.

It should be underscored that the achievers and successes represent a rich diversity of thought and convictions. They marched to their own drummers even if it meant encountering stiff head winds. Nothing is more insulting or demoralizing than to be told that your ambitions, viewpoints and philosophy are predetermined by your race.

Let us begin with miseducation about a fictional character: Uncle Tom in Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" published in 1852. Uncle Tom is extraordinarily Christian. The climax of the story comes when Uncle Tom is asked to reveal where two slave women are hiding, who’d been sexually abused by their cruel master Simon Legree. Uncle Tom refuses. Knowing that he is going to be beaten to death, he refuses to reveal their whereabouts. In other words, Uncle Tom signed away his life to save two black women – the very definition of heroic.

But later movies and critics airbrushed out the true Uncle Tom in the novel. They substituted a craven, docile, submissive black man to be execrated – akin to substituting Satan for Jesus. No one protested or corrected the dastardly falsehood. Uncle Tom today is understood as a slur to disparage a black person thought to be humiliatingly subservient or deferential to white people.

But the real Uncle Tom was a hero. Just read the novel.

It has been in the public domain for more than 170 years.

It is not ambiguous about Uncle Tom's gallant bravery.

The true Uncle Tom infuriated slaveholders, which is why

President Abraham Lincoln quipped upon meeting author Stowe in 1862, "(S)o you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war."

We have lost Uncle Tom as a wonderful positive role model through sheer ignorance and intellectual cowardice.

Crispus Attucks anticipated the genuine Uncle Tom. He escaped slavery to become a mariner. He was murdered during the 1770 Boston Massacre, the first casualty in the American Revolution. In death, Attucks was afforded honors that no person of color – particularly one who had escaped slavery – had ever received before in America. Samuel Adams, spearhead of the Revolution, organized a procession to transport Attucks' casket to Boston's Faneuil Hall, where Attucks lay in state for three days before the victims' public funeral. An estimated 10,000 to 12,000 people – more than half of Boston's population – joined in the procession that carried the caskets of Attucks and the other victims of the Boston Massacre to the graveyard.

Attucks became a symbol in the 1840s for African

From the Editor

American activists in the abolitionist movement, who promoted him as an example of a black citizen and a patriot.

He gave the lie to Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney's counter-factual, racist assertion in Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) that African Americans "had no rights which the white man was bound to respect." Martin Luther King wrote in 1964 that black schoolchildren "know that the first American to shed blood in the revolution that freed his country from British oppression was a Black seaman named Crispus Attucks." Could he write that same sentence today?

The black pantheon includes the likes of Dr. King, Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, W.E.B. DuBois, William Monroe Trotter, Langston Hughes, Ralph Ellison, James Baldwin, Jesse Owens, the Tuskegee Airmen, Paul Robeson, Ralph Bunche, William Hastie, William Coleman, Jackie Robinson, Edward Brooke, Muhammad Ali, Charles Hamilton Houston, Thurgood Marshall, Clarence Thomas, Thomas Sowell and Ben Carson. A complete list is impossible as a concession to the shortness of life and article space. I regret the omission of many other deserving black Americans.

All have proven the electrifying truth of the poem "Invictus" ("unconquered" in Latin) by William Ernest Henley: "I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul."

Dwell on the positive, not the negative, in black history. Exult over the glorious possibilities for the future rather than cry forever over split milk. Every parent knows a child is doomed if given excuses for failure like manna falling from heaven. Scapegoating accomplishes only stagnation. Everyone is capable of genius: "(O)ne percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration," according to inventor-genius Thomas Edison.

Go for it!

To find out more about Armstrong Williams, visit www.armstrongwilliams.com.

LISA COLLINS Publisher

“On Assignment from God”

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L.A. Focus/February 2023

owVaughan Wells said her son told her that he would be famous one day. No one could have ever guessed that it would be because of what would happen to him while trying to get home safely to his mother.

But Wells now believes that Tyre Nichols’ fatal drive home was an assignment from God–that his death would serve to change a system.

We surely hope so, though that hope is often diminished by the continuous flow of fatal police encounters around the country and a club of mothers (no one wants to join) who hope that their sons’ lives were not lost in vain.

Of course, much has been said about the five now fired and criminally charged police officers being Black, which really only magnifies the hurt while flying in the face of the one constant –that traffic stops can be fatal for Black men.

Perhaps the Rev. Al Sharpton put the best twist on the Black police officer perspective in his eulogy at the funeral of Tyre Nichols.

"Five Black men that wouldn't have had a job in the police department - would not ever be thought of to be in the elite squad - in the city that Dr. King lost his life... you beat a Brother to death,” Sharpton said.

“There's nothing more insulting and offensive to those of us that fight to open doors, that you walk through those doors and act like the folks we had to fight to get you through them doors.

"You didn't get on the police department by yourself. The police chief didn't get there by herself.

People had to march and go to jail and some lost their lives to open the doors for you - and how dare you act like that sacrifice was for nothing?"

The Tyre Nichols case has been said to be a defining moment for the Memphis Police Department, but I believe it is a defining moment for all of us

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to push for the abolishment of qualified immunity which protects law enforcement officers from individual liability. It has been a sticking point in the passage of federal police reform.

Just two years ago, New York City became the first big city to ban qualified immunity for police officers, permitting individuals to sue those who violated their rights, mandating that they pay for at least part of civil rights violations.

You want to see change? Then speak to that. Advocate for that, understanding that being able to hold officers liable for their actions is a gamechanger.

Turning to this month’s issue, we celebrate a man whose accomplishments–too numerous to mention– can hardly be done justice in one article, though we have certainly done our best in the cover story starting on page 12.

Truth is, his impact is immeasurable–be it in the lives he’s touched through his preaching, through those his church’s 75 ministries have served or in the tens of thousands who have been inspired by his words, his books or his life.

I am privileged to call this man–on assignment from God– a friend. I met him in the year I launched L.A. Focus and we immediate hit it off, so much so that he said to me, ‘You need to have your offices in my building.”

That was in 1996 and that is–to this day–where L.A. Focus is headquartered.

I’ve watched him do things most people would never attempt with the fearless courage of a champion, the true test of which is not so much the victory as the overcoming of obstacles to attain it.

He said something to me once that I’ve always believed to be the secret of his success and that is simply this: “If you ever grasp how big your God is, it will impact how big your dreams are”.

They are words I am sure inspired many of those on whose shoulders we stand as we celebrate Black History month and those whose sacrifices have paved the way for our successes.

I was fortunate enough to be raised by history makers through my Dad, a former Tuskegee Airman who served as Executive Director of the Western Christian Leadership Conference under Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; and my stepmother, Evelyn Boyd Granville, the second African American woman to receive a Ph.D in mathematics in the nation (the first from Yale University). She went on to work on orbit computations for NASA’s space program, ultimately becoming one of their “hidden figures.”

Next month, I will be in Atlanta celebrating a statue being dedicated to one of my first mentors, Xernona Clayton, a civil rights activist who became the first African American from the South to host a daily prime time talk show before going on to establish the Trumpet Awards.

To be sure, there is a lot -to celebrate in our rich history and the powerful testimonies of faith that have seen us through. I take pride in knowing that the fruits of those who labored, sacrificed and died for us have resulted in a rich harvest of talents that have powered our progression and bred a new generation of dreamers and achievers.

Keep the faith.

UpFront Report Reveals Police Issued 71 Conflicting Commands and Impossible Orders to Tyre Nichols in 13 Minutes

ootage from Tyre Nichols’ fatal traffic stop found that police officers issued a barrage of confusing, conflicting, and sometimes impossible to obey commands.

If Nichols did not comply, or even if he did, the police would respond with increasing force.

According to the footage analyze by the New York Times, police officers shouted a total of at least 71 orders in the roughly 13 minutes before they radioed in that Nichols was in custody.

The orders were given in two separate places: one near Nichols’ vehicle, and another where he had run to avoid being beaten severely.

The video revealed that often the of-

L.A. Focus/February 2023

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ficers shouted conflicting orders, making it difficult for Nichols to understand and obey.

Nichols was ordered by officers to display his hand, even as officers held the young man’s hands.

At one point, they shouted for him to get down on the ground while he was already on the ground.

And when they had his body under their control, the officers still made him change positions.

The experts agree that the actions of the Memphis police officers were a blatant illustration of a widespread problem in policing, in which officers physically punish civilians for perceived disrespect or disobedience, a phenomenon known as “contempt of cop,” the Times reported.

Professor of criminology and criminal justice at the University of South Carolina Geoffrey Alpert said, “It was far more rampant in the ‘80s when I started doing police work than in the ‘90s or 2000s.”

Before body cameras, police officers were becoming more professional and less likely to take things personally, as

appeared to have happened with Nichols, Alpert stated.

Because of the potential for escalation and confusion during police encounters, modern police training typically calls for a single officer to be present at the scene to issue clear and specific commands.

It also necessitates that police officers respond professionally and proportionally to any perceived act of defiance.

The review by the Times, however, shows that the Memphis officers consistently did the opposite.

There is no evidence in the footage that the present officers did anything to prevent the excessive use of force. Actually, it seems to prove the opposite.

After Nichols attempted to flee the scene, an officer can be heard on camera saying, “I hope they stomp his ass.”

The Times noted four “crucial instances” in which police officers reprimanded Nichols for disobeying incorrect orders.

An officer is seen pulling up to the intersection where Nichols’ car was trapped between two unmarked police cars at the start of the footage.

The cop springs out of the car, gun drawn, to join two others who are racing toward Nichols.

When one of the officers pulls Nichols out of the car, the other two immediately begin shouting, “On the ground!”

STACY BROWN NNPA

These are the initial instructions in a series of contradictory directives that throw Nichols off.

Nichols notes that the police officers have ordered him to sit on the ground.

However, several officers can be heard yelling the same order with growing anger and threats of violence.

One shouts, “Get down on the ground!

I am going to tase your ass.” It appears that the officers’ tension rises when Nichols repositions himself, yet still assures the officers that he’s no threat.

“You guys are really doing a lot right now,” Nichols says. “I’m just trying to go home.”

Nichols then protests, “I am on the ground!” as officers pinned his arms down, pressed a Taser against his leg, and barked increasingly threatening words at him.

Now one of the officers gives more detailed instructions: ‘On your stomach.’

Nichols is hit in the face with pepper spray three seconds later by one of the officers.

Nichols is now surrounded by officers who demand to see his hands. However, one of them has a hold on his left arm, while another cop has a hold on his right.

The police still hadn’t made it clear how they wanted Nichols to behave.

A third officer rushes up with pepper spray. Then he warns, “You’re about to

UpFront Keenan Anderson Death Brings LAPD Taser Policy Into Question

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Keenan Darnell Anderson begged for his life as he was repeatedly tased by LAPD officers after a confrontation sparked by a traffic accident he admittedly caused as they attempted to take him into custody.

LAPD officers reportedly tased the 31year-old Washington D.C.-based schoolteacher six times and for a troubling 42 seconds as he cried out, “they’re trying to George Floyd me” in the January 3 incident.

Taken into custody, Anderson–the cousin of Black Lives Matter founder Patrisse Cullors– died several hours later of cardiac arrest after being transported to the hospital in a medical emergency.

The case, which marks the third fatal police shooting in a span of ten days has called into question the L.A. Police Department’s policy on the use of tasers.

LAPD policy states that officers “may use the Taser as a reasonable force option to control a suspect when the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of the officer or others.”

LAPD Chief Michael Moore said,” We still do not understand his medical condition and the department is pursuing through investigative channels his medical records and the actions taken and the underlying influences of what resulted in his death.”

“Regarding the use of the taser, our department policy states that there is no pre-set limit of the number of times a taser can be used in a particular situation. However, officers should generally avoid repeated or simultaneous activa-

tions to avoid potential injury to the suspect.

To that end, my preliminary understanding of this incident is that the involved officer believed each activation was achieving some level of compliance only to be followed by renewed resistance when that activation ceased”.

A preliminary toxicology performed by the police and tested positive for cocaine and cannabis.

Moore went on to state that more information from the coroner’s office was needed to accurately determine the cause of death, while adding that Anderson had been in an altered mental state as the officer attempted to deescalate the event.

“In my preliminary view of this incident”, Moore said, “its’ unclear what role the physical struggle with the officers and the use of the taser played in his unfortunate death…As this investigation continues, I will pay close attention to the use of the taser.”

The use of tasers has long been one of

Macy’s Baldwin Hills to Close in March fter a long protracted bidding war, the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall was sold in 2021 to the Beverly Hills-based, Harridge Development Group and in the time since, residents have been anxious to see just what the next chapter of the mall–considered a historical cultural landmark for most Blacks– would look like.

The announced closure of the Baldwin Hills’ Macy’s will not help to allay those concerns. The 75-year old store has been one of the mall’s flagship retailers.

Activist/journalist Jazmyne Cannick dubbed the closing as “The End of An Era” in a recent op-ed.

“For quite some time now, I have watched the life slowly squeezed out of that mall. I think it started with the exodus of Walmart in 2016, followed by Sears just three years later,” Cannick wrote.

“There’s a lot of history and memories at that intersection that spans generations. Santa Barbara Plaza and the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza have been tied together from their beginnings. And now, with the departure of Macy’s, it’s only a matter of time before the mall completely flatlines.”

Macy’s announced in 2020 that they were going to close the store as part of a three-year plan to stabilize profitability, including the relocation of its headquarters from San Francisco to New York. The plan included the closures of its

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“least productive stores”.

Just last week, shots were fired inside the store as two suspects robbed the stores jewelry counter and gunfire rang out as they fled.

“We are taking the organization through significant structural change to lower costs, bring teams closer together and reduce duplicative work,” said Jeff Gennette, chairman and chief executive officer of Macy’s, Inc. “The changes we are making are deep and impact every area of the business, but they are necessary.

“Based on current macro-economic indicators and our proprietary credit card data, we believe the consumer will continue to be pressured in 2023.”

As part of the strategy, Macy’s announced that it would open new off-mall, small-format stores, but none have been scheduled to open in the L.A. area.

D.T. CARSON Staff

the more controversial issues in criminal justice.

In 2012, Amnesty International urged stricter limits on police taser use as the U.S. death toll reached 500, as the shock delivered to the chest by a Taser can lead to cardiac arrest and sudden death.

A Stanford study suggested that “prolonged and/or multiple use of a taser dramatically increases the risk of ventricular fibrillation and consequent cardiac arrest, even in healthy adults”.

"I think what's most important for people to organize around right now is 'no cops at traffic stops,'" said Cullors. "My cousin would be around right now if he hadn't had a police encounter. Professionals who know how to deal with a crisis should've been at that scene."

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass also questioned the absence on the scene of a mental health expert.

“As a former healthcare professional, I am deeply troubled that mental health experts were not called in, even when there was a documented history of past mental health crisis. When there is no immediate risk to others, law enforcement must not be the first responder when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis.”

Bass is pledging that the investigations will be transparent and reflect the values of Los Angeles.

Said Bass, “I will ensure that the City’s investigations will drive only toward truth and accountability…I have absolutely no tolerance for excessive force.”

D.T. CARSON Staff "We are grateful to have served our customers in the Baldwin Hills and Crenshaw communities during the past 75 years and look forward to continuing to do so at nearby Macy's stores,” noted a Macy’s Spokesperson in a statement regarding the closure.

For those without cars, it is a matter of proximity, but for most community residents, the issue is a lot larger than convenience.

“I’m very saddened for the closure of a part of my growing up history in L.A,” said Sandi Hamilton, who grew up in the community and is a longtime resident.

“It’s the first place my Mom took me to shop, so I have a lot of joyful memories.

And it’s about more than convenience. I’m concerned about what happens next. We need to be clear on what’s happening. Is this a sign of another level of gentrification to come?”

Hamilton’s concern has been echoed throughout the community as word of the closing spread, particularly as there has been little to no communication from the mall owners of just what plans are in play for the community landmark.

A website featuring project updates was said to have been in the works when the Harridge Development Group purchased the mall nearly two years ago, but has not materialized.

Macy’s is set to close by March 31, 2023.

News Brief The 31st Annual Pan African Film Festival Kicks Off February 9 The 31st Annual Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) is set for February 9 20, in Los Angeles at the Cinemark Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza 15 and XD, and Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.

The festival will kick off with the world premiere of “Chevalier”, which was inspired by the incredible true story of composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a virtuoso violinist, celebrated composer and champion swordsman. The son of an enslaved African woman and a French plantation owner, Bologne (Kelvin Harrison Jr. in a tour de force performance) rises to improbable heights in French society as a celebrated violinist-composer and fencer, complete with an ill-fated love affair and a falling out with Marie Antoinette (Lucy Boynton) and her court.

Featuring over 200 films, PAFF titles represent 55 countries and 18 languages. Of the films selected for the festival, 80% are directed by filmmakers of African descent. The goal of PAFF is to showcase a broad range of Black creative works, particularly those that reinforce positive images and depict an expanded, realistic vision of the Black experience.

Cofounded by Danny Glover , the late actress Ja’net DuBois, and Ayuko Babu, PAFF’s executive director, the festival events will include a vibrant red carpet filled with Hollywood A-listers and many of the who’s who in the world of art. The lineup will also include informative panels and workshops featuring top industry professionals,and will showcase rare cinematic works followed

by Q & A sessions with filmmakers. Additionally, the John Singleton Short Film Competition honors Singleton’s cinematic contributions while also celebrating his unapologetic approach to filmmaking.

In conjunction with the film festival, there will also be an art showcase, “Artfest”, held at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. The Artfest will feature more than 100 established and emerging fine artists and quality craftspeople from all over the Black Diaspora. Featured artists present their creative works using oil on canvas, watercolor and pastels, acrylic paper, glass, ceramics, metal, cloth, plastic, wax, wire, leather, and stone. In addition to fine art and one-of-a-kind crafts, the Artfest also features the best in designer and traditional fashions, jewelry, home decor, fashion accessories and so much more!

The full schedule and ticket information can be found at www.paff.org.

HeadToHead

Police Reform in the Wake of Tyre Nichols?

lack man. Need I note a Creator and that every What Does It the victim was Black? human being is a creation Would we be less or more Take to Ensure made in that Creator's image? traumatized if the victim were That Policemen If they believed this, could they Are Human Be- have done what they did? white? ings?

But the rule seems to be the Rep. Jim Jordan victims are Black. summed it up well saying, "I don't know Everyone sees there is a problem. Ev- there is anything you can do to stop the eryone wants to fix it. But how? kind of evil we saw in that video."

The first question in the pursuit of a Something very bad has happened in solution invariably is, "What is wrong our country. with the system?"

This nation was How about we start this time by asking founded as a free a different question. What is wrong with country under God, the men who did it? not as a "system."

The shocking video certainly doesn't The Constitution is give us the whole story. What were the an operating mancircumstances that lead to the police ap- ual creating the prehending this man, forcing him de- basic structure of fenseless on the ground and beating him government and to Star Parker to death? Can we imagine any circum- assure that it would stance that would justify this behavior? be kept limited and not interfere with Suppose somehow all this occurred citizens taking personal responsibility under the radar. That these policemen and living free. beat this man to death, but no one found Yes, it began with the horrible reality out about it. of slavery. But this reflected the sin of Could they live with themselves? man and not a systematic flaw in the Could they just go home to their families country. after doing a day's work without a secGeorge Washington said it, and I ond thought that their law enforcement quote him all the time, that there is no work left a man dead with little justifi- freedom without religion. cation why this happened?

But today we are going in the opposite We in the pro-life movement ask how direction. We want to use courts and women can destroy the child in their legislatures to produce systematic anwomb and live with themselves. Those swers to our lives rather than turning to who rationalize it say they don't see this our parents and our pastors for eternal unborn child as life. principles. The answer is not in the sysBut can we say these police did not tem; it is in ourselves. see Tyre Nichols as a living man?

Regarding the police, they need more When these incidents get spun as ra- personal responsibility for their behavcial, the answer comes forth that racists ior. One path to this is getting rid of do not see those whom they hate as qualified immunity, which shields them human. There was a historic data point from exposure to lawsuits. Qualified imin this regard in our nation's history in munity allows police to violate constituthe Dred Scott decision. tional rights of others without concern But in this case, the police officers they will be sued. Per this judge-created were Black. doctrine, as long as there is not another How about if we ask if each of those identical precedent, with all the same Parker continued to page 24 policemen felt they live in a world with

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Headlines From Africa Burkina Faso: French troops fighting Islamist militants have been ordered to leave Burkina Faso. Security forces freed 66 women and children kidnapped by armed assailants in the Centre-North province.

Burundi: The Central Emergency Response Fund has allocated $3.5 million to support life-saving food aid in the nation struggling to emerge from an ethnic-based civil war.

Congo: Fighting has intensified in the eastern Congo as the M23 rebel group seeks to expand the territory it controls, forcing hundreds of civilians to flee their homes.

Djibouti: Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh has signed a technological cooperation agreement with the Chinese company Hong Kong Aerospace Technology to build a $1bn satellite and rocket launch site.

Eritrea: Eritrean forces withdraw from towns in the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray, where they had been fighting alongside Ethiopia’s government troops against rebels nearly three months after a cease-fire agreement that appears to be bringing calm to the region.

Ghana: Ghana's government and trade unions agreed to increase all public servants' salaries by 30% for 2023 as the country struggles to reduce debt and tackle rampant inflation.

Kenya: Kenya’s accelerated urbanization and urban transition has encouraged stakeholders to collaborate and implement appropriate strategies to support affordable house policies in order to accommodate their growing metro centers.

Malawi: The death toll in Malawi’s cholera outbreak has surpassed 1,000 according to health officials who added that cultural beliefs and distrust towards health workers has slowed efforts to curb the infection rates.

Mozambique: An Irish project to bring socially inclusive, edible infrastructure to African cities was launched.

The project will explore the potential of edible urban green infrastructure in two rapidly growing cities.

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It became nacendiary statements to go untional, indeed, inter- Racializing the checked. national news that five Death of a Black Playing from the same Memphis police officers grabbed, Man by the Po- sheet music, the Rev. Al Sharplice, Part I punched, beat, pepper-sprayed ton said, "(Tyre Nichols' death) and stun-gunned a black susis an outrage and race is still inpect, named Tyre Nichols, who later died volved." CNN's Van Jones said that even at the hospital. A picture of him in his though the cops were black, "they might hospital bed showing his swollen, bat- still have been driven by racism." tered and bloodied face went viral on soHere are the facts. It is rare for cops to cial media. kill anybody – an average of about 1,000 The city police people annually over the last eight years, chief, a black female, 82% of them armed (most with guns), out said she was dis- of a population of more than 334 million, gusted: "In my 36 with over 61.5 million civilians having at years ... I would have least one police contact in 2018, and alto say I don't think most 54 million having contact with poI've ever been more lice in 2020, according to the Bureau of horrified and dis- Justice Statistics. Odds are much less for Larry Elder gusted, sad ... and, an unarmed black person to be killed. to some degree, confused." The cops were A former Thompson Reuters data fired; all face second-degree murder scientist – more on him later – wrote in charges.

2021: "Over the past five years, police The body cam video, as well as video have killed 39% more unarmed whites from an outdoor camera, was released. No than unarmed blacks. ... The raw statisvideo exists of what first caused the police tics suggest that there is actually a slight to begin Nichol's traffic stop. anti-white bias (emphasis added) in poNichols' mother, at a press conference lice applications of lethal force." arranged by her attorney, said, "I hate In 2020, according to the Washington the fact that us as black people, we out Post database, cops shot and killed 459 here killing each other. I don't know whites, 26 unarmed, and they shot and why?" That's right, the five officers facing killed 242 blacks, 18 unarmed. In 2021, charges of second-degree murder are all police killed 446 whites, 8 unarmed, and black.

233 blacks, 11 unarmed. In 2022: 389 But not to worry, it did not take long whites, 9 unarmed; 225 blacks, 7 unfor Democrats and the Democratic media armed. In 2019, police killed 12 unarmed to still racialize the issue. Few things are black men. But according to a poll in Pomore creative than a Democrat playing licemag.com, among those who self-dethe race card. Barack and Michelle scribed as "very liberal" over 50% thought Obama called this a "painful reminder" of the police killed 1,000 or more unarmed America's cop problem. black men in 2019. Thirty-nine percent of The new mayor of Los Angeles, a black self-described "liberals" also estimated female, said in an interview, "Even with the number at 1,000. the black officers, I wonder how they Criminal behavior is evenly distribwould have reacted if it was a young uted among the population. Heather Mac white person?" The white male reporter Donald, author of "War On Cops" says, did not push back, raised no objections. "In the 75 largest counties, which is This makes him and his media colleagues where most of the population resides, Elder continued to page 24 part of the problem by allowing such in-

A look at current news from the continent of Africa Niger: Forced displacements and massive school closures have drastically increased the number of children out-of-school in Niger, threatening the future of a generation. Currently, 42 percent of children are out-of-school, up from 34 per cent five years ago thus reversing the progress made in previous decades, in a country where half the population is under 15.

Nigeria: The U.S. has announced visa restrictions on specific individuals in Nigeria for undermining the democratic process in a recent Nigerian election. Additional persons who undermine the democratic process in Nigeria—including in the lead-up to, during, and following Nigeria’s 2023 elections—may also be found ineligible for U.S. visas under this policy.

Rwanda: Tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo escalate as Rwanda’s defense force shot at a Congolese jet that it claims violated its airspace.

Senegal: U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Saturday helped kick off a new rural electrification project in Senegal that will bring reliable power to 350,000 people, while supporting some 500 jobs in 14 U.S. states.

Sierra Leone: President Julius Maada Bio has signed into law the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment bill, which will allow women equal rights as men to own, lease, or buy land in the country. Under the new provision, any person who discriminates in providing access to land resources, based on gender “commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of not less than $2,600 or to imprisonment for a term not less than 5 years or both.

Tanzania: Opposition leader and former presidential candidate Tundu Lissu returned home after more than two years in exile, after the government lifted a ban on political rallies.

A

monthlong series of events held this month have been set aside to mark the retirement of Bishop Kenneth Ulmer as senior pastor of one of L.A. County’s largest churches, Faithful Central Bible Church. For four decades Ulmer has shaken up the region’s church scene and transformed not only the way faith leaders do church, but the way people view church–with bold moves like the purchase of the Inglewood Forum, the hiring of a gospel superstar to revamp his youth ministry, partnerships with white evangelicals, a controversial church name change that followed his high-profile Bapticostal transformation as a co-founding Bishop in the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship; and his masterful synchronization of music to the pulpit with the aid of the late Barbara Allen.

Along the way, he’s authored a string of books including “The Champion in You” and “Spiritually Fit to Run the Race”; preached in the Orange Bowl before an audience of over 100,000 white evangelicals at Promise Keepers; taught an annual summer course at London’s Oxford University for the last 25 years; and currently serves as Presiding Bishop of the Johannesburg, South Africa-based, Macedonia International Bible Fellowship.

All of which has made him an international force in the global faith community.

Locally, nothing major happens in the city of Inglewood–where he has been considered a key stakeholder–without his knowledge. He’s prayed with Whitney Houston and Britney Spears, stood for the likes of Madonna (who while performing at the Forum aided the church when the unions were trying to shut it down), been a key stop for politicians seeking office, and in his quest to build a congregation of champions has helped to transform the lives of thousands through the more than 75 ministries and outreaches the church operates.

“Sometimes you can be so close to greatness that you don’t really see the impact until you step back”, said one pastor. But that is not really the case with Ulmer, who has been dubbed by Bishop Charles Blake as “one of the Congresswoman Karen Bass

LISA COLLINS Editor most premier Pastors in the Los Angeles church area and the Kingdom of God”, while adding that his preaching of God's word surpassed the boundaries of denomination, race, gender and geography.

“Bishop Kenneth Ulmer changed the way our generation of leaders thinks of the black church,” observed Pastor Michael J.T. Fisher of the Compton-based, Greater Zion Church Family. “The purchase and sale of the Forum encouraged young pastors like me to think beyond offerings and bake sales to sustain the vision and the church.”

Dr. Frederick K. Price of Crenshaw Christian Center called him, “A scholar of scholars and a pastor of pastors, “who has transformed so many lives through his teaching of the Word and counseling God’s people.”

“Bold, brilliant and beloved; he’s a leaders’ leader.

He’s not only a pillar in the Inglewood community; he’s a prophetic voice to the nations of this world. I thank God for the Bishop of champions,” noted Center of Hope Pastor Geremy Dixon.

And Pastor Joseph Carlos Robinson said of Ulmer, “If there was an ecclesiastical version of Mt. Rushmore, Bishop Kenneth Ulmer's face would deserve to be carved in it.”

Yet for all he has accomplished, nothing has come easy and while the accolades flow freely now, Ulmer can readily recall the resistance that came with his ascension in Christendom, which began in East St. Louis with a mother who raised all three of her children in church and a young Kenneth Ulmer who got his first check as a musician playing for Sunday School at the age of 12.

Looking back, he laughs, “While most of my friends started [preaching] in high school, I was old…in my 30’s.

My journey was always through music.”

True to his word, he accepted his call to ministry while serving as minister of music at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church.

“My father in the ministry, Dr. Melvin V. Wade Sr., was preaching a sermon on Jonah titled “You Can Run, But You Can't Hide”. I had been running for two years because what I saw as a model of effective ministry –

“

Preachers made jokes about us. The church community laughed at us. The business community laughed at us. Nobody wanted to fund the Forum sale. No one bank would take the deal.

One banker told me, ‘I don’t want any parts of this. This deal will never happen. This meeting is over, and put me out of his office.

”

L.A. Focus/February 2023

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Left: Bishop Ulmer preaching; Right: Ulmer and wife Togetta with L.L. Cool J. and his wife, Simone.

He can laugh at it now, but with every major move he made, the church lost people.

“When we left San Pedro, we dissolved that [existing church] corporation. That was the first time– wouldn’t be the last–that I was accused of following the devil.”

As the church grew, so did his popularity among White evangelicals, –a door opened by the late Dr. E.V. Hill Sr., who initially recommended him as a speaker for Promise Keepers.

“E.V Hill taught me the power of portability. He could preach for white Presbyterians in the morning and come back and speak to Church of God in Christ in the evening,” Ulmer notes.

The “portability” Ulmer went on to perfect would garner him invites to platforms that included the likes of Robert Schuller and lifelong friendships with Lloyd Ogilvie, Rick Warren and the late Jack Hayford, who would take $100K out of his retirement to help Ulmer close the Forum deal.

Ulmer’s exposure to different expressions of faith subsequently sparked a spiritual journey that led to a theological shift.

“That shift change started with a personal hunger for more of God,” Ulmer reveals. “It started when a friend of mine told me that I was going to Hell because I didn’t speak in tongues. That sparked the personal, private journey and theological shift.”

With that shift Faithful Central Missionary Baptist Church became Faithful Central Bible Church, sparking yet another controversy.

“When I made the shift from being traditionally Baptist to being more charismatic, more Pentecostal, speaking in tongues and gifts like that, I got shut out of a lot of places and ex-communicated from a lot of circles,” Ulmer said. “In fact, I had friends who stopped speaking to me, literally.”

And yet every step of the way, he says God kept telling him, ‘it’s bigger.’

So too, was his growing membership and once again, there were plans for expansion.

The goal was 5,000 seats but constructing an edifice to accommodate that on this current property was projected to cost them $44 million, according to developers, and even then, seating would be tight. At about the same time, Ulmer heard the Forum was up for sale and its price tag was just $22 million.

That was the first of several reasons the Forum deal made perfect sense for Faithful Central. Seating was another given the arena’s capacity of 17,500. They could also operate it as a business and at the same time, help the community of Inglewood considering that losing the Forum–one of Inglewood’s “Big Five” driving businesses–would have meant economic ramifications for the City of Inglewood as well as a loss of jobs for some of its residents.

“We were told the sale was a done deal,” Ulmer said.

“That there was a contract signed and sealed to tear the Forum down. It was going to be like a residential area with a beautiful park. But, they said, if you can get the developer to change his mind, we're okay with that. So, I went to the guy and we cut a deal.”

Then, came the hard part–funding.

“Preachers made jokes about us,” Ulmer recounts of one of his most trying times. “The church community

laughed at us. The business community laughed at us.

Nobody wanted to fund the Forum sale. No one bank would take the deal.

“One banker told me, ‘I don’t want any parts of this.

This deal will never happen. This meeting is over and put me out of his office.’”

But the church had no plan B. So Ulmer dug in deeper and the battle cry for Faithful Central members boiled down to one simple word: “Believe”.

Says Ulmer, “We had to put together a consortium of six banks to do that deal. That's how we got to buy it.”

With the final documents signed on December 31st, 1999, the sale of the Forum to Faithful Central made headlines across the nation and marked the first time a church had purchased an arena of that size. The L.A. Times wrote, “One of the state’s largest churches plans to announce today that it has acquired the Great Western Forum in Inglewood and will convert the storied arena into one of the largest houses of worship in the country while continuing to operate it as an entertainment venue.”

The move, for many, exemplified the power of the Black church.

“It showed the strength of what a church could do outside of their four walls, bringing communities to prosper, becoming part of the economic upswing of Inglewood and the entire region,” stated Gerard McCallum, a Board of Director on the Inglewood Chamber of Commerce and former Executive Vice President of Forum Enterprises.

But, says Ulmer, the story of the Forum has not been told well and he wanted to take this opportunity to set the record straight.

“First of all, we never bought the forum to turn it into a church,” he states unequivocally. “We never put a cross in there. We never put a pew in there”.

“Number two, we never bought the forum to keep it,” he continued.

“I wanted to keep it ten years and because of the dip in 2008 in the economy, we kept it 12 years before selling it to Madison Square Garden.

“We operated the Forum as an entertainment venue. There is not a group from 2000 to 2012 that did not play that room, including M a -

L.A. Focus/February 2023

the style, ambiance, and culture–were all pictures of a different kind of gift. Some folks even made jokes about me. They would say he's a pretty good Sunday school teacher, but he'll never be a preacher.”

More to the point, his gift was not so much preaching as it was teaching and just as importantly, discipleship, a word he says he never heard growing up.

Undeterred, he organized Macedonia Bible Baptist Church in 1980 with his wife, Togetta sister, Kathy and a friend as its first members. Two years later with the death of then Faithful Central Missionary Baptist Church Pastor W.L. Robinson, his name was floated as a possible replacement.

Though skeptical at first, in 1982, he took over as pastor of the church named for its “central location and faithful folks”.

In those early days, Ulmer said active membership was between 140-150 members with the church nearly half full, but with his fiery and colorful delivery of the word, that wouldn’t be the case for long.

But not everyone was happy about the church’s explosive growth over the next two years or some of the moves Ulmer was making, including the discontinuation of a Baptist staple, Sunday School.

“People were saying hateful stuff,” Faithful Central Associate Pastor Jordan Allen recalled. “One woman said, ‘You mean to tell me you’re going to cut off another man’s work,” as if Pastor Robinson had invented Sunday School.

“What they didn’t understand,” Allen continued, “is what he was basically saying is we need to teach the word in a Bible study format.”

Things got so bad that another minister was called in to mediate and bring peace, but some of the members closed the doors and wouldn’t let the minister in.

As peace was eventually restored, the church quickly outgrew its Hoover location and while believing for a larger location, began holding services at Washington High School. After two years, the church secured a deal to buy what is now its Trinity Building complex in the heart of Inglewood.

“We came over and did the Old Jericho march around the property,” Ulmer recounts. “We named it, claimed it and I announced one Sunday that God had given us this property. Well, a few weeks later, we were outbid, and the deal fell through. In what was one of my lowest points in ministry, a lady came up to me at Washington High School, put her finger in my face and said, ‘You are a false prophet. You said God gave us that property.’

“Here's why that was the lowest point”, he explained, “because I know God said we had that building and if I missed God on that, what else did I miss God on?”

Hundreds of people left the church as did that very woman.

“Two years later,” Ulmer picks up the story, “I'm driving to the airport and I get a phone call. The voice says, ‘Well, Reverend, you can have your building now.

The deal fell through and the property's back on the market’.

“Now, we marched around that property ready to pay $5.2 million. Two years later, we bought that building for $2.5 million. I'm still looking for that woman that called me a false prophet,” he jokes.

13

L.A. Focus/February 2023

donna and Prince who played 13 dates. But on Sunday morning, something transformed that venue into the holiness of God.” Ironically, one of the key factors Ulmer attributes to the church’s sustenance during the Forum years was what was happening in his 1,850-seat Tabernacle with his youth ministry.

“There was a different generation in there–a generation I could not reach,” Ulmer confesses.

In yet another bold move, he reached out to gospel superstar Kirk Franklin, who for the next five years would serve as youth minister of what was dubbed as “The Takeover”.

“I came over one Sunday and there were over a thousand kids on their faces weeping to the Lord,” recalls Ulmer, who pauses for a moment before continuing his thought. “This church would not be what it is now if God had not sent Kirk Franklin.”

Those youth –now grown up–are key to Ulmer’s thriving membership of more than 10,000, now holding worship at The Tabernacle.

The church’s return to the Tabernacle after selling the Forum was thought by some to be a step down. A notion that might have been fueled by an August 2010 L.A. Times article titled, “Forum’s struggles turn it into a financial drain on the church that owns it”, detailing the legal wrangling between the church and the management company it partnered with to acquire concerts, but would later accuse of scaring–and or steering– business away from the Forum.

Ulmer, however, insists, “It was not a step down. It was a change of seasons and God kept moving.”

Today at 75, he doesn’t have a lot of regrets.

“It's been a good ride,” he maintains. “I did my best and I'm comfortable in that because number one, I know those seasons have changed. Number two, because I really believe that God has sent the right man [in John-Paul Foster] and my first responsibility– which I see as a call– is to pastor the pastor. I want to be to him what I did not have.

“The second thing: I will be the spiritual advisor to this ministry,” he went on. “He’s the pastor, but I will

14

Below: Ulmer with new Pastor John-Paul (J.P.) Foster

be honored to be a Paul to this young Timothy. I'm not leaving the church. I'll be advisor. There are many people who are not going to ask him to do their funeral or weddings. He didn't go to the hospital and visit them. He didn't bless their babies. We both are okay with that. I want to be there for the people who are there so that he can have time and room to bring the people who are not there.”

While his last official service is on February 19, he will preach again on Father’s Day and every Father’s Day thereafter. In the meantime, he says he’s “repositioning” in the kingdom.

“I’m senior advisor to the president of Biola University,” he points out. “And some of the classes that people have paid $2000 for at Oxford, I'm going to do some of those same classes at Faithful Central now.”

Then there is his Macedonia International Bible Fellowship (MIBF) of more than 300 members representing 120 pastors, through which he has inspired a whole new generation of leaders.

States MIBF member, Bishop Van Moody, “Part of the reason he’s impacted so many leaders in our country, but also globally, is not just because he’s a great preacher, and he’s one of the greatest preachers of our generation; not just because he’s an academician par excellent (and yes, he is one of the greatest thinkers of our time) but it’s bigger. He’s a great man, a great husband, a great father. Those are the intangibles many in my generation look for as a sign of hope that we can make it and do it the right way.”

Pastor Touré Roberts, whose OneLA is one the city’s leading multi-ethnic churches, concurs.

“Over the course of my pursuit of God and His plans for my life, I’ve been blessed to learn from many great men and women of God”, Roberts says. “But there is one servant who stands out a great deal from the rest, and under his leadership I discovered the voice of God. That discovery would change the trajectory of my life forever. That servant is Dr. Kenneth C. Ulmer who has not only impacted my life in a truly transformational way, but the lives of an entire generation in this great city of Los Angeles and beyond.”

—Hon. Mark Ridley-Thomas

HO L LY W OOD SPOT LIGHT Chez Hadley “Snowfall” February 22 is the premiere date for the sixth and final season of “Snowfall”, the series created by the late John Singleton and inspired by the past life of convicted drug trafficker Rick Ross. “Snowfall” chronoffthe-books CIA operation contributed to the destruction rock cocaine leveled on the community of South Central Los Angeles and in season six dramatizes the very human toll the crack epidemic has taken.

Damson Idris stars as Franklin Saint, an ambitious street entrepreneur who seizes an opportunity to grow rich in the drug game and ends up in a world of danger.

The action picks up as a desperate Franklin is forced to rob his Aunt Louie (Angela Lewis) and Uncle Je-

rome (Amin Joseph) after being wiped out by former CIA officer Teddy McDonald (Carter Hudson). Franklin is now faced with losing everyone he loves and everything he’s built. Coming through it all will mean out-maneuvering the KGB, DEA, and CIA, as well as avoiding the LAPD’s fully militarized/corrupt C.R.A.S.H. units.

In the final season, Idris says that

OUT THIS MONTH

HOLLYWOOD BUZZ

Harlem February 3 (Prime)

Sharper February 10

Angela Bassett Makes History with Oscar Nod

L.A. Focus/February 2023

With her best supporting actress Oscar nomination for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”, Angela Bassett made history as the first woman, the first person of color and the first Marvel Studios actor to be nominated for an Academy Award for their performance in a comic book adaptation. It’s the second nomination for the actress.

“This morning is a little extra special in the Bassett Vance household with news of my Oscar nomination,” Bassett posted. “What has drawn me to each of the women I’ve portrayed throughout my career is their strength, compassion, resilience, and power. Wakanda Forever’s Queen Ramonda is a character that touched my spirit because she is a mother and a leader who must care for her grieving nation as much as she cares for her family in mourning.

Ramonda is a love letter that reflects and acknowledges what we women do everyday.”

16

his character is beginning to realize that he is actually a monster and a victim himself.

Idris–who is a producer on the show–promises that the season will be a heartstopper for viewers.

“What I can say is you’re going to be at the edge of your seats,” he reports. “It gets to a point where Franklin Saint becomes James Bond, and you’re like ‘Oh, he’s gonna survive this.’ And we don’t want that to happen. So, with this season…you are never going to know who’s going to survive and who’s going to die.”

Rounding out the cast are Lewis, Joseph, Hudson, Michael Hyatt, Sergio Peris-Mencheta and Isaiah John.

The 10-episode final season airs Wednesday nights on FX beginning on Febuary 22.

Ant-Man & the Wasp February 17

Snubbed One of the biggest snubs of the recent Oscar nominations was the absence of a nomination for Viola Davis who did receive nods for Golden Globe, SAG, NAACP Image Awards for her starring role in Woman King. But there’s still plenty for Davis to be excited about not the least of which is the two-year, exclusive first-look television and new media deal Davis and her husband’s production company, JuVee Productions, signed with eOne. “We are excited to partner with eOne in continuing to bring both entertaining and important stories to audiences globally,” Davis and Tennon said.

“This is our legacy — to create deeply and authentically while opening the door wider for the next generation.

Our collaboration is one of a shared, bold vision. From the moment we met Michael Lombardo, we felt that kinetic energy of being seen.”

In Casting News: An all-star cast has been announced for Tyler Perry’s new Netflix project, Six Triple Eight. Oprah Winfrey and Kerry Washington are set to join the cast of the upcoming epic film which also stars Ebony Obsidian, Sam Waterston and Susan Sarandon. Six Triple Eight tells the inspiring true story of the only all-Black, allfemale battalion during World War II. Perry wrote the original screenplay based on an article written by historian Kevin

Cocaine Bear February 24

M. Hymel that details the experience of a group of women who joined the war effort and were assigned the incredible task of fixing the three-year backlog of undelivered mail – all while facing discrimination, unfamiliar surroundings, and living in a wartorn country…In other casting news, Beverly Hills housewife/The Real cohost Garcelle Beauvais has signed on to star in the Lifetime original film, Black Girl Missing as part of the network’s Stop Violence Against Women campaign. The TV film tells the story of a mother whose daughter goes missing and enlists the help of a dedicated community of amateur internet sleuths to find her...Fresh off of her Supporting actress Critics Choice Award win, Niecy Nash has been tapped to join the cast of Ava DuVernay’s adaption of Pulitzer Prize winner Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. The film–examining racism in America– also features Aunjanue Ellis and Jasmine Cephas jones…And the voice cast for Nickelodeon’s upcoming “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie” now includes Serena Williams and North West, who will join her mother, Kim Kardashian in the film along with Lil Rel Howery, Taraji P. Henson and Marsai Martin. Briefly: Sheryl Lee Ralph is sitting on top of the world with a hit series, a recent Emmy Award and a last month’s best supporting actress win at the Golden Globes. And just recently it was announced that she was asked to sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as part of the Super Bowl pregame ceremony on February 12.

Footnotes ShemarMoore Hometown: Oakland Age: 52 Breakout Role: “The Young & Restless” Current Project: “S.W.A.T.” Shemar Moore once said he could describe his career in two words: who knew. He was, in fact, on his way to becoming a professional baseball player when he was sidelined by an injury and opted to move to L.A. to try acting. “Nobody”, he says, was betting on him. He did some modeling to pay the bills and in 1994 landed a role on “The Young & The Restless”, that would win him a daytime Emmy and and in 2005, he was cast for 11 seasons on CBS’ hit series, "Criminal Minds." A year later, he landed the lead in S.W.A.T., now in its sixth season.

On playing a cop: It’s difficult, and sometimes seemingly impossible, but if you quit, then nothing changes. If you don’t quit, then change is possible.

On his S.W.A.T. character: Hondo’s full Black in the story, where I’m half Black and half white. There are a lot of parallels and differences. Shemar has a lot more fun than Hondo does; Hondo’s a serious cat. His backstory includes going into the military, being a Marine and the pressures of being a leader and being a Black man in that position. I’d like to think that my success and the way I carry myself, I want people of color, –young people period to believe it’s possible, that you can go out there and be somebody and be successful. Not necessarily be a star, but just that success is possible.

On Black Lives Matter: We talked about Black Lives Matter [on the show] because it was the right thing to do. I’m a Black man wearing a SWAT uniform. When George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and the like happened, I told the producers, “We can’t ignore that.” Do we have to preach to that? No, but we can address that.

On acting: There's something fascinating about being able to put on costumes and become something else. By acting, you get full permission to act in a way that you may not act in your everyday life.

On success: I've experienced a lot of successes, a lot of triumphs, but also dealt with a lot of adversity, a lot of loss.

You just wake up every day and realize you're blessed. I never take life for granted. I never take my career for granted. I just try to embellish, and smile about the good, but also always push myself.

Don't ever get comfortable. You can do it. I always feel like I can be better.

On how he continues to look so young: I'm never shy about how old I am, how young I am.

I got good genes from my mom and my daddy. I eat healthy and exercise is a way of life for me. I'm trying to keep my six-pack alive. Right now, it's kind of like a two-and-a-half pack. I gotta get together.

It ain't as easy as it used to be. I just try to see the brighter side of life.

RedCarpet Style

QUITA BRUNSON turned heads in this strapless pink and black Christian Siriano gown

VIOLA DAVIS was the epitome of style in this formfitting royal blue Jason Wu gown

One of the big ticket award shows of the year is the Golden Globes and the stars turn up the heat on the red carpet. Here are some of our favorite looks from the ceremony.

LETITIA WRIGHT was elegant in this metallic burnt orange and cream, flattering Prada silhouette

SHERYL LEE RALPH dazzled in this sleeveless purple Aliétte turtleneck dress

JANELLE JAMES glowed in this sophistocated and svelte Navy Blue Safiyaa gown

Eye On Gospel Erica Campbell Kicks Off 2023 With A New Single Grammy-award winning gospel vocalist Erica Campbell kicked off 2023 with a new single sharing in the joy she’s found in life. The new single “Feel Alright (Blessed)” is an up-tempo affirmation of the power you find in choosing joy even when life is messy and unpredictable. In addition to her new single and Grammy Nomination, the My Block Records Recording Artist is celebrating her nomination for the 2023 NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song for her chart-topping single, “Positive.”

The new single follows the release of “Positive,” which became Erica’s first solo No. 1 single at Gospel radio when it topped both Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart and the Mediabase Gospel Radio chart in August 2022. The song also became her latest single to crack the Top 10 on Billboard’s US Gospel Chart and spent 22 weeks in the Top 20 Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart - a hybrid chart that includes radio, streaming and digital downloads.

In addition to her continued success as a music artist, Erica Campbell also touches fans’ lives as the host of the syndicated morning r a d i o show, Get Up! Mornings

with Erica Campbell. Currently available in 40 markets nationwide, the show sets a new bar for syndicated morning programming by creating a high-energy experience for listeners through a range of music styles, powerful interviews, lively features and a fresh approach on news and listener engagement.

All for The Kingdom Kingdom Book One, the acclaimed album from charttoppers Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul/RCA), celebrates a nomination in the category of Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album for the 54th NAACP Image AwardsⓇ. This nomination for their live album collaboration follows their other accolades going into 2023, where they have three nominations honoring the album and two of its singles, for the upcoming 65th GrammyⓇ Awards taking place February 5th, 2023.

The 16-time GrammyⓇ winner Kirk Franklin and GRAMMYⓇ-winning collective Maverick City Music teamed up on the inspirational project (released in 2022), recording in a Florida prison yard with the voices of 1,300 inmates, bringing awareness to the plight of mass incarceration and a worship experience of universal love and acceptance. Featuring the GrammyⓇ-nominated #1 Gospel hit “Kingdom” and “Fear Is Not My Future,” along with “Bless Me,” “Melodies from Heaven,” “Why We Sing” and more, the superstar artists took their album on the road throughout 2022 on The Kingdom Tour, where they played to sold-out arenas around the country.

Mali Music Hosts Black History Honors Chicago-based multimedia mega-company, Central City Productions, known for the Stellar Gospel Music Awards has announced the production of Black History Honors, a brand-new television series. The screening of

the series premiere was held last month at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati and hosted by Grammy Award-winner Mali Music.

Black History Honors is a 4-part docuseries honoring heroes of the Underground Railroad and featuring musical tributes by award-winning gospel music artists, to celebrate Black History Month in February. The series will air in national broadcast syndication on over 200 television markets between February 4 - March 5, 2023.

Todd Dulaney Teams with Hezekiah Walker Stellar Award winning, Todd Dulaney has released a new single in collaboration with Bishop Hezekiah Walker titled, "It's Working."

Recorded live at Calvary Baptist Church in Chicago, the track is an empowering declaration that God is in control, so everything will work out. The combined musical skills of Todd Dulaney and Hezekiah Walker encourage and motivate listeners to press through every adversity. Dulaney begins the celebration by presenting the lyrics and theme in his well-known contemporary style. A seamless transition shifts to the powerhouse choir sound, which has kept Hezekiah Walker at the forefront of the Gospel industry for decades. "It's Working" includes the often-anticipated multiple modulations which are part of the Hezekiah Walker signature sound.

Briefly: The gospel industry lost a highly respected songwriter, artist and choir director with the recent passing of Kevin Lemmons, who was also the founder of the Higher Calling chorale. A heartbroken Bishop Hezekiah Walker observed, “Kevin Lemons was one of the kindest, most humble artists that I know, even though his gift and talents were enormous. His love for God seasoned everything that he did, and his palpable love for people was an extension of that. Kevin Lemons was just a beautiful human being and he will be sorely missed”.

Pastors Recall Experiences with Racism for California’s “Stop the Hate” Campaign rowing up in the segregated south, Rev. Dr. J. Edgar Boyd of First AME Church (FAME) in Los Angeles vividly remembers the early Civil Rights era. He describes how the climate of racial hate he experienced in his youth was so pronounced that “even the poorest of white people thought they were the better of the most prosperous and well-intentioned black person.”

For Boyd this meant frequently hearing the malicious use of the “n-word”, being refused service in the marketplace, contending with racial discriminatory practices, among other incidents of hate.

“All whites—no matter who they were—their racial hatred was the thing of the day when it came to dealings with blacks,” said Rev. Boyd who was raised in a small town in Northern Florida. “That’s the matter we were dealing with back in the 1960’s and seventies and we’re still dealing with it now.”

The reality of such cruelty resonates with many African American pastors who lead flocks in Los Angeles and beyond. Several have echoed stories of living through pervasive injustice for no other reason than their complexion.

“My first memory of being treated unfairly because of the color of my skin was in elementary school,” recalls Pastor Terry Lovell Brown. “A big white fella chose to call me the n-word. He said it with such vitriol, anger and with such venom - it was like he was mad that I existed.”

Brown, who pastors both Liberty Baptist Church in Los Angeles and Judson Baptist Church in Carson, is a native of Houston, Texas. His story began with being born in what was labeled a ‘negro-only-hospital’. He goes on to tell that he attended a majority white student populated school as a child and the n-word incident made him feel like he “didn’t have a right to receive the same education” as his white peers. “That has been a lasting memory in my mind,” says Brown.

In the 2021 Hate Crime Report disseminated by the California Department of Justice, 597 anti-black or African American offenses were reported in California.

More that 40 percent of those were motivated by racial bias. The report also indicates some 300 anti-religion offenses in California were reported to law enforcement.

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While an undergraduate student at the University of California Irvine, Pastor Sonja R. Dawson of New Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church was standing at a bus stop when a car full of all white passengers yelled the n-word at her as they drove by. She considers herself very fortunate that the incident didn’t escalate to a physical altercation and result her faced with bodily harm.

“It was really devastating because I had never heard the n-word used toward me as a racial attack,” says Dawson, a Compton native. “It frightened me, I felt violated, and I felt threatened.” She goes on to reflect, “I went home and talked with my parents because could not understand how some people that I didn’t know could be so upset with me.”

As a former prosecutor for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office for twenty years, Dawson has represented several victims of all sorts of hate. Even as a pastor she has counseled parishioners who have experienced more vicious encounters than her own.

According to an LA Focus 2022 “Stop the Hate” survey, local community respondents indicated that in recent times they have been called “monkey”, “low class n-word”, and other racial slurs. Proving that racial bias and hate is still very prevalent.

An FBI hate crimes data document released in 2021, stated that racial, ethnic, or ancestry-related bias motivated more than 6 in 10 incidents of hate in America. Additionally, religious bias was recorded as the mo-

GERALD BELL Contributor

tivation for 13.3% of national hate crimes. Around 3% of the religious hate crimes included in the report took place in churches, synagogues, temples, or mosques.

“All faiths are under attack in America by radicals and extremists,” said Alon Stivi, a security consultant to religious venues and community centers. “Historically, sanctuaries have been vulnerable to violent attacks–from bombings at Black churches during the Civil Rights era to more recent shootings in the U.S.” Attacks on houses of worship and other public spaces have prompted many pastors to evaluate–some for the first time–if there is more that can be done to keep their flocks safe in church.

“Religious leaders who once preferred to leave security in the hands of the divine are taking precautions that seemed unthinkable years prior,” observes Stivi. He goes on to alert, “More congregants are carrying concealed handguns to services, too.”

The pastors recalled their experiences as part of a “Stop the Hate Campaign” in the wake of the rising hate crimes and incidents taking place around the country and the southland.

“All of us are God’s people and it is time for us to put down this hatred so that we can move and build a generation where we can have productive citizens in our community,” decries Rev. Dr. E. Wayne Gaddis, Sr. Pastor of The Greater True Light Church, and President of the Baptist Ministers’ Conference.

“As black people we had to walk with a shield on our back. We had to walk afraid simply because we have been called the n-word and we have been discriminated against,” Gaddis rails out. “When it comes down to discrimination there is no room for it.”

In the spirit of Black History month, Pastor Joshua Daniels of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in LA sites the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who said, “Hate cannot drive out hate only love can do that.”

“Jesus teaches us that we are to love one another,” continues Daniels, a Texas native who survived incidents of hate as a child. “The only way that we are going to be able to do that is we are going to have to show love to our brothers and sisters even those who don’t show love back towards us.”

Money Matters Calling Out Crypto Currency

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nce esteemed as the Black dollar’s cure for the wealth gap in America, cryptocurrency, with all its allure has many African American investors scrambling after suffering historic losses in 2022.

At the end of last year, Bitcoin dropped to its lowest level since July of 2021, bottoming out at $18,809. The digital currency lost more than 45 percent of its value, which marked its second largest decline since its emergence. Bloomberg reported that Bitcoin’s value had peaked at $65,000 in November of 2021.

Most popular cryptocurrency prices plummeted throughout 2022. One of the biggest meltdowns was crypto exchange giant FTX who declared bankruptcy and its billionaire founder, Sam Bankman, is now facing imprisonment for fraud. There was also the crash of the Luna crypto network, with an estimated $60 billion wipeout that reportedly shook the global digital currency market.

“Cryptocurrency has always been volatile,” says a Forbes economics expert. “But 2022 was a stomachchurning, roller-coaster ride for investors and major players in the market.”

According to a recent survey conducted by Harris Poll, twenty-three percent of African Americans own cryptocurrency, compared to 11% of white Americans and 17% of Hispanics. However, African Americans fall behind in educating themselves about bitcoin and the basics of financial literacy.

“Aside from the inherent risk involved with the crypto market, the subject itself can be convoluted and difficult to make sense of, let alone digested well enough to make financial decisions,” remarks Olayinka Odeniran, Founder and Chairwoman of Black Women Blockchain Council. “There's a lot of education that’s out there for individuals, but you’ve got to have the dedication of time to do that.”

Traditionally, people in Black and Brown communities are scammed and sold snake oil schemes to gain wealth and save money, leaving them unbanked.

GERALD BELL Contributor

On the Money Not Chasing Millions Anymore

And now, cryptocurrency scammers have found a way to take advantage of vulnerable people living in underserved conditions.

Lemuel Daniels, VP and Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley in Los Angeles has kept his clients away from cryptocurrencies. He admits to never having faith in the electronic market because no one could point to who was backing or insuring digital currency.

“The banking industry didn’t understand it at first,” says Daniels. “When they got into it, then it became a problem because cryptocurrency is not regulated.” Daniels advises new or low risk investors to put their money in dividend paying stocks with companies you either patronize or trust.

“Before you ever take a dime out of your pocket, you do your homework on it," says Damon John, founder of FUBU and costar of Shark Tank. "If you want to get into [the crypto] space, don't let other people tell you what the space is.”

If only John’s advice had reached Long Beach resident, Steve R. Harvey before he and some of his buddies put their hard-earned cash in bitcoin. “When I say we lost, we all lost big,” laments Harvey, 45, who makes a living as a touring and studio musician. “I learned the hard way…I jumped in because I had at least 10 to 15 friends who saw how it was trending. We made a little bit of money in the beginning. But in the end, everybody lost at least a couple thousand dollars.”

Financial experts advise that Bitcoin is a good savings technology when utilized from a long-term point of view. Meaning the average investor should not expect to get rich quick. “I think it’s a wealthy man’s game,” asserts Harvey. “When bitcoin loses millions and billions, [the rich] still have money and you and I are the ones at a loss.”

At press time, some surviving cryptocurrencies had reportedly begun to crawl out from under the nosedive they suffered in the last half of 2022. Still, analysts are insisting it’s way too early to reassume any level of confidence in crypto’s historically high volatility.

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book to catch up now. Then, make sure to turn into all of our new series premiering this year. From unscripted & scripted shows, to short films, sitcoms, and playlists, we’re keeping y’all entertained all year long, so keep it on KeyTV!”

munity and that they will be held accountable when they fail to do so.”

The complaint alleges that from 2017 through 2020, City National avoided providing mortgage lending services to majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in L.A. County and discouraged residents in these neighborhoods from obtaining mortgage loans.

As part of the settlement, City National Bank has agreed to Invest at least $29.5 million in a loan subsidy fund for residents of majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in L.A. County; at least $500,000 for advertising and outreach targeted toward the residents of these neighborhoods; at least $500,000 for a consumer financial education program to increase access to credit for residents; and at least $750,000 for the development of community partnerships to provide services that increase access to mortgage credit.

The bank will also open one new branch in a majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhood and evaluate future opportunities for expansion within Los Angeles County and has agreed to conduct a researchbased market study, to help identify the needs for financial services for majority-Black and Hispanic census tracts in L.A. County.

n 2021, Damar Hamlin signed a 4-year contract with the Buffalo Bills for $3.6 million with an average annual salary of $910,119, but the contract contained a standard split clause, which meant the Bills could pay him at a lower rate if he were to land on the Injured Reserve (IR) list.

After the cardiac arrest he suffered on the field last month, Hamlin was put on IR, but the team has worked out a deal that will pay him the full amount.

But thanks to the generosity of fans, viewers and folks around the globe, the goodwill did not start there.

In fact, the nonprofit Hamlin started in 2020 (Chasing M’s) to raise money for a toy drive with the goal of raising $2500, has–at last count–topped $9 million. Before the incident, the foundation had only raised $2900.

The foundation supports toy drives, kid’s camps, “Damar's community initiatives and his current fight”.

Chasing M’s (the “M” standing for millions) was not only the name of his foundation, but the name of a clothing brand Hamlin formed in 2017. Featured apparel included tracksuits, hoodies and t-shirts, all of which sold out following the Hamlin’s heart-stopping collapse, but have since been restocked.

In response to the outpouring of support, Hamlin's family announced the formal creation of “The Chasing M’s Foundation Charitable Fund. Established in partnership with The Giving Back Fund– an industryleading organization focused on philanthropic compliance and best practices–it will "facilitate the receipt, processing, and allocation of donations toDamar’s philanthropic programs as a 501(c)(3) verified nonprofit organization.

"When you put real love out into world it comes back to you 3x's as much," Hamlin wrote in a statement. "The love has been overwhelming.

I'm thankful for every single person that prayed for me and reached out. We (brought) the world back together behind this. If you know me, you know this only gonna make me stronger. On a long road, keep praying for me!"

Biz News Briefs Keke Palmer Introduces KeyTV

City National to Pay $31 Million to Impacted L.A. County Communities of Color After finding that City National Bank (City National) engaged in a pattern or practice of lending discrimination by “redlining” in Los Angeles County, the Justice Department is ordering the bank to $31 million in relief to those impacted individuals and communities.

The agreement represents the largest redlining settlement in its history.

“This settlement embodies Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s commitment to fighting economic injustice and ensuring that Black Americans and all communities of color are able to access the American dream and freely access the credit needed to purchase a home,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This settlement should send a strong message to the financial industry that we expect lenders to serve all members of the com-

L.A. Focus/February 2023

Keke Palmer is set two birth two babies this year. One, is her firstborn child due this spring. The other is her latest business venture, KeyTV. The new digital platform has been described as a streaming television network that showcases young creatives who might not have otherwise had an entry point into the industry, in addition to providing training tools for those creatives on how to get their projects off the ground.

“I told you we’re hitting the gas this year!!” she recently posted on Instagram. “So excited to unlock the door to the @keytvnetwork content universe with a look at some of our latest and upcoming series for the season!

You may recognize a few shows — and if you don’t, this is your sign to go on and head to our YouTube & Face-

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GameChanger Sydney Kamlager Goes to Washington

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L.A. Focus/February 2023

o say Sydney Kamlager-Dove is an overachiever is an understatement. In just the last eight years she has risen from district director for then Assemblywoman Holly Mitchell to Board of Trustees member for the Los Angeles Community College District to the California State Assembly representing the 54th district and on to the California Senate in 2021. Then in November, she beat out former L.A. City Councilwoman Jan Perry by nearly 30 percentage points to win the 37th Congressional District seat vacated by Karen Bass in her successful bid to become L.A.’s first female mayor.

Armed with a fierce passion to serve, keen political skillset and a disarming authenticity, Kamlager-Dove– who was urged by Bass to run for Congress–will now continue the former Congresswoman’s fight of criminal justice reform, health care equity, environmental protections, and affordable housing.

“Syndey Kamlager has the backbone we need in a Congresswoman,” Bass has said of Kamlager-Dove. “She will b o l d l y stand up to the attacks on voting rights across the nation, protect democr a c y a n d help unite o u r nation so we c a n

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move forward and address the crises we are facing.”

Top of her agenda is picking up where Bass left off with the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which was passed by the House of Representative but blocked by the Senate.

Raised to be unapologetically Black and vocal, Kamlager-Dove says, “It’s time for a new wave of leadership who can really speak truth to toxicity.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to represent a district that is diverse and legislate as a Black woman, a Black mother and also someone from Generation X,” adds Kamlager, whose newly redrawn district stretches from Inglewood to Westwood and includes Mid-City, Culver City, West Los Angeles, Ladera Heights, Baldwin Hills, Crenshaw, Exposition Park, and parts of South Los Angeles.

Given that she represented 93% of the 37th District while in the State Senate, she has the good fortune of serving a district that already knows her for the most part.

“My goal is, how do I make sure that the people in the 37th are safe and able to live with dignity and have shelter and feel like they’re able to live a life that is free and full of possibility?’

To that end, Kamlager-Dove will tap into the relationship she has built with Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge in an effort to help stimulate affordable housing construction, while ensuring that what they build is carbon neutral.

Said Kamlager-Dove, “We have an obligation to make sure we’re building what benefits humans and not buildings that have a lot of toxins in them. We also have to work together to offer other subsidies. Resources are becoming finite. The federal government has the opportunity to double down on these kinds of investments”.

More importantly is the desire on the part of the 49year old legislator to advocate for federal dollars to eradicate homelessness.

“It’s important to feel that we all have access to the American dream, and we all have the ability to determine our own future and successes. And whether it's protecting our democracy from continuous assaults, keeping people off the streets, making sure women have the right to choose or finding ways to have as many

people as possible achieve the American dream, the needs of everyday people continue to be my north star.”

Small businesses in the district can also expect a great deal of support from the rookie Congresswoman.

During her two years in the State Senate, KamlagerDove secured 10,143 grants for small businesses in her district and is excited about the chance to develop programs that connect entrepreneurs, innovators, and young professionals to companies and production houses. She is already thinking about focusing her staff on signature events that will elevate small business while also supporting young people and their entrepreneurship.

“Facilitating safe spaces for opportunities that are vetted,” Kamlager-Dove explains. “There’s a lot of stuff happening in the district. I want to let young people know that I want to use the platform I have to support them.”

Another key component in all she does is the faith community.

“I firmly believe that the faith-based community is an incredibly important player in how relationships are reset and fortified. I want them to see me as a partner and will want to trust me so that I can help deliver for them on behalf of the federal government,” states the married mother of two.

“I have a proven record which shows that I listen and lead with openness and I’m committed to the success of the district and I’m committed to economic justice. I’m committed to the idea that if you focus on economic equity, you will be addressing the many other social inequities that all of us are fighting against.”

Meanwhile, Kamlager-Doe has been named to serve on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs in the 118th Congress.

“It is an honor to serve on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Los Angeles is one of the most diverse cities in the country and many of my constituents have a heightened interest in our relationships with counties across the world,” Kamlager-Dove said. “Alongside my fellow Democrats, I’m focused on strengthening our global partnerships and restoring the U.S. as a champion for human rights across the world.”

ChurchNews Crenshaw Christian Center Launches Yearlong Jubilee Celebration; L.A. Episcopal Diocese Makes Huge Commitment on Homelessness would be paid for by CCC for Experience KOI Global to meet the needs of people.

Later this month (February 26), the church will welcome back beloved daughter of the ministry, Apostle Beverly “BAM” Crawford, of the Inglewood-based, Bible Enrichment Fellowship International Church as the next guest speaker.

Hers’ and all previous messages may be viewed on CCC’s Ever Increasing Faith Ministries YouTube channel and at faithdome.org.

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L.A. Focus/February 2023

he faith-rooted ministry and global beacon of hope, Crenshaw Christian Center, commemorates 50 years with an array of activities set to run through November 2023.

With the theme, “The Legacy of Faith Continues,” special guest speakers serve as apt reminders of how far the ministry–now under the leadership of Dr. Frederick K. Price– has come as it continues forward.

Sons of the ministry kicked off monthly convenings, with Apostle Michael Freeman of Spirit of Faith Christian Center in Temple Hills, Maryland as the November 27, 2022, speaker. In his heartfelt message, he encouraged everyone to stretch their faith each time they entered the Faith Dome – the house that faith built. He shared that Crenshaw Christian Center (CCC) Founder, Apostle Frederick K.C. Price, pushed the ministry of faith teaching more than others. So it was with rapt attention that he studied Apostle Price and applied the same biblical principles to being a husband, father, disciplined man of God, and built a ministry and several successful business ventures for community benefit. “I am all that I am because of Apostle Price and Dr. Betty,” Freeman said.

Next, CCC welcomed Dr. Casey Treat of Christian Faith Church in Seattle, Washington on December 18, 2022, who stated “Apostle Price taught me discipline – with my lifestyle, eating and other habits. He was precise, accurate, and had a plan.

January 15 of this year embraced homegrown son, Pastor Michael Amey of Experience KOI Global in Namibia, South Africa, who returned with a stirring message of faith digested, applied, and harvested.

“I learned so much from this ministry – how to worship, read the bible, study the bible and much more,” said Pastor Amey.

The knowledge has served him well as he had to swiftly adapt to cultural norms and a nation where 53% of the population is food insecure and 50% of citizens are under the age of 19. By faith, he confronts this as rich opportunities to spread the gospel and disciple others – applying what he learned from CCC. His message was a loving trip down memory lane of growing up under the admonition and training of faithful servants of the ministry – and the tension that exists between history and future.

In one of the highlights of the service, Pastor Price, shared that the 50-acre farm Pastor Amey referenced he was believing for during his message

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Bishop Michael Curry Visits L.A., L.A. Episcopal Diocese Makes Huge Commitment to L.A. on Homelessness On a recent visit to Los Angeles, Bishop Michael B. Curry‚ who brought the sermon at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and serves as the Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church–issued a call for churches to show love, compassion and justice to those less fortunate.

Curry recently spoke during an annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration at Christ The Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Leimert Park.

“Our churches must be places where children and young people can come after school and be safe and secure. Churches need to do that for senior citizens, churches need to play a part in the homeless situation, helping folks who have no homes, working together with community organizations to create affordable housing. That’s what Jesus was all about. He wasn’t crucified cause he was nice.

“When the church begins to engage the community and be a presence of love and justice and compassion- when that happens, the church comes alive,” Curry added. “It may not attract great throngs, but Jesus only had 12 and look what they did. I think if we mobilize the Black church, Hispanic church, historically White church — if we all mobilize what Jesus told us to do and actually do it, it will make a difference.”

In the meantime, L.A.’s Episcopal Diocese is doing its part.

“We want to build affordable housing and permanent supportive housing on 25% of our church campuses all over the region,” stated L.A. Bishop Diocesan John Harvey Taylor.

“Homelessness is a regional crisis,” Taylor continued. “We’re committed to building affordable, permanent supportive housing. Ten are under construction now. One more will break ground this summer and ten more are on the drawing board.

Locally, Dr. Jack Hayford, 88, who pastored Church on the Way in Van Nuys for 30 years and was a father in ministry to the likes of Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer and a friend to Apostle Beverly “Bam” Crawford and the late Apostle Fred Price, passed last month. According to the online newspaper Christianity Today, Dr. Hayford “. . . regularly led weeklong seminars for pastors that expanded and shaped evangelicals’ view of worship. By the early 1980s, The Church on the Way had become a pioneer of the megachurch movement and numbered among the largest churches in America.

Hayford also played a critical role in Faithful Central Bible Church acquiring the Forum.

Angela M. Evans of Crenshaw Christian Center characterized Pastor Hayford as “a giant in the Body of Christ and . . . a kind and gentle soul who graced this earth. He will be sorely missed. He made a tremendous contribution to the Body of Christ during his beautiful life.”

Agape Church of Los Angeles Worship Center: Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center 4305 Degnan Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008 Corprate Office: 4602 Crenshaw Blvd, Suite 2A, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 295-5571 www.agapela.org Bishop Craig A. Worsham, Founder & Senior Pastor Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Worship: 11:00am Loving, Lifting & Liberating Humanity Through The Word Bethesda Temple Apostolic Faith 4909 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 299-2591 • thevoice4904@att.net Pastor Kyron S. Shorter Sunday Morning Prayer: 9:00am Sunday School: 9:30am Morning Worship: 11:00am Children’s Church: 11:00am Sunday Evening Service: 6:00pm

Brookins-Kirkland Community AME Church 3719 West Slauson Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 296-5610 • www.bkcamechurchla.org Rev. Mary S. Minor, DMin,Pastor Sunday Church School: 8:00 AM and 11:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship: 9:00 AM (in-person and virtual) Thursday Bible Study with Pastor Minor (via Zoom): 6:00 PM Please call the church office for virtual information.

Bryant Temple AME Church 2525 W. Vernon Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90008 (323) 293-6201 • F: (323) 293-0082 Pastor Dwaine Jackson Sunday School: 8:15am Morning Worship: 9:15 am Bible Study (Tues): Noon Pastor’s Bible Study( Tues): 6:00pm

Calvary Baptist Church 4911 W. 59th Street,Los Angeles, CA,90056 (323)298-1605•F: (310) 568-8430 • calvarybaptistla.org Rev. Dr. Virgil V. Jones Sunday Prayer: 8:30am Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am Wednesday Bible Study: 12:00pm & 7:00pm We are the Church on the Hill where the Light Shines Bright!

Crenshaw Christian Center 7901 South Vermont, Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 758-3777 • F: (323)565-4231 • www.faithdome.org Dr. Frederick K. Price LiveWorship Service:Sun 10:30am,Tues 11:00am and 7:30pm at faithdome.org, Facebook, Roku, YouTube and the EIFM app (Download in Apple Store and Google Play)Website: faithdome.org Giving Options: Text to 28950, type EIFMO and amount you wish to give (ex.,EIFMO 50) or mail to: P.O. Box 90000, Los Angeles, CA 90009 Congregational Church of Christian Fellowship 2085 S. Hobart Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 Phone: (323) 731-8869 • F: (323) 731-0851 www.christianfellowshipla.org Pastor James K. McKnight Sunday LiveStream: 10:00am (facebook.com/christianfellowshipla) Sunday Conference Call: 10:00am (310-372-7549 / code: 342408) Tue/Thurs Morning Word & Prayer: 7:00am Wed. Bible Study w/ Elder Stephen Brown (701-802-5001 / code: 825252#

God’s Faithful Disciple of Jesus Christ/ Prayer Clinic & Deliverance Ministry P.O. Box 561368, Los Angeles, CA 90056 (323) 293-7566 • www.gfdjc.org •gfdjc@att.net Dr.Ruby I. Cottle, Ph.D., Pastor/Teacher Services every Friday: 7:00pm We meeet at: St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church 3901 W. Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, Ca 90018 Watch Dr. Cottle on HBN TV Wed’s 7:30am Channel 886 Dish,Smart TV Local Channel 35.2 Listen to Dr. Cottle Sundays on KJLH at 5:00am

Grant AME Church 10435 S. Central Avenue • Los Angeles, CA 90002 (323) 564-1151 • F: (323) 564-5027 Rev. Dr. Timothy O. Coston, Jr.

ONE LA Potter’s House Church 614 N. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036 (818) 763-4521 • hello@one.online Pastor Touré and Sarah Roberts The ONE Experience Online: Sundays: 7A |9A |11A |1P |6P Thursdays: 5P |8P (PST) @toureroberts @sarahjakesroberts @one.online ONE.ONLINE

Sunday School: 8am Worship: 9:30am Wed. Bible Study: 11:30am •6pm

Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church 5300 S. Denker Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90062 (323) 759-4996 Rev. DeNon Porter Early Worship: 8am Sunday School: 9:30am Mid-Morning Worship: 11am Radio-KALI 900AM: Sun. 11-Noon, 7-8pm KTYM 1460AM Sundays: 5:30pm Bible Study (Tues, Wed & Thurs): 7pm Holman United Methodist Church 3320 W. Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 703-5868 • www.holmanumc.com Email: holman@holmanumc.com Rev. Dr. Ken Walden, Senior Pastor Sunday Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Sunday Radio: KJLH 102.3FM at 11am Sunday School: 9:30am (Children/Youth) & 9:45am (Adults) Bible Study: Every Thursday @ Noon We Gather,Grow,Go and Live the Gospel of Jesus Christ McCarty Memorial Christian Church 4103 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 731-4131 • www.mccartychurch.org Senior Pastor Edward Anderson Sunday Worship: 10:45am Bible Study: Tues @12:30pm/Wed @6pm Zoom Call: (605) 472-5454 Access:188857 Online Stream Live: Sundays@10:45am to www.mccartychurch.org Give: Text 77977 Instagram@mccartyconnect Mount Moriah Baptist Church of Los Angeles, Inc. 4269 South Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90037 (323) 846-1950 •Fax: (323) 846-1964 Rev. Johnteris Tate-Pastor Sunday Church School: 8:30am (In-Person) Worship Service: 10:00am (In-Person) Tues. Refuel/Bible Study/Prayer: 12 Noon (Conference Call: (339) 207-7446) Baptist Training Union/Bible Study:7:30am (Conference Call: (339) 207-7446) Weekly Mission Assembly/Bible Study:7pm Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church 3669 W. 54th St. Los Angeles, CA 90043 • (323) 291-1121 F: (323) 291-1133 • office@sinai.church • www.sinai.church George E. Hurtt, Pastor-Teacher Sunday Worship: 8am,10am,Noon Tuesday Night in the Truth: 7:15pm Radio: KKLA 99.5 FM (Sun): 6:00pm All services stream live on our website, Facebook page and YouTube channel.

During the pandemic, pre-registration is requested to attend in-person services.

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church 1300 E. 50th Street Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 235-2103 • Rev. Joshua Daniels, Pastor Morning Worship: 10am (In Service and Online Live Stream Worship) Sunday School: 8:45am Wed. Bible Study: 7:00pm www.mtzionla.org New Antioch Church of God in Christ 7826 So. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 778-7965 • www.newantiochcogic.org Superintendent Jeffrey M. Lewis Sunday Early Worship: 8am Sunday Morning Worship: 11am Sunday School: 9:30am Tuesday Bible Study: 11am Wednesday In The Word: 7pm All services streamed: Facebook and YouTube @New Antioch Church of God In Christ

FIRST LADY FILES

KAREN A. BROWN Contributor

Teresa Campbell

I

The Secret Place

’m going to be a Solid Gold dancer,” little Teresa Campbell told her childhood pastor when asked what she wanted to be when she grows up. Little did she know that center stage God would usher her onto would be in church as First Lady of the Secret Place Church, a fellowship she and her husband, Pastor Troy Campbell, planted over 10 years ago.

“We were just going to start a prayer group for parents,” said Campbell. Cnsequently they started a church.

“I’m grateful for the Secret Place ministry because I can share openly and be transparent,” said Campbell about the authentic platform that she and her husband established.

Lady Teresa and Pastor Troy met as lay leaders serving at the same church. After a short courtship, they were married in December 2002 and just recently celebrated 20 years of marriage.

“He’s my best friend. He’s phenomenal,” she says Originally from South Carolina, Campbell was raised with her parents who regularly attended church.

“The church was really the pillar in our community,” Campbell recalls. “I went to Girl Scouts at church. We had pageants at church. The church– along with theatre–kept me off of the streets.”

Teresa would later move to New York to fulfill her dream of becoming a performer, but instead found her way to Los Angeles and now spends her time ministering and encouraging the people of God that have been assigned to the Secret Place. She is the leader of the W.H.O.L.E. Women Ministry Project, the owner of the First Class Lady Boutique, co-laborer with her husband and a mother to their only son.

Her response to balancing life is “I don’t separate it, I categorize it.”

Park Windsor Baptist Church 1842 W. 108th St. Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 756-3966 • RevTerrellTaylor@sbcglobal.net Rev. Terrell Taylor Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Bible Study Wednesday: Noon & 7:00pm Communion: 1st Sunday at 8:00am & 11:00am

Phillips Temple CME Church 973 East 43rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 233-4783 Rev. Dr. Darrell Wesley, Pastor Sunday Worship: 10am Bible Study: Wednesdays at Noon Online: Facebook.com/ PhillipsTempleCME.LosAngeles

St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church 5017 S. Compton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 231-1040 • stmarkmbcofla.org Reverend Dr. Lovely Haynes, Pastor Sunday Worship: 8:30am Sunday classes follow morning service Tues Eve Family Prayer Line: 6:30pm Wednesday Noon: Hour of Power Prayer line Wednesday Bible Study: 6:00pm (Zoom & Facebook) Sunday Exposition of Sunday School Lesson:10am Trinity Baptist Church 2040 W. Jefferson Blvd., L.A., CA 90018 • (323) 735-0044 F: (323) 735-0219• trinitybaptistchurchofla.org Rev. Alvin Tunstill, Jr Sunday Worship Services: 10:30am YouTube: tv.trinitybaptist.cloud Sunday Radio Broadcast KJLH-FM: 9am Wed. Night Virtual Bible Study: 7pm (Meeting ID: 480-271-5449.

Or call 1-699-900-6833; give zoom ID Sign-in at 6:55pmrchofla.org

Weller Street Baptist Church 129 S. Gless St, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (323) 261-0949 • F: (323)264-6601 • www.wellerstreetlive.com Pastor K.W. Tulloss Sunday School: 8:00am Sunday Morning Worship: 9:00am Tues. Bible Study: 6:45pm www.wellerstreetlive.com

West Angeles Church of God In Christ 3600 W. Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016 (323) 733-8300 • www.westa.org Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:30pm Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr., Senior Pastor Charles E. Blake II Co-Pastor Sunday Service: 10:00am Sunday Radio Broadcast: KJLH 102.3 FM: 10:00am

In Compton Citizens of Zion Missionary Baptist Church 12930 No. Lime Ave., Compton, CA 90221 (310) 638-0536 • F: (323) 636-2080 • www.citizensofzion.org Rev. Bobby Newman, Jr., Senior Pastor; Rev. B.T. Newman, Pastor (Pastor Emeritus) Service Time: 10:45 Virtual Worship: Youtube Greater Zion Church Family 2408 North Wilmington Avenue, Compton, CA 90222 (310) 639-5535 • (Tues - Thurs 10am -4pm) Dr. Michael J. Fisher, Senior Pastor Sunday Worship: 9:00am Online Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00pm FB: GreaterZionChurchFamily IG: GZCFamily www.gzcfamily.com

Holy Chapel Missionary Baptist Church 1016 E. Rosecrans Avenue, Compton, CA 90220 (310) 537-3149 • www.holychapelbc.com Rev. Dr. George L. Thomas Morning Worship: 8:00am Sunday School: 10:30am Wed. Mid-Week Bible Study: 7:00pm Sun. New Members’ Class: 10:45am Communion/1st Sunday: 8:00am Broadcast KALI 900AM - Sun:2-3:00pm Love and Unity Christian Fellowship 1840 S. Wilmington Ave, Compton 90220 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5449, Compton, CA 90224 Apostle Ronald C. Hill Sr., Founder/Pastor Live Stream Sunday Worship:10am/6:30pm Live Stream Bible Studies: Wed 7:30am & 9:00am Live Stream Prayer w /Apostle Hill: Fri: 9am Food For Your Soul TV Ministry Impact TV Network: Mon-Fri PST 6:30am The Word Network Fridays @ 12:30pm

Pastor Profile: John-Paul Foster Church: Faithful Central Bible Church How Long at church: Seven years in ministry Hometown: London, England Family: Married to wife Karmen, two children When did you receive your call to ministry?

I didn't grow up in church, but when I was around 16 years old, I gave my life to Christ. I wrestled with it for a while because I needed to know that God was real. I believed he was real, but I’d been approached by Islam, Muslims, Mormons, you name it, and I just didn't feel God was there. Finally while playing basketball one day, I got invited to church. I didn't really want to go. I prayed the night before and said, ‘God, I'm going to go to church tomorrow. If I don't find you, then I'm done looking.’ I went to church the next day and my whole life was changed.

What happened that day in church that changed your life?

The people were overwhelmingly loving and kind and the way the pastor shared the message, I felt what I know now was the Holy Spirit. I didn't know anything about the gifts of the spirit, but they were evident when I decided to receive Christ.

I was wrestling with what to do because I wanted to be a surgeon, but I just really felt God pulling me towards ministry and I didn't know what that looked like. So, I started praying and a friend of mine said, ‘Have you ever heard of this school called Biola?’

I ended up going on a tour of the school. I was going to a dorm named Hope and these two ladies walked by as they were going to their dorm room and one of them came back in tears saying, ‘Listen, God told me to tell you that this is going to be the foundation of your ministry and he's going to use you to touch lives around the world.’

So, I ended up attending Biola and it was incredible how much I learned and grew. From there I went to Talbot (School of Theology) and ended up going to Christ Second Baptist Church in Long Beach with Pastor Welton Pleasant. He really helped me go from theology to practice. He told me that God is going to use me to prepare you for where you're going to go next. I never knew that it was going to be Faithful Central, but here I am.

How did you get to Faithful Central?

The Young Adult Ministry pastor resigned and someone reached out to me about speaking one day because they didn't have a speaker. I went to speak that day and they asked me if I could come back. Somehow, it got back to Bishop and he wanted to meet me. That's where everything changed.

L.A. Focus/February 2023

Why do you think you were the right fit for Faithful Central or more to the point, what do you believe Bishop Ulmer saw in you?

Bishop told me he saw humility and commitment to God's word. He said he was watching me when I didn't know he was watching me and those are some of the things that really stood out to him. I think he also saw my loyalty, the fear I have for God and what is similar is my faithfulness to people and God's word. I don't

24

bend when it comes to God's word and that's one thing I know about Bishop–he's going to stand on the truth of God's word.

Also, the church is trying to reach that next generation and I have insight into how this generation communicates, how they see the Christian faith, the struggles they have in the world, the things that they're struggling with to understand.

What has been most helpful in preparing you for this role?

The bishop has described our bond like God knitted us together in the spirit. I call him pops and I get to talk to him every day. If I'm going through something, I can reach out to him. I'm blessed that I have that. Also I think my academics journey has helped and I also believe the opportunity to teach at the university level has shown me a lot.

Was there anything you needed to change?

Yes, the rhythm of how I do life because I'm a professor, I'm a husband, a father, a pastor and a friend. I have now been recalibrating my life to have a rhythm that's balanced and will allow me to do all these things well.

I know a lot of people who go into ministry and end up losing their families over it. I have two young children.

They mean the world to me, and this year I will be married for 14 years, that means everything to me.

What are you best at?

My spiritual gifts are teaching, leadership, and discernment. Those three things are evident in how I do ministry all the time.

How will Faithful Central change or evolve under your leadership?

We're a church that wants to build champions, which I absolutely love, but the method in which we do that can change. We just live in a different age where we have the younger generation receiving information at a different way so those methods will have to change.

What do you see that could present a challenge?

There's a challenge that faces every church and Christian organization. We're coming out of COVID and people's rhythms have changed. The body of Christ has gone through a lot the last two or three years politically, racially, and a lot of these things have impacted how this generation and the younger generation view the church. So, I think there has to be some healing, reconciliation and some truth that is revealed and spoken in order for them to grasp what Christianity actually is.

There are economic challenges because people are still trying to get their feet under them coming out of COVID. You just have to be aware of those things and committed to the vision and mission of the church. The church also has to have a voice. We have to be involved in the community and deal with the real issues people are facing in life. The theology has to match what people are experiencing existentially.

How in style will you differ from Kenneth Ulmer?

We have like a 40 something year age gap and I'm able to speak the language of this generation. I know what the issues that the generation here now and that's coming up with facing. And the way I communicate the word. We're both teaching preachers, but we're different in how we do it.

What is the most important thing you learned from Kenneth Ulmer?

There’s so much, but the thing that continues to ring in my ears is to steward the favor of God. I know I'm not where I am because I'm the most talented person on earth, but I have received God's favor and I want to be able to steward that favor. Am I qualified? Yes, but there are other people just as qualified. That God has allowed me to step in as a senior pastor at Faithful Central, I don't take lightly. I don't feel like I've arrived. I didn't come to Faithful Central seven years ago to be the senior pastor. I came because of God called me.

What was your reaction when Bishop Ulmer said he wanted you to take over the church?

I was shocked because I know he knows men and women across the nation and could literally pick just about anyone he wanted to. So, it was probably one of

The City of Refuge 14527 S. San Pedro St, Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 516-1433 Bishop Noel Jones

In Gardena

Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Evening Worship: 6:00pm Bible Study (Wed): Noon & 7:00pm BET/Fresh Oil (Wed): 7:00am

The Liberty Church 4725 S. Gramercy Place, Gardena, CA 90249 (310) 715-8400 Pastor David W. Cross Morning Worship/Livestream:10:00 am Hispanic Ministry Worship/Livestream:12Noon Word Power Wednesday/Livestream: 7:00pm The CROSSWORD with Pastor Cross: YouTube

Atherton Baptist Church In 2627 W. 116th Street Hawthorne,CA 90250 (323) 757-3113 • www.athertonbc.org F: 323-757-8772 • athertonbaptist@sbcglobal.net Pastor Larry Weaver

Hawthorne

Sunday Morning Worship: 8:00 & 11:00 am Sunday Bible Enrichment Class: 9:45am Mon.-Thurs. Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday Bible Study: 12:30pm & 7:00pm

Bible Enrichment Fellowship International In Inglewood 400 E. Kelso, Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-4700 • www.bamcm.org Dr. Beverly “BAM” Crawford Morning Worship: 9:30am Tues. Bible Study: 7:30pm Wed. Mid-Week Prayer: 5am, Noon & 7:00pm Wednesday Pathway: 7:00pm Thurs Bible Study: 10:00am Sat Marriage & Family Prayer: 7:30am

Blessed Family Covenant Church 325 North Hillcrest Blvd, Inglewood, CA, 90301 (310)-674-0303 • F: (310)-674-0303 Pastor Wendy Howlett Sunday Morning Worship & Word: 9:30am Wednesday Prayer & Bible Study: 7:00pm View Sunday Worship: www.youtube.com (Under Blessed Family Covenant Church) www.blessedfamilycovenant.org Center of Hope LA 9550 Crenshaw Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90305 #centerofhope•#cohla•Info@GO2HOPE.com Give: Text COHLA to (833) 246-7144 Pastor Geremy L. Dixon Service Times: 8:00am & 10:00am Watch Via: Facebook|YouTube|Live Stream Closer To People...Closer To God! www.GO2Hope.com

Faithful Central Bible Church 333 W. Florence Ave. Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-8000 • F: (310) 330-8035 Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, Ph.D. Senior Pastor/Teacher Sunday Services: 7:00 am & 9:30am Wed. Mid-Week Service: 7:00pm The Tabernacle is located at 321 N. Eucalyptus Ave., Inglewood www.faithfulcentral.com Jacob’s Ladder Community Fellowship, inc.

1152 E. Hyde Park Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90302 (866) 330-1702 • F: (310) 674-0760 Watchman/Shepherd Dr. Robert T. Douglas Sr. Sunday Fresh Start & Prayer 9:00am Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Services: 11:45am Evening Service: 7:00pm Wed. Lock & Load Prayer: 7:00pm Wed. Bible Study: 7:30pm 3rd Friday Youth Night: 7:30pm www.jacobladderschurch.com

From the Pulpit: West Angeles COGIC “A Season of Miracles ”

S

ome folk–when they talk about the Bible– they speak of it in past tense. There was the day of the flood, the day of the Exodus, and they sort of make it a day when God worked miracles as if to say that He can't do that any-

more.

I have always believed that there was never a day of miracles, but rather a God of miracles.

The wisdom of Solomon speaks to us from Ecclesiastes 3:1, and he says, ‘To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

It is not that we do not have faith. It is that we have faith on our calendar. And when God does not perform the miracle when we think it ought to be performed, we release God from doing it as if He needs us in order to give Him permission to be God. What we have to do is get off of our calendar and get on His. In other words, our faith has to continue through the wait.

So often, we try to help God out with our religious speech by saying things like, well, I guess God didn't want to do it. So, Lord if you don't do it, it is okay.

No. Don't let God off the hook because God is not a man that He should lie. Has He not said it, shall He not do it. Has He not spoken it, shall He not make it good.

Whatever He promised you, He's good for it no matter how long it takes.

You have to keep the same faith and the same expectancy. When folk tell you it is over, throw in the towel, you have to say, no, I'm still waiting on God. I'm still believing God. It's kind of like Hannah. Hannah wanted a child and Hannah couldn't have a child. And I think the most disturbing part of that whole story is in the verse where it says, “And her adversary provoked her sore because the Lord had shut up her wound.”

It's amazing that Jesus has given us power over all the works of the devil, but when we pray and things don't happen, we blame the devil. Maybe it's not the devil. Maybe it's God holding it up.

Well, preacher, why would God hold it up? I'm glad you asked. He would hold it up because He has to wait to get your attitude right. Some of us can't handle what God wants to give us.

He has to prepare you for where you're going.

Hannah would go to the prayer meeting and everyo n e would know what Hannah was praying for year after year until one day h e r h u s b a n d Marvin Winans True Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 7901 South Van Ness Ave. Inglewood, CA 90305 (323) 750-7304 Rev. James A. Perkins Sunday School: 9:30am Early Worship: 8am Morning Worship: 10:45am Bible Adventure Hour (Tues): 6pm Bible Study (Tues): 7pm Bible Study (Thurs): Noon

In Long Beach

Online Services Stream live: Sun 10:00am at antiochlb.com Give: text antiochib to 77977 Social Media: facebook.com/antiochlb instagram.com/antiochlb youtube.com/antiochlongbeach

Christ Second Baptist Church 1471 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 599-3421 • Fax: (562) 599-6175 • www.csbclb.org Rev. Welton Pleasant II, Senior Pastor Sunday School: 8:30am Sunday Worship Service: 9:40am Wed. Bible Study: 7:00pm Wed Youth & Young Adult Ministry: 7pm

Grant AME Church of Long Beach 1129 Alamitos Av. Long Beach, CA 90813 • (562) 437-1567 grantamelb@aol.com Rev. Dr. Michael W. Eagle, Sr. Sunday Worship: 10:45am Wednesday Food Bank: 9:00am-Noon Mothers of Murdered Youth/Children: Thurs by Appt.; (B.U.S) Blankets, Underwear, Shoes: Thursdays Facebook Live•YouTube•Free Conf Call

with God all things are possible. In other words, it's not too late.

My grandmama used to sing a song ‘Just keep on praying for the Lord is nye. Just keep on praying. He'll hear your cry. For the Lord, his promise and His word is true, just keep on praying, He'll answer you.’

Just keep getting up telling God, I know you're going to do it.

And not only am I praying for me, but I'm praying for my sister and my brother. I'm praying that God would work a miracle for them because the enemy will make you jealous of your brother and your sister and have you saying, ‘I don't know why God’s blessing them and he hasn't given me what I want’. But just keep on praying.

God has something bigger and greater.

Throw your head back and say, God, I expect a miracle in this season. Not a random miracle, but something I've been praying for. I want you to bring my daughter home, bring my son home, save my family. Deliver my kin fork.

Give me the job you said you would. Give me the prosperity you promised.

God has ordained this season to be a season of miracles…a season for God to break through barriers. I don't have to accept what the enemy says.

What I’ve discovered is that folk will come to church for various reasons. Some don't necessarily come with expectation and you can fill the house with what I call miracle blockers. They're not going to get nothing and they block you.

Mark 2 tells the story of four friends who came to the house. One was a paraplegic laying on the couch and they had a deal. We’ll carry you to Jesus, they said, but you walk back. That was the deal. The presence of the Lord was there to heal, but when they got to the house [where Jesus was], they couldn't get in the front door.

They went to the windows and couldn't even climb through the windows.

But they didn't say, ‘Well, we tried. Maybe we can catch Him in the next city.’ No, the deal was we carry you here, but you walk back.

Then one of them did what all of our faiths should do.

They looked up. There was no crowd on the roof. So, without permission they said, we'll work that little detail out later. They carried that man up to the roof and started tearing the roof off.

That's what your faith ought to do today. Start tearing the roof off. And when they lowered that man down through the roof, Jesus was sitting in the middle of the room. He looked up and the Bible says, ‘And seeing their faith, Jesus turned to the helpless man and said, ‘Arise, take up your bed and return to your own house.’

When you move in the direction of your faith, it manifests that you believe God. I pray that this word has fallen on fertile soil, that it should bring forth fruit that should remain. This is our season for the miraculous. It's happening right now.

Walking In The Spirit Ministries In Double Tree (Sonoma Grill) 12623 Norwalk Blvd, Norwalk CA 90650 (213) 248-6343 P.O Box 1597 Norwalk CA,90651 Tim & Leshia Brooks

Norwalk

Morning Worship: 11:00am Services Held Every 2nd & 4th Sunday and Free Breakfast Is Served Bible Study: 8:30am (Every 5th Friday)

Call 310.677.6011 Ask for Kisha

L.A. Focus/February 2023

Antioch Church of Long Beach 350 Pine Ave. ,Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 591-8778 •www.antiochlb.com Senior Pastor Wayne Chaney, Jr.

stopped and said, “Baby, why don't you stop praying that prayer?’ (I'm paraphrasing). I'm better to you than 10 sons?’

She said, ‘Honey, I know you are a good man, but you're just not the answer to my prayer. And if God did it for Sarah, I'm not as old as Sarah. She was 100’.

In Luke 1:18, upon an angel telling him that his wife is about to give birth, Zacharias says, ‘Lord, how you going to do it, because I'm old and my wife is well stricken in years?’ But what I love about what God does is that He says she's going to bear the child and everyone that knows you will know that it was God that did it. It's not going to be physically possible for you to say you had anything to do with it. The only way Elizabeth is going to have a child, it's going to have to be a miracle.

That's what I'm trying to promote this morning that God is a miracle worker. I know God is able because He's the same yesterday, today and forever.

A few years ago, I changed the way I prayed. I used to think I had to earn the favor of God. So, evaluating all the mistakes I’d made, I would try to base my prayer on what I deserved or what I felt God owed me until one day the Holy Spirit hit me upside the head and said stop praying that [way] because you deserve hell. So, I changed and started praying for what I didn't deserve.

We know God can, but doubt comes in when we try to figure out if He will. I've come to tell somebody that today is your first day of your season of the miraculous.

So, start praying for those things that folks said you can't have…those things that people said time has passed you by.

I John, 5:14 teaches this, “And having this confidence that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if He hears us, then we know that we will have whatever petition that we have made of God.” The key is did He hear me? If God heard you, then you qualify. And because with God, nothing shall be impossible, I can now take the limit off of God because I'm no longer praying for what I deserve, but I'm praying based upon God’s ability. And if He's able to create a world in six days and the world is still here…

Remember in the ninth chapter of John, Jesus was on His way and they saw a blind man and the disciples asked Jesus, ‘Who sinned–this man or his parents?’

And Jesus said, ‘Neither one.’

We associate misfortune with sin. We feel as if something has to be wrong with the individual in order for wrong to happen to them. Jesus said neither this man nor his parents sinned. The reason the man’s sight was taken at birth was because of the hour where Jesus would heal the man. The man might have been around 40 years old, but God doesn't have a problem waiting 40 years to give you your miracle.

I'm talking to somebody that has faith with some gray whispers on it. Don't you dare stop praying now. Don't you let some religious person talk you out of the miracle God’s been waiting to give you during this season for

27

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Chef Spotlight

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Love continued from page 8

facts, police are immune from being sued.

Unions protect policemen with a track record of infractions, and then qualified immunity protection allows them to go out and do it again.

This is the most important technical reform that can improve police behavior.

But we must remember, good men will produce good results even in a bad system. But bad men, even in the most perfectly designed system, will produce bad results.

Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and host of the weekly television show "Cure America with Star Parker." To find out more, visit www.creators.com.

Elder continued from page 8

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Pulpit continued from page 19

the most humbling moments of my entire life, but it also resonated with me and I believe this is exactly what God wanted.

To those who’ll say you’re no Kenneth Ulmer or ‘let’s see if he can fill the shoes of Kenneth Ulmer’, what do you say?

That's okay. I know I'm not Bishop Kenneth Ulmer and I'm comfortable with that because I know who I am. For the last four decades, God has filled his shoes and I'm trusting God to fill mine.

What do you believe are the unique challenges for the Black church and specifically your generation of preachers?

Some of them are political, some of them are racial and some cultural. We have a generation that’s spiritual and they're seeking, but they also have a lot of questions. They can see right through fluff and they want to know what's real and the truth and if you can't adequately describe those, teach those, or answer those, they won't take you seriously. The preachers of this age are going to have to be able to know how to engage from a biblical and theological perspective the issues and the culture the black church is facing.

So, then churches have become less social and more practical for people?

Yes. I'm trying to grow a person holistically– every aspect of their life. I'm trying to reach the whole person.

What is your biggest strength?

My absolute biggest strength is my faith in God. I'm going to commit to God no matter what the situation is, no matter what the opposition is. If God said it and His word says it, that's what I'm going with no matter what.

L.A. Focus/February 2023

blacks constitute around 60 percent of all robbery and murders defendants, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics." She notes: "African Americans between the ages of 10 and 34 die from homicide at 13 times the rate of white Americans, according to researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Justice Department." Almost always the young black male's murderer is a young black male.

This explains the "disproportionate" police interaction with blacks. Last weekend in Chicago alone, 30 people were shot, seven fatally. Baltimore and St. Louis have homicide rates three times greater than that of Chicago.

Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk-show host. To find out more about Larry Elder, or become an "Elderado," visit www.LarryElder.com.

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L.A. Focus/February 2023

he sixth and final season of Snowfall will premiere on Wednesday, February 22. The end of the critically acclaimed FX Network hit–that tells the origins of the crack cocaine epidemic in Los Angeles during the early 80’s will mark the beginning of a new chapter for actress Angela Lewis–one of crime drama’s breakout stars.

Lewis who debuted in the role of Aunt Louie with the launch of the show in 2017 has become a fan favorite of the top-rated network series that has titillated an average 4 million viewers with its heart-stopping drama for the last five seasons.

Its final season promises more of the same with the walls caving in on everyone, including Lewis’ character as Franklin (Damson Idris) is desperate and forced to rob his Aunt Louie and Uncle Jerome (Amin Joseph) after being wiped out by former CIA officer Teddy McDonald (Carter Hudson). Meanwhile, Louie has taken over Franklin’s role as Teddy’s sole buyer, undercutting her nephew and creating a competing empire in the process.

The evolution of her character from loving, protective and supportive aunt into villainess Queenpin hasn’t set well with all of her fans, but the powerful portrayal has been an adept platform for Lewis to showcase her acting chops.

“I think I lost a few people when I became the villain.

But what I love about

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Angela Lewis You hear people talk about how hard it is to navigate in this industry when you see it on paper.

It’s an impossible thing that we’re doing. I just try to show up every day as my best self, knowing that impossible is just a word.

“

Louie being the villain is that she’s not just mean or evil, she has a point,” says Lewis, who is as focused offscreen as she is on.

“Louie is fearless. She lives in her power”, Lewis adds. “What I knew was that it was important to FX and the executives of ‘Snowfall’ that Louie be smart, and I think over the years we’ve really leaned into that. She’s taught me in my own personal life how to step into and live in my own power, how to say what it is that I want, how to say what I don’t want, how to articulate the vision that I have for myself.”

It is a vision that was birthed growing up in Detroit and fostered at Cass Technical High School and the University of Michigan. After graduating from University of Michigan’s theater department, the East Detroit native moved to New York to be on stage-- where she would spend 13 years wading into the depths of modern off-Broadway original productions.

“I really felt like I was standing at the brink of American theater there,” recalls Lewis of her time in New York.

“My favorite part of theater is the rehearsal process. It's the time where everybody's hearts are wide open, and everybody comes to the table to work and explore. From the actors to the director, to even the writers, everybody is trying to find the best way to tell this story.

“In the rehearsal process, you're trying new things. Nothing is set in stone. Everything is fresh, new, scary and exciting. You're creating this world,” says Lewis. “Granted, the audience absolutely brings that last element to reenergize the process, because you can only edit so long.”

Lewis worked on original plays by up-and-coming playwrights such as Dominique Morisseau (The Detroit Projects), Katori Hall (The Mountaintop), and Tarell Alvin McCraney who would go on to write the “Best Picture” winning film, Moonlight.

It was working on one of these original productions outside of New York, during a run at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, California, where Angela met the love of her life, fellow actor Jamal Mallory McCree (Quantico, Homeland). Upon falling in love with the sunshine and natural beauty of Southern California, the couple made it their plan to

move out to Los Angeles after their marriage.

After scoring appearances on T.V. shows such as “The Good Wife” and “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”, Angela Lewis finally got her big break as a series regular on Snowfall created by John Singleton (Boyz N The Hood, Hustle & Flow).

The role is fresh ground for the multi-talented and artistically adventurous Lewis, which is something she doesn’t shy away from.

“I definitely have never played a drug dealer before,” says Lewis of her hot-tempered character. “I've played women having a hard time in life from urban areas and things like that, but Louie is by far the most hardcore person I've ever played.”

Snowfall may have initially been a new space for Angela Lewis artistically, the career actress told L.A. Focus that being uncomfortable and diving into the creative process is not only part of the job she enjoys, but it’s where she thrives.

In following her dreams, it’s been faith that has anchored her and filled her heart and mind with reassurance.

“About three-quarters into my time in New York, I realized faith is in action word,” Lewis said. “It’s easy to say, but if you don’t believe that everything is going to work out when things aren’t working out, do you really have faith?

“When I learned this, it's not that I stopped having challenges, but my life became so much easier-- the understanding that God has always had me. I am supported by life itself. Life is for me, just like life is for you. When that became clear, it really helped to make my path easier,” says Lewis who is a regular at Agape International Spiritual Center and takes inspiration from the work of Reverend Michael Beckwith.

“I practice prayer and meditation. There's nothing like taking time to get quiet and to observe the understanding that I am not my thoughts. Everyone has a billion and one thoughts per day-- I might think bad thoughts or sad thoughts or they might even be exciting thoughts, but they do not define me.

“Feeling my connections to all of that there is, is just one of the most beautiful experiences I've ever been exposed to-- and so, I try to be in that space all the time.”

While she is sad to say goodbye to Snowfall and the relationships she has built, Lewis–now pregnant with her second child–is excited about what is to come.

“I hear the saying, ‘you are your ancestors’ wildest imaginations,’ and I can really relate,” she says. “You hear people talk about how hard it is to navigate in this industry when you see it on paper. It’s an impossible thing that we’re doing. I just try to show up every day as my best self, knowing that impossible is just a word.”