Minute for Mission: Stewardship Commitment
When Liberation Community Church (LCC) was chartered in 1998 as a ministry witness among the poor in Memphis, Tennessee, it became the first new African American Presbyterian Church in the Presbytery of Memphis in forty-six years. In 1999, the ministry received the PC(USA)’s prestigious Sam and Helen R. Walton Award, given to new church developments working in creative ways to bring the gospel to their communities.
The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II, the founding pastor, led LCC to chartering as a ministry that invites the poor into membership with the PC(USA). Dr. Nelson stated, “Poor children represent the poverty that exists among whole families. Therefore, we felt called to build a faith community among the poorest and least powerful of God’s people. This is the witness of the Jesus we read about in the Bible.”
The establishment of the Basics Learning Center (BLC), Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, implements LCC’s commitment to ministry with children. Two programs highlight the year-round programs of BLC. Project REACH, an after-school enrichment program, assists children with school assignments. Program leaders maintain close contact with parents and school officials so that communal teaching and partnership are accentuated in the learning process. POWER Summer is a physically, socially, culturally, and educationally enriching eight-week camp. Children are exposed to Bible study, financial management, and personal development skills daily. Both programs are funded by a nominal tuition based on a sliding income scale.
In 2009, BLC hosts a ten-year celebration of the establishment of the Gayraud S. Wilmore Community House and Lee Wilmore Technology Center. Established in 1999 to celebrate the accomplishments of an African American Presbyterian theologian and an artist, respectively, the program lifts up the hope that these two liberators provided for future generations.
—The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II, pastor, Liberation Community Church, Memphis, Tennessee
Dear God, your love and mercy are great. Remind us to do all we can to enable each of your precious children to reach his or her full potential. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Ruth 3:1–5; 4:13–17
O Perfect Love
PH 533
Ps. 127
Unless the Lord the House Shall Build
PH 238
Heb. 9:24–28
Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken
PH 446, HB 434, WB 379
Mark 12:38–44
Take My Life
PH 391, HB 310
Daily Lectionary
Ps. 19, 150 Ps. 81, 113
Ezra 10:1–17 or Neh. 1:1–11
Acts 24:10–21; Luke 14:12–24 |
