By Marnita Coleman, Special to the AFRO Today’s older class has a “new attitude” about retiring and living a life of leisure. Abandoning the once-anticipated perspective of disengaging from social roles after retirement, senior citizens are embracing a new phase of positive aging. The senior citizens of today are directing the latter episodes of their […]
Author Archives: Marnita Coleman Special to the AFRO
Posted in#FaithWorks
#Faithworks: the iconic role and evolution of church mothers
By Marnita Coleman, Special to the AFRO In some African American churches, the time-honored tradition of “church mothers” is still vibrant. For generations, pastors and congregants have cherished these devout women for their wisdom, faith, and dedication. Church mothers serve in a variety of roles across a broad spectrum. Faithful to the call, they give […]
Posted in#FaithWorks
#Faithworks: Southern Baptist Convention ousts six churches including St. Timothy’s Christian Baptist in Baltimore
By Marnita Coleman, Special to the AFRO The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, conducted spring cleaning a bit early this year by voting out five member churches with women in pastoral positions. A sixth SBC church was ousted for alleged clergy sexual abuse. Although each congregation is self-governing, the SBC’s guidelines […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Remembering Louis Sylvester Diggs, the Baltimore County historian
By Marnita Coleman, Special to the AFRO Dubbed the “premier historian of Baltimore County,” the late Louis S. Diggs’ legacy consists of 13 books and an honorary membership to the Historical Society of Baltimore County. Diggs is founder of the Black Writers’ Guild of Maryland and founder of the Diggs-Johnson Museum in Woodstock, Md. In […]
Posted inReligion
A time to grow: how to rekindle your faith during hard times
By Marnita Coleman, Special to the AFRO Can’t seem to get your spiritual oomph back? Have you been too busy to pray or too tired to read your Bible? Has COVID-19 given you the perfect excuse to stay in virtual mode? If you have created the habit of casual Christianity–just going through the motions with […]
Posted inBaltimore News
City of Abraham Church and Ministries offers GED program to students in Baltimore
By Marnita Coleman, Special to the AFRO The North Avenue Learning Initiative, a program run by City of Abraham Church and Ministries (COACM) is searching for adult volunteers aged 19 and older who are willing to volunteer at least five hours a week. Volunteers can help in-person at the Walbrook branch of the Enoch Pratt […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Washington filmmaker implores churches to take ‘L.O.V.E. is the Answer’ challenge
By Marnita Coleman, Special to the AFRO A movement dedicated to bridging the racial divide between police officers and minority communities is sweeping the country. Native Washingtonian, A.J. Ali, a journalist and filmmaker, is using film and faith to address racial tension across the country with his documentary “Walking While Black: L.O.V.E. Is the Answer.” […]
Posted inReligion
AFRO Agent of Change: Master Hilton Rawls III inspires the masses with his spirit
By Marnita Coleman, Special to the AFRO Just in case you haven’t heard, there is a new preacher on the circuit, who has earned the respect of fellow clergy from around the country. A third-generation preacher, Master Hilton Rawls III, has been seated at the table amongst renowned messengers of our time. With some skill […]
Posted inReligion
Keeping the movement alive: how the Black church continues to make social change
By Marnita Coleman, Special to the AFRO “The church must stand at the forefront of the struggle,” said Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in a 1957 address to a group of 300 ministers. More than a place of worship, the Black church is the sacred infrastructure of the Black community. Now, more than ever, […]
Posted inReligion
St. Timothy’s Christian Baptist Church to celebrate 50th anniversary in 2023
By Marnita Coleman, Special to the AFRO St. Timothy’s Christian Baptist Church, located in the West Arlington neighborhood of Baltimore, will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2023. The church was founded by the highly esteemed, Rev. Carl Washington Sr., who served as pastor for 47 years until his death in 2020. Following his steps, Rev. […]
Posted inReligion
#FaithWorks: How faith-based intervention is affecting recidivism rates one soul at a time
By Marnita Coleman, Special to the AFRO Author of “Eternal Justice: How God Intervenes for the Least of Us,” Philip Remington Dunn, has a passion for telling the stories of those he has crossed paths with as a criminal defense attorney and a man of faith. Dunn believes that those tangled up in the justice […]
Posted inReligion
#FaithWorks: Mercy Seat Chapel: stepping out on faith and making change
By Marnita Coleman, Special to the AFRO Ranked in the top 10 best places to live for families, the City of Gaithersburg, Md. is known for great neighborhoods and good people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds that play, work and worship together in schools, businesses and churches throughout the town. One church, Mercy Seat […]