Zion Baptist Church, led by Dr. Marshall F. Prentice, will celebrate their new location at 1600 Harford Ave. in East Baltimore on March 21 and March 22.
Category: #FaithWorks
Posted inReligion
National Week of Prayer confronts HIV in Black communities
Churches nationwide are observing the National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS, March 1–8, a faith-based initiative founded by Pernessa C. Seele and organized through Balm In Gilead. The annual campaign combines worship with HIV testing, education and outreach, addressing the disproportionate impact of HIV on Black Americans and working to reduce stigma through faith and public health partnerships.
Posted inWord In Black
5 books by Black authors to read during Lent
Lent offers a season of reflection, repentance and renewal, and for Black Christians it also carries deep connections to history, resistance and communal faith. Five books by Black authors explore how ancient Lenten practices intersect with liberation theology, embodied dignity and the lived experiences of Black communities.
Posted inWord In Black
What is Lent? A guide to fasting, prayer and sacrifice
Lent is the 40-day Christian season of prayer, fasting and sacrifice leading up to Easter, commemorating Christ’s suffering and resurrection. While many believers give up favorite foods or habits, others practice various forms of fasting or add meaningful spiritual disciplines to deepen faith and prepare for renewal.
Posted inWord In Black
In Minneapolis, faith groups provide shelter from the ICE storm
As ICE raids escalate in Minneapolis, faith leaders and lay communities are turning churches, streets, and teaching spaces into sanctuaries—offering food, trauma care, and resistance grounded in Dr. King’s vision of the beloved community.
Posted inReligion
‘Total Praise’: Smallwood’s signature anthem embodies Jan. 24 celebration of life service
Thousands gathered at First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Maryland to celebrate the life and legacy of gospel composer and singer Richard Smallwood, honoring the “Maestro” with music, testimony and tributes from faith leaders, artists and public officials. The Jan. 24 service highlighted Smallwood’s enduring impact as a theologically grounded musician whose compositions bridged church, campus and global stages.
Posted inObituaries
Richard Smallwood, gospel icon, to be honored at Jan. 24 celebration of life
The celebration of life for legendary gospel artist Richard Smallwood will take place Jan. 24 at First Baptist Church of Glenarden International in Upper Marlboro, Md. Smallwood, 77, died of complications from kidney failure on Dec. 30, 2025.
Posted inWord In Black
Richard Smallwood: ‘I’m looking forward to singing with you in heaven’
The death of Richard Smallwood, the legendary gospel composer and musician whose work reshaped Black church worship, on Dec. 30 at age 77, has prompted tributes across congregations and the music world. Best known for “Total Praise” and other modern hymns, Smallwood blended classical training with gospel tradition, leaving a lasting spiritual and musical legacy that continues to resonate across denominations and generations.
Posted inReligion
AME Zion Church hosts Christian Education Department Winter Meeting in Baltimore
By AFRO Staff Nearly 2,500 participants—most of them children and youth, alongside families and adults of all ages—convened in Baltimore Dec. 26–30, 2025 for Elevate 2025: Flourish and Thrive, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME Zion) Church’s Christian Education Department Winter Conference. The event took place at the Hilton in downtown Baltimore. Through outstanding worship […]
Posted inNEWS
ABC Revival calls faith leaders to renew commitment to Black progress
At a time when Black history is being censored and equity efforts reversed, ABC’s Revival became a call for spiritual renewal and civic resistance. Faith leaders reminded attendees that they were “born to carry the weight” of leadership and truth-telling.
Posted inWord In Black
7 Christmas carols with a touch of soul
Black composers and arrangers shape the Christmas repertoire, adding spirituals and gospel songs that endure across generations.
Posted inReligion
Faith without screens? Churches reconsider livestream worship
As some churches move to end livestreamed worship in hopes of boosting in-person attendance and offerings, critics warn the shift risks shrinking membership and excluding congregants who are ill, disabled or unable to attend in person. Advocates of virtual worship argue livestreaming remains a vital tool for outreach, inclusion and growth in an increasingly digital age.