Combining past, present and future, Eric Waddell’s vision is about more than harmony. It’s about reconnecting young people to a legacy built in Baltimore’s choir lofts. Hundreds of singers are pushing back, one rehearsal at a time.
Category: #FaithWorks
Posted inReligion
Reverend Nontombi Tutu speaks at Asbury UMC’s annual Women’s Day Service
By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to The AFRO By her own admission, the Reverend Nontombi Naomi Tutu, daughter of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, struggled against accepting the call to ministry for most of her life. But you couldn’t tell, based on the reactions of worshipers at Asbury United Methodist Church (UMC) on Sunday, April 2, […]
Posted inReligion
Pope prays at Catholic shrine in Angola that was a center of African slave trade
Pope Leo XIV visited the Sanctuary of Mama Muxima in Angola, a Catholic shrine with deep spiritual significance and a painful history as a hub in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. During his visit, he prayed for healing and acknowledged the suffering endured by Angolans over centuries, while scholars and observers reflected on the Catholic Church’s historical role in slavery and the need for further acknowledgment and reconciliation.
Posted inWord In Black
Behind the pulpit, Black women battle violence and silence
The killing of Rev. Tammy McCollum on Easter Sunday, allegedly at the hands of her husband, is a shocking example of intimate partner violence in the church. But a growing number of Black women clergy struggle to break through misogyny and violence inside the church — harm often unspoken, protected by patriarchy, shame and fear of not being believed.
Posted inReligion
Black churches put a fresh spin on Easter traditions
Black churches are keeping many of the Easter traditions that have long defined the season, while also introducing new activities aimed at engaging families, young people and surrounding communities. Church leaders said the core meaning of Easter remains unchanged, but many congregations are finding creative ways to carry that message to the next generation through service projects, expanded worship experiences and community-centered gatherings.
Posted inWord In Black
What is Holy Week and why does it matter?
Holy Week marks the final seven days of Jesus’ life leading up to Easter, inviting Christians to reflect on his suffering, death, and resurrection. Beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with Resurrection Sunday, the week highlights themes of sacrifice, justice, love, and spiritual renewal, while many observe it through worship, prayer, fasting, and acts of service.
Posted inWord In Black
‘Spend in the Black’ turns faith into economic power
Salem Baptist Church in Chicago is leading “Spend in the Black,” a faith-driven initiative encouraging residents to support Black-owned businesses and strengthen local economic power. Through large marketplace events and community partnerships, the effort channels consumer spending into Black communities, boosts small businesses, and promotes long-term wealth building. Organizers see it as a scalable movement that blends faith, activism, and entrepreneurship to rebuild the “Black dollar” and foster sustainable economic ecosystems.
Posted inReligion
Zion Baptist Church prepares for the ribbon cutting at new East Baltimore location
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.
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.