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.
Category: #FaithWorks
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.
Posted inHealth
In churches and communities, a new model for men’s health emerges
In the absence of a federal Office of Men’s Health, faith leaders and veterans are stepping up to fill the gap. Through grassroots advocacy and personal storytelling, John Bruce and Charles Flanagain are challenging stigma, promoting early screenings and redefining community health for men across the Southeast.
Posted inReligion
A new generation of Black church leaders steps into power
Kevin Lamár Peterman, 32, has been installed as pastor of Washington, D.C.’s historic Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, signaling a broader rise of young Black clergy leading major congregations rooted in social justice. His installation reflects a national shift as millennial pastors take the reins of historic churches and adapt their ministries to a digital, turbulent era.
Posted inReligion
Young adults are waiting in line to worship at this fast-growing Atlanta church
A once-small Atlanta congregation led by Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell has grown from fewer than 200 attendees in 2023 to about 6,000 weekly worshippers, with young adults lining up before dawn for its intense worship services and unapologetically direct preaching. Many say Mitchell’s authenticity, raw storytelling, and uncompromising calls to repentance meet a hunger for spiritual depth among young Christians seeking more than feel-good messages.
Posted inReligion
A pastor wants Black men praying together at sunrise
Amid widespread calls for spiritual renewal, Bishop Kenneth O. Robinson Jr. is urging Black men worldwide to unite in prayer at sunrise on Dec. 1. The 6 a.m. call-in gathering aims to spark revival, foster accountability, and strengthen men’s leadership in families, churches, and communities through DreamLife Worship Center.
Posted inBaltimore News
Associated Black Charities announces the state of Black America: A national virtual revival for faith leaders, activists and community
Associated Black Charities will host a national virtual revival that will unite faith leaders, activists and community members in a call for renewed purpose and justice. Attendees nationwide will join ABC in renewing their commitment to justice and will answer a collective call to action for a more equitable future.