One of our goals while living in Berkeley and attending the Graduate Theological Union is to participate in the many prayer opportunities offered by the various member seminaries and denominations. Monday night we were invited by our friend Tripp, a Baptist minister, to attend a prayer service that was part of a conference sponsored by the American Baptist Seminary of the West. The conference was a three day conference on Radical Hospitality: Reaching Across Barriers of Faith, Class and Culture. The event was at McGee Baptist in Berkeley. The guest Revivalist was Dr. Jeremiah Wright. Yep, that Jeremiah Wright. He preached three nights and we privileged to attend Monday night and hear him preach and experience a black church in all its glory. It was an amazing spirit-filled night. The choir was amazing and were backed up by the organist playing on what sounded like a Hammond organ. Dr. Wright, regardless of how he may have been betrayed in the media during the 2008 election, is a faith filled man who had been a faithful minister who served as Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ from 1972 to 2008 and built the congregation from 80 members to over 6,000. He preached a Gospel of God's love for all of us.
The other inspiring part of the service was the ushers. Six very dignified black women in matching suits and white gloves who would put a West Point Drill Team to shame with their precision and commitment to the mission. All in all we were blessed to be part of an amazing evening. Can I get an Amen? Phil
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