African American Fellowship Worship Rally attendees urged to ‘give the report’

On Sunday evening, Nov. 10, the African American Fellowship Worship Rally took place at Carver Park Baptist Church in Waco. The rally is one of several held in conjunction with the opening of the 2024 Texas Baptists Annual Meeting.

Members of the African American Fellowship of Texas (AAFTX), along with Texas Baptists ministry staff and churches, gathered together for a time of worship, teaching and celebration of new appointments at both AAFTX and Texas Baptists. 

Pastor Tedrick Woods, pastor of Living Word Fellowship Church in Dallas, welcomed attendees, and the Carver Park Baptist Church choir kicked off the rally in worship, followed by a WAVE video presentation from Robert Purvey, NextGen director for African American Ministries. 

WAVE is a four-day event for 7th graders to college students. Purvey previously said the purpose of WAVE is to bring students and student leaders from predominantly African American churches together and give strategy, concept, inspiration and hope for the next generation. WAVE 2025 will be held June 9-12 at Resurrection Baptist Church in San Antonio, TX.

Worship continued with the Shiloh Worship Team. 

Roy Cotton, director of the Texas Baptists Ambassador Program, introduced the transitioned and new staff and fellowship roles as follows: Carlos Francis, former director of Young Adult & Singles Ministry to new director of African American Ministries; Ray Brown, new president of AAFTX; Oza Jones, former director of African American Ministries to new director of Evangelism; Ray Malone, former director of Human Resources to associate director of GC2 Initiative. 

Reporting the Good News to all 

John R. Adolph, pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Beaumont, then brought a sermon encouraging attendees to report the gospel to others.

He spoke from 1 Peter 1:12, saying that “unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.” 

“What people are looking for is the people who can give the report that has been ministered unto us, but now has been given to those who can preach the gospel with the Holy Ghost,” said Adolph. 

Adolph told attendees that God’s report comes from the right source, has to be shared and has the right substance. 

“[Jesus] gives us a better report because in the New Testament, what we could not produce in the Old Testament has been produced for us … The reason the church ought not be silent to all is because you got tomorrow’s news today,” said Adolph. “God is still seated on the throne; that’s the report of the Lord.”

Serving churches through relationship 

Francis concluded the evening by sharing his vision for African American Ministries moving forward. 

“The first thing I wanted our people to see is how we serve, so when you go to the African American Ministries website, you’ll see ‘How can we serve you?’” explained Francis. “I offer you my humble service, but I need to know how to serve you, and the only way that’s established is [through] relationships.”

A special offering for the African American Fellowship was collected, followed by a dismissing prayer from Michael Evans, Sr., pastor of the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Mansfield. 

To learn more about African American Ministries and how it can be a resource for you and your church, visit txb.org/aam.