Global Ministries is celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr Day by helping to repair a flooded nursery at W.W. Brown Memorial Baptist Church in Soweto, South Africa. Recent rains flooded the nursery school building rendering the classrooms and kitchen uninhabitable by the 40 or so children who attend the nursery, Monday through Friday. Not only do the children receive daily instruction but, the nursery also provides at least one hot meal daily. Because of the current food shortages in the community caused by the pandemic, these daily hot meals for the children are more critical than ever. Once the repairs are completed, instruction will resume and the children will once again receive daily hot meals.

Dr. King not only advocated for civil rights but he was also an advocate for social justice around the world. It is important to remember his effort to end hunger. King spoke and wrote extensively on the importance of ensuring everyone had access to three meals a day. He believed that ensuring this basic need was met, was a vital component of achieving equality among all people.

King articulated this belief best when he received his Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. He said, “I have the audacity to believe that people everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education, and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits.” Given that poverty and hunger have statistically been shown to adversely affect everything from performance in school to decreasing productivity at work it is unsurprising the this would be a necessary component of achieving equality among all people. Global Ministries celebrates MLK and supports W.W. Brown Church in its efforts to continue educating and feeding children.

Allen Temple Baptist Church was organized in 1919 in Oakland. For 100 years, Allen Temple has served as a bright beacon of faith, hope, and love beyond its’ four walls. Allen Temple is committed to sharing the love of God and the message of Good News throughout the world. We welcome people of all ages and cultural backgrounds as we joyfully celebrate worship and fellowship, and carry out ministries of evangelism, discipleship, education, community outreach, and global missions. Allen Temple’s holistic, prophetic and social justice ministries address the needs of the whole person as well as the whole community. Dr. Jacqueline A. Thompson is Senior Pastor, and Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr. is Pastor Emeritus. For more information about Allen Temple and its’ almost 100 ministries, visit Allen-Temple.org.

Rev. Theophous H. Reagans, Esq., Allen Temple Baptist Church, Global Ministries